Alexis Russell

“My growth is in accepting that this healing journey is hard but possible. Often we sit in our trauma and don’t move. We’ve lived there so long that we start to believe it’s home because we think it’s comfortable and safe. My growth is in recognizing that it is not. Letting go of what we’ve been in for so long is hard but when we decide to let go and surrender to peace, we start to feel whole, loved, and no longer at war with ourselves and others. We start searching for a new home.⁠”

NAMI: Have you ever had any mental health struggles? 

AR: Yes, and I didn’t realize it until my first daughter was going on two years old. Growing up, I was under the impression that therapy wasn’t for people who looked like me. Mental health struggles were nonexistent because you “bite your tongue, grin and bear it, and be strong” until you are no longer in a tough situation. You don’t talk about your emotions and tears are not allowed. 

AR: When your life is focused on survival from a very young age and when you haven’t been taught the terms and language and concept of social-emotional learning, you find yourself (and your family) in a repetitive cycle of just getting through it — which leads to deteriorating mental health and continuous cycles of generational trauma and mental illness. The problem with this way of living is that you lose precious time fighting and “being strong” through life’s hard moments and sometimes, you lose lives.

AR: At some point, I believe that everyone will have a mental health struggle because everyone has mental health. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder — or grief, trauma, and experiences that trigger our struggles — what I hope everyone recognizes is that you’re not alone, there is hope, and help is there. What’s most interesting is often culture, language, and society dictate our awareness and perception of mental health and what it actually is. Mental health is health. Everyone has it. Our brains (a vital organ) are as much a part of our bodies as the other four vital organs. 

AR: My experience of living with postpartum depression was a battle that took time to accept. I had to learn that it was more than the “baby blues”. I had to face terrifying and hard realizations that reminded me of my anxiety attacks, how I didn’t want to hold my daughter in the hospital after she was born, and how I felt hopeless and fearful of being a terrible mom. As I heal and move forward, I’ve made it my mission to bring awareness to and normalize conversations around mental health and healing through journaling. My mental health struggles were met with an overwhelming realization of how much I didn’t know but they were also met with an openness to learn and heal knowing that I could do this at my own pace and in my own time. 

NAMI: How have you healed and grown from your experiences? 

AR: I’m healing. 

AR: Healing is an ongoing journey that encourages you to love and be loved. It’s a lifelong lesson that teaches you about yourself, about who and what is serving you, and what you should let go of. So many people show the side of healing that looks and seemingly feels peaceful, light, and free; and while that’s the ultimate goal, the journey to healing is whole — meaning there will be tears, you will have to sit in uncomfortable places and spaces, you will have to set boundaries, you will hide under your covers and cry, you will have to cut some people off — completely — and you will feel whole, happier, and healthier physically, mentally, and emotionally on the other side. ⁠

⁠AR: My growth is in now being a mom of two beautiful mini-humans. It’s in the mindfulness practice of journaling to process emotions instead of sweeping them under a rug to pile up on me later. My growth is in resting and being okay with prioritizing rest because it’s necessary. My growth is in accepting that this healing journey is hard but possible. Often we sit in our trauma and don’t move. We’ve lived there so long that we start to believe it’s home because we think it’s comfortable and safe. My growth is in recognizing that it is not. Letting go of what we’ve been in for so long is hard but when we decide to let go and surrender to peace, we start to feel whole, loved, and no longer at war with ourselves and others. We start searching for a new home.⁠

NAMI: How do you protect your mental health? What forms of self-care do you practice? What keeps you balanced?

AR: Journaling: I’m a poet, singer, and writer. My business is built around journaling and telling your story, your way — to heal. Words help me process. Uncovering and discovering language to help me better understand myself is what I live for. Journaling has so many benefits. So many people get intimidated by the page but there are so many ways to journal; you just have to take the time and find what works best for you (and you don’t have to journal every day or every week). There’s even guided journaling to feel less stressed and intimidated — which is what I offer with my platform. 

AR: Breathing: Life gets chaotic with family including two little ones and two businesses with a brick-and-mortar space and clients. So, remembering to breathe is key. Sometimes, I’ll find myself washing dishes and focusing on breathing as I clean to calm myself down. Trust me, it helps. 

AR: Food (my favorite - haha!): 2015 Alexis would’ve said, “food is my homie. It’s my best friend, my coping mechanism, and the only way I get through. Fill my plate.” 2023 Alexis says that the food we consume affects our whole body. Food is the best medicine when it nourishes your body. So, I’m learning to juice with my new juicer, kicking off a clean eating year, and rebuilding my relationship with food. 

AR: Grace and self-forgiveness: I often remind myself to forgive and extend grace and compassion to myself and to remember that I am human. Mistakes are okay. Learn from them, grow from them, heal from the mistake, the pain, or the trauma, and continue living. Simple positive affirmations and reminders are key.

NAMI: What forms of mental health-related stigma have you observed or run into personally? How do you combat stigma?

AR: Mental health stigma is rooted in the fabric of our society — but it was planted there. It isn’t native and it doesn’t belong. The best way for me to describe mental health stigma is the unbelief of and a negative perspective on mental illness. Our brain is a vital organ. How we think, act, speak, live, and what we believe all stem from the brain. The four types of stigma are self-stigma, public stigma, professional stigma, and institutional stigma. It’s everywhere. 

AR: But mental health is just as real as you breaking a bone and needing to get it treated to heal. The more we talk about mental health and connect over our stories and triumphs and struggles, the more we interrupt the stigma and create space for healing, understanding, and growth. I spend much of my time bringing awareness to our emotions and building platforms that give people space to share their stories and be all of who they are. Simply recognizing and mentioning mental health is my way of combatting stigma. Whether it's 1 person or 10,000 people, I’m going to mention the importance of taking care of your whole self (mind, body, spirit, and emotions). 

AR: I’m reminded that not everyone is willing to receive or ready to understand the message/importance of mental health. One of my memories was being questioned about my story of postpartum depression when a woman asked me, “if it really was depression or an excuse for someone to pity me”. I reflect on this moment and remind myself that my story isn’t for everyone and not everyone will understand but it is my truth. My mission is to educate, bring awareness, and support those who are ready and have just an ounce of willingness to heal. I have to remember to move in alignment and with intention. As long as I bring my whole, authentic self into the room every single time, I know that I’m covered, standing in my truth, and I will be okay.

NAMI: Tell us about Inspiring Experiences! How did it begin and where do you hope to go?

AR: Inspiring Experiences, LLC is a mindful platform for journaling, soul journeying, sharing your story, and living in wholeness. I create journaling, healing, and mindfulness resources to keep your mind, body, and spirit aligned, healthy, and fulfilled. It began with my healing and postpartum depression journey. I hosted an event at BXCR sharing stories of cancer survivors that I interviewed in 2017. I created a magazine of their stories and called it the Inspire Photo Gallery. From there, I started sharing my own journey and how each of their stories helped me to heal and remember who I was at my core. Since, I’ve hosted workshops, seminars, journaling sessions, and more across the country and across the globe.

AR: Journaling helps me process my emotions and experiences so I developed what I call StoryCards — a deck of 60 cards that help you process your thoughts, write what you feel, have the tough conversations with yourself and others that we often want to avoid, and ultimately, discover who you are at your core. My plans for my business are shifting but still rooted in what is best for me. I’ve been building a museum for 5 years, it’s what I’m truly passionate about, and that’s where I’m headed. I’m excited to see it take off soon and more excited about how innovative it will be in catapulting the mental health space and supporting so many people.

NAMI: Why did you decide to share your story?

AR: I’m a writer and story enthusiast who believes in authentically telling your story, your way.  Our power rests in our experiences, in our self-discovery, and in our healing. Our stories connect us to others but they also connect us to ourselves. I share my story because it has the power to heal, connect, and reach someone who may be struggling and cannot see the light. I was there and didn’t know it. I couldn’t see anything and needed help and if that journey was just a little easier for me, I know how much it would’ve helped me grow. 

NAMI: What keeps you hopeful?

AR: I believe in people’s will — their will to heal and to be all of who they are. I watch my daughters and allow them to fully be themselves while teaching them how to live with compassion, empathy, and intention. The increase in conversations, growth and vulnerability happening around mental health give me hope. We have a long way to go but we’re going. We’re moving and as long as we just continue this journey of spreading resources, awareness, support, safe spaces, and hope, I know more lives will be saved because of it.