Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhys Moon.
Hi Rhys, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a 16 years old mental health advocate with Tourette Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. My tics began when I was around five years old, and they seemed inconsequential. My symptoms then were simple — blinking and nose scrunching. Unfortunately, the symptoms began to metamorphose into more severe symptoms like neck jerking, shoulder twitching, and vocal obtrusions. Several years later, obsessive and compulsive behaviors began to arise, and I was diagnosed with OCD, a common co-occurring condition.
I began to lose hope for my health after trying several medications, acupuncture, cranial therapies, fish oil detoxes, and anything I could find on the Internet. But I found therapy, and it significantly impacted my life. Not only was it an outlet for me to express my suppressed thoughts in a safe space, but I learned valuable coping strategies to manage my symptoms. These therapy sessions, however, are extremely unaffordable for so many people who deal with Tic Disorders/OCD on a daily basis. Accessibility concerns in mind, I wanted to make an active effort to share techniques I’d learned in therapy to help those with Tic Disorders and OCD find a free, online, self-help resource and also bring mental health to the forefront of teenage discussions.
My dream with Mindful Coping is to be able to help others start their wellness journey, provide valuable, free resources to learn and practice healthy coping methods, and share mental and physical strategies to alleviate symptoms. Anyone who suffers from mental illness is fully aware of the unpredictable and sinusoidal nature of these conditions. At times, you’ll feel unfazed and finally feel as if your life is on the trajectory to normality. But you’ll soon be slammed with a relapse of symptoms, sometimes even more severe than before. That’s why it’s so crucial to consistently practice coping mechanisms or habit reversal techniques that can be used in any scenario; often, when you reach new low, it’s too late.
Although I struggle with mental illness everyday, I have grown into an individual more aware of myself and my surroundings. My experience with Tourette and OCD has shaped me into a proud, outspoken advocate, a more effective communicator and researcher, a more personable human being. I hope my ongoing journey with mental illness inspires others to join us in the pursuit of destigmatizing the issue.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest obstacles stemmed from my illness. As a passionate classical pianist, it was disheartening and frustrating to lose control in my fingers to play pieces. It was maddening to have to leave the competitive scene and press the break on my musical career. As a competitive debater, it was humiliating to have stutters and uncontrollable vocal obtrusions.
In middle school, I was teased and ridiculed for my visible and audible symptoms. Then, I was unable to articulate what TS is, how common it is, why it is disrespectful to mock individuals with TS. Being unable to take a shower or comb my hair without tensed, trembling limbs, worrying about a tic attack on the road, struggling to play a simple scale on the keyboard, developing an extreme fear of being photographed or videographed.
These struggles shaped me into the resilient advocate I am today. My countless privileges — being able to take medication, consult therapists, receive unconditional love and support from my parents, having supportive and mindful friends — these are privileges that millions of individuals with mental illness do not have the gift of receiving. For all of the support I have, I want to channel that into more effective activism.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Check out my website, mindfulcoping.net, and my Instagram @mindfulcoping to read and view my content surrounding Tic Disorders and OCD. You can also listen to my podcast Amplifying Voices on Spotify and Google Podcasts!
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Mindful Coping was a collaborative process. I want to foremost thank Sawyer K. Ellis (@s.k.ellis.writes, @litstream.magazine, @PSYCHed2BAlive), my incredible mentor who helped me develop my vision, incorporating my narrative into digestible content. She is instrumental in my outreach process, helping me expand my horizons and reach greater heights. Please check out her incredible literary magazine, litstreamagazine.com, a creative collection of art, poetry, prose, and more!
I want to additionally thank all 12 guests who joined Season 1 of the Amplifying Voices Podcast with courage and eloquence, sharing their unique and personal journeys with mental health.
Finally, I want to thank my family, particularly my Mom and Dad, who have been supportive and loving. They have motivated me to expand Mindful Coping, overcome obstacles in the creative process, and continue achieving my goals.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: mindfulcoping.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulcoping/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLANdfshUVjqOAKNlXRI7cCt8SX5gW_EwZ
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/3CX7DYwPaGluG4oQQ8YF7g?si=iEM7llGQTmOTcV6sQsFFGg
