We recently had the chance to connect with Sheree Braswell and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Sheree, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was in 2022. That year, I graduated from college, shared my mental health story on the news, was featured on various platforms and publications, won awards for my advocacy, and traveled to North Carolina with my family. The year before had come with its share of obstacles, but 2022 felt incredibly rewarding — as if everything I had worked for was finally overflowing into something beautiful. In that season, I truly understood what Romans 8:28 meant when it says, “He makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Sheree Braswell! I’m a mental health advocate, speaker, and the author of three published books—all available on Amazon. What makes my brand unique is my transparency. I openly share both the highs and lows of living with Bipolar Disorder I.
In the past couple of years, I’ve scaled back on my advocacy due to personal experiences with trauma, and mental health challenges. I’m currently preparing to begin EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)—and here I go being transparent again, lol. I’ve always shared my journey openly, including the setbacks. While some may view these past two years as a setback, others might say it was actually a setup for something greater.
I’m also a Certified Peer Support Specialist, which means I use my lived experience to walk alongside others on their mental health journeys. As much as I could sit in regret or shame over what I’ve been through, those experiences have shaped me for my purpose.
I know what it’s like to suddenly stop taking your medication, and in my early days, I resisted treatment altogether. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re finally in remission, only to experience symptoms all over again. I know the pain of not being fully accepted—of feeling rejected and disposable because of your mental health story.
I’ve struggled through seasons that felt never-ending. But I also know what it feels like to overcome and find victory through Christ. I know the fear of asking for help, and I’m deeply grateful for the handful of people who have stood by me. I’ve experienced suicidal ideation—even after the mountaintop moments. And because of all of this, I can genuinely relate to others and remind them: you are never alone.
That’s what makes my brand unique. I don’t pretend to have it all together—and honestly, I probably never will. I’m human. I’m far from perfect, but I lean into God’s grace every single day.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I believe my mom could see me clearly—long before I ever saw myself. She always believed I was called to do something big in life. She always felt that if I could let go of the shame surrounding my mental health, God would truly use me to help others.
Whenever I had an episode or a breakdown, she would gently say, “Oh, my beautiful daughter… you have such a beautiful mind.” At the time, I was confused—how could she see beauty in something that felt so broken? While I felt out of my mind, she insisted that my mind was something special.
I’m incredibly grateful for my mom—her patience, her love, and the way she always saw the best in me. I love her so very much. Her endearing words, calling it a “beautiful mind,” reminded me that I was more than a diagnosis. She helped me believe there was still beauty, purpose, and strength in me.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I’ve learned that it’s only a failure if you give up. Proverbs 24:16 says it best (New King James Version):
“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.”
As much as I’ve wanted to throw in the towel, there’s always been a still small voice from God—and sometimes a friend, family member, or even a crisis line—that reminds me it’s worth pushing forward.
I felt like an absolute failure in 2023. I experienced a valley moment in 2021, then a mountaintop moment in 2022, only to find myself back in the valley again in 2023. Even though I was receiving incredible prophetic words, it felt like my life was flipped upside down, and sometimes I didn’t understand why. I was angry and hurt.
Thank God for therapy—I’m still working through those emotions. What I’ve learned is that setbacks and heartbreaks are a part of life, but what truly matters is how you come back. Right now, I’m allowing God to lead my comeback—one that will bring Him all the glory, not me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that what matters most to me is Jesus, my family, my friends, my chi-poo fur baby Billions, and leaving behind a godly legacy with an amazing, godly spouse. They know how deeply I long to be loved and accepted for who I am—especially after witnessing my heartbreak and mental health journey.
At this point in my life, having a life partner who loves Jesus as much as I do (if not more), and who is supportive, loving, caring, and compassionate toward me and my mental health—that person being my best friend, and having a healthy, thriving relationship where our purposes align—is what matters most to me right now.
As a single 33-year-old woman of God, alignment and purpose, orchestrated by Him in His perfect timing, are incredibly important. Until then, I will keep focusing on myself, my purpose and my healing journey.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What light inside you have you been dimming?
I feel like the light I’ve been dimming is my passion and fire for God—my drive to pursue my dreams in advocacy and to expand my reach, just as God promised me I would since I was a teen. Over the past couple of years, I’ve felt knocked off course, and getting back on track has been harder than I expected. At times, I even felt like I ruined my purpose.
But one of my doctors told me, “It’s impossible to ruin your purpose.” Others have reminded me that what I’ve been through actually makes me more relatable. It shows that I’m human, that I’m bound to make mistakes, and it has given me deeper empathy to truly understand what others have experienced.
Contact Info:
- Website: www,shereebraswell.com
- Instagram: sheree.p,braswell
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-braswell-985b5756/
