Let me introduce myself! I'm Danielle, and I'm anxious.

oh HI!

Thanks for stopping in to read my first blog post! I've been toying with the thought of writing a blog for years, I've always loved writing, and always found it easier to really say what I want to say! If anything I need a space to put all of my writing, for myself :)

I think there is a strength in sharing your story, or parts of it anyway! I have a story to tell, and I believe that others need to hear it as well. So here we are!

To start, here's a little about me...

My name is Danielle, I'm 38 and live in Calgary, Alberta - YYC!

If I had to describe myself I'd say that I am an authentic empath, who's creative, funny and passionate about her purpose.

I'm a mama to a 13 and 7 year old, I've been with my amazing husband for almost 14 years and I LOVE dogs & plants. We have 1 dog, Maverick who's 3 - our big squishy boy!

We also foster puppies through a local rescue, pause4change! More to come on that later!

I'm a creative, which I'm absolutely embracing in this phase of my life; music, writing, making apparel, painting, drawing etc.

I love the mountains, nature, camping, learning new things, travelling, plants, PUPPIES, my people, authenticity, helping others, gardening - then there's the love of crystals & energy.

So WHY am I here? and why should you keep reading?

I'm on a mission to be a known Mental Health advocate in my community - and I'm shining my light bravely.

Let me explain...

As early as I can remember I never really felt like I fit in, like I was somehow different from my peers. I never understood why things seemed to come easily to others, but never to me.

From time management and emotional regulation to my messy room, I struggled with all of it.

What was wrong with me?!?!

As a teen, my struggles with mental illness started to make things more complicated and I had to work even harder to try to keep up with life in general. I turned to drugs and alcohol at a young age to cope with the chaos churning inside of me. The partying continued my whole life, throughout college, while building a career, growing a family, etc.

Despite all this, I managed to build an amazing life with my husband, our kids, and animals. I had a good career I was proud of and, on the surface, looked like I was just a “normal” 30-something adult with her ducks in a row.

On the inside, however, I was completely broken. I was drowning just trying to keep up with life, and struggling with a dependency on alcohol that I hid as best as I could.

My younger brother was diagnosed with ADHD in early 2022, which is what initially triggered my curiosity, and when I started researching ADHD in women it BLEW my mind!

I felt like suddenly it all made sense, which led to me booking an appointment with my doctor for an assessment ASAP.

Ultimately, at 36, I was diagnosed with ADHD, and made the decision to try medication to help manage my symptoms. I remember crying one of the first days I took it, for the first time in my life my mind was quiet! 36 years of constant chaos in my mind and it just stopped - WHOA!

I’d love to say that receiving this diagnosis was my happy ending, but unfortunately, it wasn’t quite like that for me.

At this point in my life, I was the unhealthiest I’d ever been - both mentally and physically.

There was also the aspect of having lived the past 36 years unknowingly neurodiverse in a world not built for me that I needed to unpack and understand… which was obviously a lot.

A couple of months after my diagnosis I had a breakdown and needed to take a leave of absence from work. Everything I thought I knew about who I was, a life I’d spent trying to be like everyone else when I was anything but… it felt like I just completely shattered.

I ended up taking a significant time away from my career in order to get healthy again - during that year and a half not one part of my life was untouched.

There was also other stories running parallel to my recovery timeline - Hello life curveballs!

But I'm not getting into that!!

I began working heavily on myself and my recovery, learning tools to help stabilize my mental health, educating myself on ADHD and taking control of my physical health.

I began to learn who Danielle actually was and how to start to allow myself to be me - without the masking!

I’ve found my purpose in advocacy, started a mental health apparel business (Anxious Alice) and am working everyday to help others feel seen and heard.

Parts of this journey were incredibly lonely, but if I can help just one person feel less alone or offer some piece of advice to aid someone on their own path, that will be enough for me.

So that's me :) I'm here to make a difference, live my purpose and spread awareness for Mental Health - while raising my family and living my best life!

xo D