Dario Joseph

“Performing stand-up comedy gives me life. When I'm on stage, in front of a crowd, in the moment, walking a tightrope, I am able to feel most like myself. It's never easy, it's always a challenge and there's the omnipresent threat of failure that keeps me coming back. In a way, stand-up, at least the way I do it, is like life. Without risk, there is no reward and that is LIFE.”

NAMI: Have you ever had any mental health struggles?

DJ: Not until the last few years did I start to consider my own mental health. During that 'before time,' there were obvious bouts of extreme anxiety and darkness that held me back from either reaching my full potential or being myself completely. Now looking back, I realize not only was I in a destructive place but I needed help.

DJ: I was diagnosed with ADHD about a year ago, but it was something that I lived with and was a part of me, my whole life. I've found - through therapy and trial and error - that I am able to function at my highest level when I'm extremely busy. I thrive when I'm juggling multiple projects and my calendar is full. At the same time, living like this can be exhausting and recognizing when I need a break is essential.

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

DJ: Going to therapy has been a game-changer for me. I found a therapist not long after moving back to Rochester that has assisted me in being my best self and making necessary changes in my life that have led to happiness and success.

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

DJ: Performing stand-up comedy gives me life. When I'm on stage, in front of a crowd, in the moment, walking a tightrope, I am able to feel most like myself. It's never easy, it's always a challenge and there's the omnipresent threat of failure that keeps me coming back. In a way, stand-up, at least the way I do it, is like life. Without risk, there is no reward and that is LIFE.

DJ: Spending time with my wife is the other side of keeping myself balanced. We've been together for more than half our lives now and she is my home. Experiencing the world with her is a true joy and I live for the weekends so we can go for a hike, watch our favorite series or go out to dinner and sit in a corner booth. She is my reset button.

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

DJ: I went to therapy twice as a young teen after a close friend and my grandmother passed away suddenly. I remember it being helpful and positive but I didn't continue with it and I regret that. My parents were surprised when I told them I was seeing a therapist but supportive. I think that they thought I was spending my sessions talking about how they were terrible parents but that could not be further from the truth. Now, two years in, they're able to see that I had my own issues to work on and that I only talk about them a little bit.

NAMI: Do you think things are changing/progressing for the better in our area? If so, how?

DJ: Organizations like NAMI are changing the mental health landscape in Rochester. Not only that, but influential individuals within our community are being more open about their struggles with mental health, opening the door for more open and public conversation.

NAMI: Do you feel like you’ve had enough support if/when you’ve needed it or is it challenging to find accessible and affordable treatment/therapy, etc.?

DJ: In the past, the issues I was dealing with were not recognized as stemming from a mental health condition however, now I have the support I need in the form of therapy and a community that is willing to listen and assist when needed.

NAMI: Why did you decide to share your story?

DJ: For a long time, I allowed fear to dictate the choices I made in my life. Fear of rejection, fear of change, fear of failure. What success I've had over the last two years, I owe to going towards the fear. It's not easy and I couldn't have done it without my support system. I encourage others to seek help, professional or otherwise, so that they too can live a more complete and fulfilling life.