As a symptom of his depression, Isaac Nunoofio found it difficult to connect with peers for much of his life. It was Ghana’s World Cup run in 2010 that helped him find the joy and interconnection that a soccer fandom has to offer.
Amanda Nicholson grew up struggling to understand why it was so hard for her to socialize with her peers. In adulthood, she’s learned a new way to think about her introversion: social energy is a finite resource, not a wellspring.
After a childhood in Nigeria where no one would take Precious Minaseidiema’s cries seriously, Precious took stock of all her sources of unhappiness, and did away with the ones she could.
Starting mainstream schooling later in life, Jonathan Riley had trouble making friends, speaking publicly, and reading at grade level. All of this piled on with depression meant they had a lot of work ahead of them.
Anne Marie Malloy had trouble loving who she saw in the mirror after facing childhood trauma, so she’s reclaimed control over self-identity with piercings, Doc Martens, and a rebellious attitude to match.
Isaac Nunoofio felt treating his depression was a hopeless cause, and then he found singing.
by João Caldas
During childhood, Joao had trouble finding friends he could trust, how Joao moved through experiences of bullying and self-doubt.
by James Howard
James Howard’s younger life was dominated by trauma and substance abuse, but today he lives stronger with faith and music as his guides.
by Carol Blake
Carol Blake writes her anxieties, joys, depressive thoughts, and words of gratefulness on physical paper to see her thoughts with objective eyes.
After a brain surgery left him with anxiety, weight gain, and depressive symptoms, Jakob
Waldron found out what real friends looked like.
by Dan Luner
One night, my mental state deteriorated to the point where I tried to end my life through a suicde attempt. It was impulsive and rash.
Still, I resisted. For several years, I didn’t want to accept that the push and pull of depression was a permanent part of me.
by Bud Clayman & Laura Farrell
A guidance counselor and student share their views on the issue of bullying, mental health in high school, and way to deal with the whole problem.
This is the third in a series of videos of men who have participated in the Philadelphia’s Engaging Males of Color BEyond Expectations storytelling project.