Stories of Hope and Recovery

Neil introduces a new approach to anxiety and hopes that folks will feel more comfortable publicizing their private anxieties as a way to overcome them.

"I wasn’t very open about [it]... I [gave] a fairly convincing impression of having things mostly together. I was putting up an image. And that was bad for me, because I didn’t get to share my problems with anybody else…but it was bad for others too, because they didn’t get to see the truth. And if we all put up an image, then everyone struggles alone."

Heather remembers a past love's struggle with addiction and urges people to be a catalyst for positive change in all their relationships.

"As human beings we can only do so much, but the least we can do is try to help someone before it is too late or before their story begins to veer down the wrong path. You can’t save everyone, but some people can be saved. Some people can change."

Christine no longer self-harms. Instead, she relies on positive solutions to combat temporary feelings.

“I learned healthy coping mechanisms that helped me deal with how I was feeling. Things that provided a substantial release without having negative consequences. These included going for a walk, calling a friend, reading, painting, baking, dancing, writing, shopping, etc. Anything that gets me out of my head and engaged in life.”