05/17/2026
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and many have asked about my inspiration.
The inspiration for The Run Down with Roz Inc. was born from my own journey of healing and finding my voice. There was a moment when I finally found the courage to share part of my story. As I spoke, I felt a weight begin to lift off of me. For the first time, I felt the freedom that comes with telling the truth about your experiences.
But that moment was quickly followed by something I did not expect. Judgment!
I heard statements like “I wish someone would,” “It couldn’t be me,” “Why did she stay?” and “I don’t believe her; he doesn’t seem like that type.” Those words cut deep. Just when I was ready to speak, the judgment around me silenced me.
For a while, I shut down. My circle changed, and my circumstances changed. Even as people around me began to share their own stories and tell me they needed my voice, I stayed quiet because I feared being judged again.
But silence became heavy.
My journey was not only shaped by the experiences I had endured but also by the impact those experiences had on my mental health. I was diagnosed with anxiety, PTSD, and depression after years of navigating childhood trauma, domestic violence, sexual assault, struggles with self-worth and more. There were times when I smiled on the outside but was silently fighting battles within. I remember a moment when someone once told me that being my friend was exhausting. Those words stayed with me because, at the time, I had already felt like I was losing pieces of myself.
I watched my husband, family, and friends try to love and support someone who was struggling in ways they did not always understand. That experience opened my eyes to how deeply trauma and mental health challenges can affect not only the individual but also the people who care about them.
It also showed me how much stigma still exists around both domestic violence and mental health.
I realized that my story wasn’t just about me. It was about the people who were still suffering in silence, afraid to speak because they felt alone or misunderstood.
I began speaking again.
What started as sharing my story grew into something bigger than I ever imagined. I began receiving invitations to speak at Purple Light events, retreats, and community gatherings. People started approaching me afterward to say, “Thank you for saying what I’ve been afraid to say.”
Slowly, the voices of negativity became quieter, and the voices of healing became louder.
That journey is what led to the creation of The Run Down with Roz Inc. a space where people can be vulnerable without judgment, where voices are heard, and where individuals are reminded that they are not alone.
Through compassion, empathy, and honest conversation, The Run Down with Roz Inc. exists to help others find their voice, reclaim their strength, and begin their own journey toward healing while also working to break the stigma surrounding mental health and domestic violence.
