We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jannillia Hamilton-Freeman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jannillia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

This account may initially seem counterintuitive, but I firmly believe that the most transformative decision my parents made was to leave us. As the youngest of six children, I spent my early years primarily under the care of my father, after my mother acknowledged her incapacity to look after us. Left in a neglected apartment in Baltimore, MD, we faced considerable hardships—hunger and neglect were commonplace. During this time, my father resided in New York, separated from my mother. When my eldest brother, then around 10 or 11, encountered legal troubles, it prompted my paternal grandmother to intervene. She, along with my father, came from New York to Maryland. My grandmother sternly advised my father that taking custody was imperative for our survival.

Confronted with the dire state we were in—myself in a soiled diaper and a coat indoors for warmth, and my brother’s legal issues—my father decided to assume full custody and relocate all six of us to New Jersey. We lived with him until I was 15, at which point he moved out, and the house went into foreclosure, compelling us to fend for ourselves.

As improbable as it may seem, our parents’ departure ultimately led to the best outcome for us. It shaped us into the individuals we are today. At 17, with one year of high school remaining, I moved into my mother’s single-room apartment. Despite her inability, both financially and emotionally, to care for herself or me, this challenging period coincided with a college fair at my school. Having never discussed higher education—since neither of my parents had completed elementary school—I was inspired to seek a stable future. By a fortuitous turn of events, I was accepted into Montclair State College (now Univeristy) through their Educational Opportunity Fund program, which provided me with on-campus housing for five consecutive years, significantly altering the trajectory of my life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hello, my name is Jannillia Hamilton-Freeman. My journey into mental health advocacy began in a deeply personal context. Named uniquely after the spice “Vanilla” by my culinary enthusiast father, I grew up witnessing firsthand the challenges of mental illness within my family. During the 1980s and 1990s, the only term often used to describe someone struggling mentally was “crazy.” My sister, diagnosed at 12 after a suicide attempt and later displaying more severe behaviors, was my first encounter with what I would only later understand as mental illness.

Despite experiencing my own battles with panic and anxiety attacks, and observing similar signs in my eldest sister during her 40s, it took years to recognize these as symptoms of mental illness. The lack of support and understanding from my community prompted my commitment to change. I partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to deepen my understanding and began to actively educate others.

I launched “Anxiously OK,” an Etsy shop, and a corresponding TikTok page to challenge and change the narrative around mental health, especially within the African American community. Through these platforms, I share insights, experiences, and support, illustrating that mental illness should not be stigmatized.

Furthering my commitment, I completed NAMI’s peer-to-peer and family-to-family certification courses, qualifying me as a crisis interventionist. I am currently pursuing a second master’s degree in therapy to enhance my ability to serve and advocate effectively.

What sets me apart in my field is not only my personal experience but also my active approach to combining advocacy with education and intervention. I am most proud of the progress I’ve made in breaking down barriers and changing perceptions around mental health in communities where it’s often misunderstood or ignored. For anyone engaging with my brand or my work, I want them to understand that mental illness is a complex issue deserving empathy, respect, and proactive support.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

If I had the opportunity to revisit my career choices, I would undoubtedly select the same profession and specialty—but I would have embarked on this path much sooner. When I attended Montclair State College, now Montclair State University, I majored in Human Ecology with a focus on the Study of the Family. My initial intention was to become a family therapist. However, life took a different turn when I became a single mother at the age of 23. The need to ensure a stable and secure environment for my daughter took precedence, which led me to a longstanding career in the insurance industry, spanning over 25 years.

Reflecting on my journey, if given the chance to do things over, I would have pursued a career as a therapist earlier. The experiences I’ve had and the knowledge I’ve gained have only reinforced my passion for this field, and I am now actively working towards making that original aspiration a reality.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

For a long time, I struggled with the concept of resilience because it was an integral part of my life from an early age; it was not merely a choice but a necessity for survival. My life has been a continuous exercise in resilience, often against my will. However, one of the defining moments that truly epitomized my resilience was my experience as a single mother coping with panic and anxiety attacks.

There was a particularly challenging period when I could not drive without suffering from panic or anxiety attacks. This became impractical with a teenage daughter actively involved in basketball, requiring frequent travel for games and social activities. Recognizing the need to support her and maintain our lifestyle, I was determined to find a solution.

I embarked on a path to manage my condition through therapy and medication. This journey was not easy, and while I still manage my anxiety and panic attacks today, the effort I put into overcoming these challenges has allowed me to lead a fuller life. My resilience during this time not only ensured my well-being but also supported my daughter’s growth and happiness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://anxiouslyok.etsy.com
• Facebook: Anxiously OK
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anxiouslyok?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits
I have the rights to my images that I provided.