Changing the way we talk about mental health

Kyle Elliott

Career and Life Coach
Living with anxiety, OCD, and PTSD

As a queer person, male sexual assault survivor, and someone living with mental health conditions, Kyle is proud to get to use his voice and platform to help others share their stories, get help, and achieve recovery. Kyle manages his anxiety, OCD, and PTSD with therapy, medication, and persistent self-care.  A career and life coach, professional speaker, and avid writer, Kyle finds solidarity and relief in sharing his story. He wants you to know that help is available and recovery is possible.

Kyle’s Story

Briefly, how has your condition impacted your life? When were you first aware of it? What was your most difficult time?

I experienced severe, nearly daily migraines in high school and college. After countless doctor visits, it was finally recommended that I see a psychiatrist. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

My migraines began dissipating once I started treating my stress and anxiety with therapy, medication, and constant self-care and self-love. My anxiety is now less severe because of the time and energy I put into my recovery.

In graduate school, I was sexually assaulted and was subsequently diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It was incredibly scary — I had panic attacks that lasted for hours. I am thankful that I had a robust support network of family, friends, and colleagues to help me through this difficult time. Now, my panic attacks are far shorter and less frequent.

I am proud of my recovery and strength.

What is your life like now?  What does living well look like for you?

I never imagined living the life I do now. I deliver career and life coaching for some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent executives. I speak across the country on professional development, mental health, and social justice. And, I proudly and loudly share my journey as someone living with mental health challenges.

I do not see recovery as the absence of symptoms but rather the successful management of the symptoms associated with my mental health conditions. I know I have the strength and support systems in place to not just survive but thrive.

What help or specific strategies helped you to get well and move to stability?

Therapy has been one of the most critical components of this recovery journey. I attend therapy weekly and use the time to both take care of myself and tend to the case management of my own clients. Beyond therapy, I partner with a psychiatrist to manage my mental health medications.

I also engage in extensive self-care. A few of my favorite acts of self-care include going for walks and daily Starbucks runs, shopping and going out to eat with family and friends (I have a habit of eating the same thing at different restaurants), and binging on Netflix and Hulu.

I am also thankful to have a robust support network to lean on. My family has been instrumental to my stability.

Are there positives that have come from having a mental health condition? If so, what?

The silver lining of having a mental health condition is the opportunity to share my recovery journey. As a professional speaker, I am in a unique position to share my story both on the stage and on social media; I particularly enjoy sharing my story on LinkedIn. Writing about my mental health challenges and victories remains critical to my recovery. While I have not always been this vulnerable with my story, I have found solidarity and relief in sharing my journey. 

I share my story because I want others living with mental health challenges and conditions to know they are not alone.

I crave a world where all people can share their mental health challenges and conditions without fear of retribution. We have made a lot of progress, and The Stability Network is at the forefront of the mental health movement, but there is still work to be done to cure stigma.

What words of encouragement would you give to someone struggling with a condition similar to yours?

Remember that help is available and recovery is possible. There have been times when I was hopeless and I thought I would never get better. Those times were scary, but they passed.

Help is available. It will get better. Recovery is possible.