Inspiring stories of overcoming mental health challenges
This post is about the challenges we face with mental health, and some of the most inspiring stories of overcoming those challenges.
If you've ever struggled with mental illness, you know firsthand how it can impact everything from your sleep to your relationships. And that's why it's all the more inspirational when someone is able to come back from their darkest moments — whether by finding a new way to live or just remembering that things could be worse.
The following list is not meant to be comprehensive or all-inclusive. It's just a small sampling of some of the most inspiring people and stories from around the world that have overcome mental illness and the hardships that come with it.
So let's begin.
1. Zainab Salbi
Zainab Salbi is a bestselling writer, global speaker, and founder of Women for Women International, an organization helping survivors of war to build peace throughout the world. She has been highly involved in humanitarian work and activism for over 30 years, traveling to over 33 countries with different groups in which she was involved. During times of war and trauma in her own life, Zainab Salbi found solace through art, music, and social media. She has been featured in TED talks, the Huffington Post, and the BBC. Zainab was appointed to the United Nations Security Council in 2010. She is a recipient of the 2015 TED Global Impact Award for her work with displaced women and children in conflict zones all over the world.
2. Lara Jean Chase
Lara Jean was diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was 20 years old. She has been living with this life-changing diagnosis for over 10 years.
Lara's story is one that proves mental illness is not something that defines you, but rather a part of your existence that you can overcome and live a full life despite. Lara has had her ups and downs, but she never let her illness stop her from pursuing the life she wanted to lead. Her story also proves that there are plenty of people who have gone through the same things as you have, and yet they still do amazing things, live their lives out loud, and make the world more amazing for other people.
3. Mackenzie Child
Mackenzie Child has spent most of his life battling mental health issues. He's a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and he also founded a website known as "The Mental Health Advocate." Mackenzie's message is simple – your mental illness is not your identity. He advocates for living a life with mental illness, rather than being a mentally ill person.
"Mental illness is a part of me, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention it in my stories or in my videos," he says. "But it isn't all of me."
4. Chris Arnold
Chris Arnold was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when he was 17 years old. He experienced extreme mood swings, which often left him in bed or at home. He also had trouble controlling his anger. As a teenager, he would regularly argue with his mom and call her a "stupid bitch."
"I grew up angry and resentful," he says. "I drank alcohol to drown it out."
Chris credits his dad for helping him to find the strength to overcome his illness. They became close friends after being introduced through mutual friends who knew that Chris was having an issue with bipolar disorder and that he was interested in becoming more involved with the subject of mental health advocacy.
"His support was instrumental in helping me to get better," says Chris. "He taught me how to be patient with my own behavior and how to work hard to make changes."
5. Mark Weber
Mark Weber was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 21 years old. He struggled with depression and anxiety for many years, but after being in a terrible car accident that left him in the hospital for five days, he decided it was time for a change. One of the things that Mark found the most helpful when talking about his experiences and his journey to recovery is not so much what mental illness does to you, but rather how it can empower you, even when you think it's taking away your power. Mark now travels around the country on behalf of NAMI, the National Alliance for Mental Illness. He visits college campuses to share his story, in the hopes of helping others.
6. Sean Flynn
Sean Flynn is a TV and Film actor and producer. He has appeared in films and TV shows such as "Argo," "The Day After Tomorrow," and "Step Up."
Sean has also suffered from mental illness for much of his life, but without treating it as a problem that he needed to overcome he believes that his life could have turned out much differently. In fact, he believes it would have been far less successful than the amazing life that he leads today.
"The only way I'm able to be as productive and successful as I am is because of medication," he says. "So, I have no choice but to take medication."
7. Nick Vujicic
When he was a child, Nick Vujicic could only feel his feet. He had been diagnosed with tetra-amelia syndrome, which meant that he was born without his arms and legs. As a result, when he started school he would often get picked on by other kids and because of the bullying, he would often hide out in the bathroom or in abandoned buildings during recess.
One day when he was 15 years old, his mother showed him a movie of an evangelist, which featured people with disabilities. That night Nick told his mom he wanted to become an evangelist. He got his start by doing outreach work for the church and by appearing in parades, fairs and churches. From there he went on to add motivational speaking to his repertoire and has now visited over 50 different countries giving speeches at various events. Nick has also written a book titled "Life Without Limits." He's also appeared in over 70 different films and TV shows as a motivational speaker or character actor.
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Conclusion – Mental Illness is Not who You are
Each of these brave people stepped forward and told their stories in the hopes that they would be a source of inspiration for others. Did their stories resonate with you? Do you have a story to share? Your voice and your experiences can help others who are going through the same things as you are. Remember – your mental illness does not define who you are as a person, nor does it determine how successful your life will be. You can change your life for the better by taking control of your condition rather than letting it control you, and if you don't know where to start, then raising awareness is always a good place to begin.