Please welcome first-time contributor Racquel Fortuna, a 31-year-old woman from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Racquel lives with severe anxiety that causes her to shut herself off to the rest of the world. She often feels overwhelmed by fear, doubt, sadness, and isolation. Racquel’s internal battles began to negatively impact her life, both mentally and physically, until one day when she decided to challenge herself to turn things around. She started by taking better care of herself and opening up about her fight with anxiety to her loved ones.
About these photos: “Overcoming Anxiety is a series of black and white self-portraits expressing my struggle to move beyond the constraints of my anxiety issues. I find comfort in the idea that we’re all connected through our emotions and experience. Through this bond, we understand more about each other and, more importantly, ourselves. My group of self-portraits portrays my personal journey in conquering my issues, beginning negatively and progressively becoming more positive as the series develops. I desire to share this experience in order to inspire viewers. By revealing my vulnerability, I hope to form that emotional connection with my audience and convey that the struggles we go through in life make us all human.”
Find more from Racquel at her website.
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Broken Light Collective 
Bless you for having the COURAGE to share something so personal with the world. I’m willing to bet many are going to see your photos and read your words and feel a little bit better knowing they’re not alone in the world…
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Thank you so much for your kind words! The amount of people that have come to me to encourage me and also share their own personal struggles has been wonderfully overwhelming. I’m so touched that my work has spoken to others in some way emotionally. That is by far the best reward I could ask for 🙂
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And from my view, the reward you deserve for daring to share! Congratulations, Racquel.
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These are so powerful and beautiful, thank you for sharing
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thank you for encouragement 🙂
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gorgeous photos and words. thank you. I understand and love the awareness
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thanks, laurie!
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A very strong and beautiful photograph. Open the curtains. Take these broken wings and learn to fly!
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yes! thanks 🙂
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Yes! This is how anxiety feels. Thank you so much for sharing.
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i’m glad i was able to share my experience with you and even more honored that you could relate to it. thank YOU!
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I am so proud of you lady! Thank you so much for sharing your story.
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You have more courage than you know….yes, learn to fly!! Thanks ever so kindly for sharing your story!
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So inspiring!
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Beautiful post.
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I am impressed with how you can be so open and real. I think that telling the truth about our lives is one of the best contributions we can make… I am still working on this.
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This is so beautiful.
As someone who has anxiety and going through the recovery of eating disorders,
I am so touched by these photos and Racquel’s story….
Keep fighting honey!
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These are amazing photos and a great post. May I reblog this and Part 2 on my blog http://stigmahurtseveryone.wordpress.com please?
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hi, thank you for your kind words. yes, please share & let me know when you do so that i can share the link. thanks for asking 🙂
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No Thank you for making a difference in removing the stigma in mental health so everyone has a chance to get help:) I will do it tonight in a few minutes.
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Hugs to you for sharing your inner most emotions. You are brave and courageous. Gorgeous photos, gorgeous soul. I wish you well in your journey.
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