Taylor, 20, was professionally diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and depression in July 2014. She said she has suffered from anxiety her entire life, and with depression since the age of 14. Taylor added that dissociation, the feeling of disconnection, is a huge symptom in her life. Taylor finds comfort in long distant running and nature walks.
Samantha, 21, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. She said that these disorders have affected her during social situations in day to day life. For comfort, Sam has turned to daily yoga.
Dominique, 16, suffers from depression. Dominique was professionally diagnosed in September 2014 and currently takes anti-depressants. She feels like she was not treated justly at work and blames her mental illness for her recent unemployment. Dominique takes comfort in her drawings as a way to cope with her depression.
Sam, 17, was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety right before her 17th birthday in April 2014. Sam is taking medication for her illness but stated that she is still struggling to live with it. She finds comfort in longboarding, often going for a ride when she needs to clear her head.
Gabrielle, 19, was diagnosed with non-purging bulimia in December 2012 when she was 17. Bulimia is an eating disorder that can be potentially life threatening. Purging bulimia involves self-induced vomiting after eating while non-purging bulimia involves other methods such as excessive exercising, fasting and strict dieting. Gabrielle said that she recovered from her non-purging bulimia in February 2014 at the age of 18, but still deals with emetophobia, the fear of vomit. Gabrielle's comfort is sitting in the shower.
Mikayla, 20, was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and depression. She stated that her main symptoms, sadness and dissatisfaction with the world, are things she has repressed since she was 15 but could no longer keep it inside when they arose in full force in June 2014. In October 2014 she sought professional help and was then diagnosed. Mikayla said that running and exercise has helped her cope with her mental illness.
Kyra, 19, suffers from generalized anxiety disorder, mainly in the forms of panic disorder, separation anxiety and social anxiety. Kyra said she has suffered for as long as she can remember but did not have the courage to talk to a professional until 2013. Kyra has found it difficult to hold employment due to her social anxiety and is currently unemployed. She finds comfort in being with her cat, Opie.
Alex, 20, suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as S.A.D. People with this disorder are vulnerable to high points of depression following seasonal change. Alex said that for him this usually occurs during the autumn to winter change and the shortening of days. He enjoys walking through parks to calm his nerves.
Patti was professionally diagnosed with panic disorder without agoraphobia in 1997 at the age of 37. Patti has learnt to manage her disorder in her life and stated that talking to a therapist and biking have helped her limit the amount of panic attacks that occur. Though she has not found society mistreating of her mental illness, Patti said that her largest source of mistreatment comes from herself. She added that most people in her life have no idea about her mental health.
Kyle was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder when he was 17. The burden of anxiety has kept him from things that people without anxiety may take for granted such as driving. He uses video games as his comfort to get away from anxieties caused by school and other aspects of life.