04/06/2026
"I was replying to someone online recently who was opening up about navigating life with BPD and PTSD, and it really got me thinking.
Living with complex mental health challenges—or supporting someone who is—is exhausting. It pulls you in a million directions, and usually not by choice.
For so many of us, fashion and design work is our sanctuary. The process of creating something with your hands has this incredible, proven healing power.
But the reality is, we still have to pay the bills. And trying to force your creative healing to immediately pay rent? That adds a whole new layer of pressure.
If you're trying to balance your mental health with building a creative career, my biggest advice is to split the weight. Find a stable design role within the industry to secure your baseline income first. Take that financial panic off your shoulders.
Then, use your extra energy to build your own independent work—but keep it simple. Focus on the absolute simplest, most sustainable way to make a steady income from your craft.
Your creativity is a tool for your healing, not just your hustle. Take care of yourselves out there. If you ever need advice on the industry side of things, my door is always open."