Meet Trailblazer Emily Anna Jones

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Anna Jones.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve never been asked to sit down and write my story out. I honestly don’t even know where to begin or what I feel comfortable sharing. However, I’ve decided to make this about my mental health story and my journey overcoming my own living hell. The earliest that I remember noticing my anxiety disorder is around eleven or twelve. I use to get really anxious for no reason at all and that would lead to severe nausea within half an hour of those feelings building up. I use to complain to my parents that my stomach was hurting and they would shrug it off as no big deal or just tell me to lay down for a while. Knowing what I know now, it was actually the illness just manifesting itself. Over time, I had complained so much about my stomach that my parents actually thought I had a stomach ulcer or some type of food sensitivity because of the random bouts of nausea. After all kinds of doctor visits and scans, everything came back normal and healthy so nothing else was pursued at that time. About a year or two passed and my condition began to show up in other ways like OCD, biting my nails, picking my lip, and panic attacks. At that point, my symptoms clearly pointed to some sort of anxiety/emotional distress, so my parents took me to a doctor to see what our options were from there. That’s when the real hell began. At the ripe age of 15, I was prescribed Xanax. Xanax was the first medication I was ever given to treat my anxiety and it was also the hardest pill to get weened off of when I became addicted to it in less than a year of being on it.

After addressing that nightmare, I was then prescribed Lexapro which is an antidepressant that helps aid in anxiety disorders as well. Initially, I liked my new medication because I couldn’t tell that I had taken anything and it just seemed to work more as a mood stabilizer, but over time, that would change. I started to have bizarre mood swings, severely depressed, unable to connect with anyone emotionally, suicidal thoughts, and lashing out at family/friends. It felt as if the anxiety that I had turned into a very dark and very angry place. This would continue for years until one night in my college apartment where one of my “episodes” (that’s what I call my meltdowns when referring to that time and space) landed me in an emergency room and shortly after admitted into a psychiatric hospital. I don’t remember much from that day, other than how weak my legs felt when trying to walk into the hospital after getting out of the ambulance. I was trembling, my knees were buckling, and I could feel my body ready to send itself into panic. That panic feeling didn’t leave when I realized the person I had to room with was schizophrenic. I was absolutely terrified of her and would call the nurse countless times in the night just so I didn’t have to sleep alone with her. I think I maybe slept 3 hours a night during my stay at that hospital. Let’s just say it was a very hard adjustment and a very ill environment to find any sort of healing in. My first couple of days, I was very rude and sarcastic. I refused to eat. I refused all medications and all therapy.

By day 2 of this behavior, my nurse and doctor sat me down and told me that they believed I had an eating disorder and that if I kept refusing medications, food, and help that I was going to be punished by having more time added on to my stay. I felt so trapped; like I had no more say in my own healing and my own body. I immediately got up from my chair and physically attacked my nurse. I wanted to rip her throat out. After the attack, I was put in isolation and so heavily drugged that I remember laying in bed and hallucinating that the walls and curtains were breathing. I also remember imagining myself strangling my nurse with those same curtains. Sick – I know. But, important because it was the first time in a long time that I had felt any real human emotions even if it was extreme anger. It was no longer an option of fight or flight – only fight. When I finally was released, I knew that everything had to change. I mean everything, so that’s when I started planning a move.

A few weeks passed and I’m back in my psychiatrist office to follow up on how I’m adjusting to my new medications in the “real world.” (A term I still hate to this day.) During our conversation, he said, “Ya know, Emily – you cannot heal in the same place you got sick.” Looking back now, in some weird way, it was actually okay that I was looking to move and start over. I told him in that meeting about my need to start over and my dream of doing just that in Colorado. I was worried that he wouldn’t be in support of it and that it may lead to legal action being taken to keep me there. I was scared that he and/or my parents would say that I was a threat to myself or others and that I wouldn’t ever get the opportunity to try. But, to my surprise, he actually was on board with it and handed me a list of doctor’s names here in Colorado if I needed them.

Eight months later, I landed right here in Denver, Colorado. That was November of 2015. It is now July of 2019 and I have been off of all medications since mid-2016. I’ve gotten huge into holistic health, mental health awareness, and bodybuilding. I even won 1st place at the Colorado State Championship in 2017 for bikini division. If you would’ve told me then that experiencing all of that would lead me here, I would’ve never believed you. I am very proud of myself, my healing, and my story. I would not want it any other way. My challenges have sculpted me into the proud woman I am today and I love her so much. There is beauty in the breakdown.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been far from a smooth road, but what journey or experience worth having is easy? When talking with young girls or women facing similar challenges as my own, I always remind them that asking for help is not a burden, sign of weakness, or a confirmation that they’re crazy. That the feelings or emotions that they’re experiencing are real and valid and not to be apologized for. Life is hard and sometimes, it’s hard to see the bigger picture when you’re actually deep in the midst of it. The stigma surrounding mental health and the medications to help aid it needs to stop. Mental health is just as, if not more so, important as physical health and they go hand in hand. So many people fear that they’ll be judged for being in therapy or being on medications or even just discussing it with friends or family. I truly want to change that and let people know that it is okay and that they’re not alone. The wound is where the light enters. When you hide it away, you do a disservice to yourself and others.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
For the past few years, I’ve been in the fitness industry where I had great success. I was in management at 24-hour fitness for three years and its also how I was introduced to training. I fell in love with it and started training for a bodybuilding competition myself. After doing that for two years, I had a hip injury and was unable to continue bodybuilding. I knew that an active lifestyle was a huge part of my mental health, so I started my journey to yoga and holistic health/healing. Now, all of my focus is on and bringing awareness to mental health in a positive way.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Tough question, but I think most of the problems being faced regarding this matter is that women who are trying to shed awareness surrounding mental health and illness is that they’re sharing their story for attention rather than doing so to help others accept and see their own truth. I see great strength and healing in vulnerability and there are so many stories out there that need to be told concerning this.

Contact Info:

• Email: iamemilyjones17@yahoo.com
• Instagram: blenderbottle.bae
• Facebook: Emily A. Jones

Image Credit:
RK photography and productions (only for the bodybuilding show pic.)

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