Meet the Founder!
Hello! I’m so happy to have you here. My name is Michelle Faler (or Shell, as my friends and family call me). I hope this site provides a welcoming environment that helps you with your mental health. Please use this space to share your experiences with mental illness. I’d also love to know what has helped you better cope with or overcome your mental health struggles.
I’ve suffered from Generalized Anxiety Disorder for thirty years. For decades, I felt like something was wrong with me, and I would never be normal. I created this site because I don’t want you to think you are unworthy of love, happiness, and companionship. There is nothing wrong with us. We all deserve to feel fulfilled.
Writing about mental illness can be heavy, uncomfortable, and rather textbook-esque. I prefer discussions that are personal and enjoyable. If you have a potty mouth, swear away. If you want to write about how the Doctor Who fandom helped you with your social anxiety, let your geek flag fly. (I’m a HUGE geek and proud of it.)
When I was a kid, my dad would explain complex concepts to me by relating them to our favorite movies and TV shows. This gave me an idea: we can use popular media to process our mental health issues in a light, fun way.
It doesn’t matter what your tastes are. I don’t care if your top sitcom is Family Guy or Friends, or your most loved music is by Lady Gaga or The Lumineers. You should never feel embarrassed about what you like and who you are. At Spring from My Shell, we can talk about ourselves without fear of judgment.
I hope you are at home here. Let’s all spring from our shells together!
Our Mascot!
Meet Spring from My Shell’s mascot Shellton! He’s inspired by a tiny turtle figurine that sits on our founder Shell’s desk.
Shellton’s cute and encouraging presence keeps Shell motivated and confident when she doubts herself. Shell’s delightful little pal helps her spring from her shell when she wants to shrink into it.
We hope you enjoy seeing Shellton around our site as much as we do. Special thanks to Shell’s sister Angela Boersma for creating him. How can you not love that adorable face!