Former female professional wrestler and author of new memoir “Crazy Is My Superpower,” AJ Mendez Brooks hosted a Tumblr Answer Time on the mental health & wellness platform Post It Forward this afternoon to answer questions from her fans. This Answer Time is part of Tumblr’s larger initiative for Mental Health Month, where the platform is featuring new product integrations, original content, partnerships, and user-generated content.
Two years ago, Tumblr created Post It Forward to create a safe haven for users to talk about things they were struggling with like bullying, self-harm, and mental illness by sharing moments of positivity, self-expression, social change, and empowerment. Since then, the platform has become a leading source for mental health and wellness resources.
See below for some of her answers where she talks about her new book, her personal experience with mental illness, the WWE and more! And for her full Q&A you can click here.
Q: How’s life changed since leaving wrestling?
A: I sleep. Damn do I sleep. Also I’m about fifteen pounds heavier because donuts. Do you know about donuts? Donuts.
Q: What was your favorite chapter to write?
A: My letter to my future daughter was the first thing I wrote. It was my way of letting my editors know how ridiculous the tone of this book would be while still trying to send a positive message, and they were awesome about it. I also got to type “morning boners” so it’s maybe my greatest professional accomplishment.
Q: What do you think was the most important thing you learnt about yourself while writing your book ‘Crazy Is My Superpower’? Was the process therapeutic?
A: The process was free therapy. It definitely helped me heal old wounds. Once the book was finished I realized that if I take a huge goal one day at a time I can accomplish anything. Pretty sure this is my super hero origin story…
Q: Do you have any advice for people who *Think* they may have mental illness, but aren’t sure where to start the process of diagnosis?
A: My life officially started the day I decided to get treatment. There are a million ways to take that first step. Having a simple conversation with someone you trust, putting the words out there, can alleviate so much of the burden. I believe in all sorts of treatment from therapy to medication to simple steps you can take in your day to day life, but choosing action is the most important first step you can take.
Q: When you’re going through a hard time with your mental health, what do you do to cope?
A: What works for one person can be entirely different for another. So I had to try a lot of different methods to find that control in my life. I’ve discovered that physical exercise is a surefire way to clear my head and lift my spirits. There’s a definite science behind it, the rush of endorphins, adrenaline, etc- but ultimately it helps me to feel capable and strong.
Q: What made you embrace being the weird one?
A: I never fit in, no matter how hard I tried, in whatever situation I was in. I eventually realized that being different was the best thing about me. When you are confident in who you are, however “strange” that may be, it will actually attract people to you.
Q: Who are your favorite sports teams if you’re into sports?
A: I know nothing about sports except that arenas have amazing snack foods.
Q: What are some of your hobbies?
A: Sleeping, eating breakfast foods all day long, video games, eating more breakfast foods, petting strangers’ dogs, etc.
Q: What’s your favorite comic book? and why?
A: All time: The Killing Joke. I think the idea that one pivotal moment can either make or break someone is something I’ve held dear my whole life. You have to choose to not be broken. Current favorites are Saga, Monstress, Bitch Planet, Sex Criminals, Rachel Rising, pretty much anything with kickass female leads.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
