Stories of Hope

Stories of Hope: An Interview with Alexandra Nicklas This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked advocate Alexandra Nicklas about her journey and her recent activities. Here’s our interview: DS:Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? AN: I was born with a left hemisphere brain infarction or …

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Sam Swidzinski “I want this article to be useful to people. I want this article to help at least one person to get one step closer to becoming well.” – Sam Swidzinski This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked author, researcher and advocate Sam Swidzinski about his journey. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware …

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Shumaila Hemani, PhD This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked composer and musician Shumaila Hemani about her journey and her current activities. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? SH: It was in 2015 when I …

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Genevieve Gagnon This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. This interview is unique in that child wellness expert Genevieve Gagnon has two sons with very different mental health challenges. She preferred to recount each of her son’s experiences in a separate interview. Accordingly, you will find Part 1, which is about her older son “ZS,” who has an anxiety disorder, and Part 2, in …

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Troy Steven This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked engineer and author Troy Steven about his journey. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. TS: I became aware of having a mental health problem in 1993 when I had my first bipolar episode. I remember becoming anxious and …

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Cara Lisette This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked blogger and advocate Cara Lisette about her journey. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? CL: I started struggling with my body image and weighing myself in …

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Lisa Kohn This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked author and advocate Lisa Kohn about her journey. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? LK: “The best seats I ever had at Madison Square Garden were …

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Tali Normoyle This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked student and advocate Tali Normoyle about her journey. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? TN: I was raised in a conservative Christian home in which psychology …

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