Tracey Yokas creates stuff. When she isn’t writing about mental health and wellness, she can be found playing with paint, glitter, and glue. She shares about her family’s journey with mental illness so others will know they are not alone. She is dedicated to supporting women in the journey towards authenticity, and fulfills her mission by creating safe spaces where art, words, and vulnerability meet in dynamic community. Tracey earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from California Lutheran University and lives in Newbury Park, CA, with her family.
You can find her on Facebook (@traceyyokascreates) and Instagram (@traceyyokas) or on her website, www.traceyyokascreates.com.
Her memoir: Bloodlines: A Memoir of Harm and Healing. (Pub date: May 7, 2024)
Summary
In the interview, Dr. Marcia Sirota chats with Tracey Yokas about her journey as a mental health advocate, which began when her daughter faced challenges with disordered eating and depression. Tracey highlights how crucial it is to have open conversations about mental health and to support each other in our communities. She shares her own healing journey, realizing that to truly help her daughter, she first needed to tackle her own emotional struggles. This experience opened her eyes to how parents’ behaviors can significantly affect their kids, making it clear that modeling healthy relationships and practicing self-care is essential.
Tracey also dives into the healing power of creativity, which has become a big part of her life and a way to build connections with others. She talks about intergenerational trauma and how our childhood experiences shape who we are as adults. A key takeaway from her story is the idea of “ruthless compassion,” which means facing tough truths about ourselves and others with kindness. By sharing her experiences, Tracey encourages everyone to prioritize self-care, reminding us that taking care of ourselves not only helps us but also has a positive ripple effect on our families and communities.
Key Quotes from Tracey Yokas:
“Throughout our journey, I discovered countless families facing similar challenges. However, I found a lack of personal narratives that captured the mother’s perspective and the family’s experience.”
“It took me a significant amount of time to understand that I couldn’t dictate the course of my daughter’s illness, no matter how much I wanted to help.”
“To truly support my daughter in a healthy way, I needed to confront and heal my own unhealthy behaviors that were affecting our relationship.”
“Engaging in creative activities has become a profound passion for me; it not only combats perfectionism but also nurtures self-acceptance and awareness within a supportive community.”
“If we neglect our own well-being, we inadvertently teach our loved ones that they should do the same; prioritizing self-care is essential for everyone’s growth.”
