Meet Dionna Hundley
From BoldJourney.com--
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dionna Hundley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.Dionna , we are so appreciative of you taking the time to open up about the extremely important, albeit personal, topic of mental health. Can you talk to us about your journey and how you were able to overcome the challenges related to mental issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.Honestly at times, I don’t. But when I do; it’s a great feeling. I have a condition called PNES and Psychosis. PNES stands for psychogenic non epileptic seizures and examples of psychosis are hearing things that aren’t there, seeing things that aren’t there, having a hard time speaking and paranoia. Which are all things I experience. Back in the day there was no such thing as mental health; you were just crazy. Most people didn’t believe in mental health. My seizures are based on stress and my emotions, at times they are from my low blood pressure.Sometimes my bodies tells me before I can notice that I’m going to have a seizure. I always educate people I come across about my seizures so they could be aware; in case it happens. There are times when I am faced to explain to my students about my condition so they wouldn’t be scared if it happens. I had taught my students how to handle the situation and how to get another adult in the classroom. For the most part they handles it very well. I don’t like my students seeing me this way but I understand that it happens. My seizures along the lines has made health complications such as removing the tissue; that protects my ankle bone and foot bone from rubbing against each other. Also, my shoulder bone is chipped and dislocated eleven times because of seizures.It can be really hard to stay mellow at times especially since I am a goofy and outgoing person. I love to have fun and make people laugh. At times I suffer from depression and anxiety. When I do overcome these challenges, I am in my zone. I love music and sometimes I even write poetry or my own songs. Modeling theme shoots are my favorite way to cope my stress. I can get into character and explore new experiences at the same time. If I’m not doing any of those things then I am painting. It’s unique and they all have some sort of meaning to them. I have an old soul and funkadelic/hip hop is my style of art. Abstract and graffiti art is another kind of art I enjoy doing. While coping I felt accomplished because I fought through something that some people have died from. I’m grateful to walk and talk without major complications. My art and others are the things that help me overcome my mental health challenges.Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?I would tell you about the old me but how does that describe the new me. The thing is that I will always be a creative person no matter what I do. Whether it’s modeling or teaching my students. I’m about to turn thirty and a lot of things have changed in my life. For an example, I’ve gained weight and slowed down on modeling due to lack of confidence. I started seeing a change with my hair. A lot of damage happening to my hair. I am also getting tired of my teaching career. I want to stay in education but I want to work as a behavioral technician. Working with students with disabilities. So I am going back to school for Psychology and Child adolescence.The new me is still finding her way. Being less on social media to find my sanity. I don’t want to show my followers my life all the time. I don’t want to follow the algorithm anymore unless it’s on my time. I’m also learning to love myself no matter what. Plus, my new weight looks good on me. I no longer look sick and don’t care about what the modeling industry thinks anymore. If you can’t handle the curves; then get off the highway. I am excited that I am acting in the movie “ Degrees” with Director Deshawn Newby. I am excited because I haven’t been in a movie since I was little. I get to tap back into my acting career. This movie will be shown on big platforms like Amazon Prime. My story is still being written.Outside of this chapter in my life. I will never give up on my dreams. One of them is my program D.O.P.E KQ. (Determined only on Pure Excellence. A program to encourage students to exercise positive actions such as self esteem and anti bullying. Students will perform these actions inside and outside of school. Outside of our parents; some students did not receive every life skill and neither does school. While receiving this information, students are encouraged to brings dreams to life; at an early age. There’s no more “ when I grow up “. Why not plan it now!? Even though mistakes are apart of life; I always thought how things would be if I started making those mistakes early on. Since I’m already grown up; I want the best for my students. Of course another modeling team. Mines is different because I teach my student principals and morals. Teaching students how to be a big sister/brother to a student lower than their grade. I didn’t have that in school. I was bullied all through my life and felt lost.There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?The most important thing to me is to take care of your health. If you feel something or notice something. Don’t ignore it! My health has made a big impact whether it’s mentally or physically. I can’t tell you how to live your life but it’s advice. For my friends hitting thirty and don’t know what to do. It’s ok to feel change that’s apart of life. The question is what are you going to do with that change. Your body won’t feel the same if you’re still eating out. Your finances won’t stay the same if you’re going out all the time, eating out all the time, or even lending money all the time. The same way I tell my students; make that change early on.I was listening to a motivational video by Eric Thomas. He said in Proverbs 13:24 that “ the soul of the lazy man desires and has nothing But the soul of the diligent shall be rich. A lazy man desires will always be a dream”. That last part plays over and over in my head even when I think I’m going to be lazy. I was stuck in depression and was like a robot in everything I did. I don’t want the things on my vision board to just be a thought. I want it to be real and want to feel the experience. In other words don’t give up. Another one is you will feel pain in whatever you do. You choose the pain you want to go through. They said “ you feel pain if you don’t go to the gym and you feel pain when you go to the gym.” But do you get the same results. In other words pick your pain; this is discipline. I’m a deep thinker and love when I can see life in a different light. These are my coping strategies and you will find yours. Try them all out to see what works for you.Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?I spoke a little bit on it already but I can say this. I am facing change in every way. The things you wanted to do when you were young or in your twenties won’t always feel the same. Like myself, you will get tired of doing the same things. Guess what? It’s ok to feel that way. Maybe use your interests and connect with another field of work; you are doing. Or just change it all together. I have been working since I was sixteen. As much as I want to lay down and let the money roll; I can’t do that. That wouldn’t be a great story to tell in an interview or to my children. Change is a good thing if you make it a good thing. Source: boldjourney.com