Out of Stigma’s Shadow: Zach’s Story

Out of Stigma’s Shadow: Clark’s Story

“It’s like chipping away at a boulder.”  “I’ve been through so much. Something good is bound to happen, eventually.”  When he was 7 years old, Clark was sexually assaulted. He spent the next two years suffering in silence before he told his parents about the trauma. Since then, Cark has been on a journey to cope with an event that continues to have emotional repercussions. Clark says, “No matter how much power that has, my psyche is stronger. I’m stronger than that.” Clark is now 18, and he’s about to go to college.

Out of Stigma’s Shadow: Rachel’s Story

”I heard silence for the first time. And that was a beautiful thing.”  “You are not broken.”  Rachel has struggled with eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. Along the way, she’s self-medicated and connected with her spirituality. After being institutionalized, Rachel was diagnosed with bipolar 1.

Out of Stigma’s Shadow: Zach’s Story

“I didn’t fully grasp what was happening to me.”  “My intuition was, ‘This is not right.’”  “I’m still here to tell the story.”  For Zach, an SSRI prescription had an unexpected outcome: He stopped sleeping and careened into manic bouts. After a psychotic episode that resulted in an inpatient hospitalization, Zach was given a diagnosis of bipolar. Today, he adheres to a careful regimen of medications that keep him focused and stable.

Out of Stigma’s Shadow: Allison’s Story

“Is this my new reality?”  “I was able to use my pain as power.”  “Emotions are our teachers.”  During the pandemic, isolation took its toll on Allison. On top of her depression, she contracted Covid, and the mental fog lingered. After reaching out a therapist, Rachel confronted her own emotions, started meditating, and processed her pain through a photo series called, Rotten [https://www.allison-wolff.com/photo].

Out of Stigma’s Shadow: Myles’ Story

“It’s not an easy conversation, but I think it’s one that should be had.”  “I had the mindset that I wouldn’t live to be seventeen.”  “I just hated myself for the longest time.”  Myles witnessed gun violence at a young age, and it took a toll on his emotional health. He became anxious, depressed, and fatalistic. He had a less-than-ideal first encounter with a therapist, but he ultimately learned how to cope with his own self-hatred.