At 29, Leah, a West Philadelphia native, is navigating the complexities of adulthood while embracing her passion for music and mental health advocacy. Her story is proof of the power of self-care, creativity, and community to fostering well-being and heal from anxiety.
Leah’s journey with anxiety began early. “I started to experience anxiety at 8,” she recalls. What others mistook for butterflies because of a crush with a classmate, Leah experienced as the grip of anxiety. Rapidly, her thoughts about a classmate became concerns about all her social relationships: “How is everybody thinking of me? Am I weird?” Writing songs became Leah’s outlet, a way to process the overwhelming emotions that adults in her life could not explain.
Today, Leah is an accomplished local musician who uses her platform to create safe spaces and facilitate conversations about mental health. “A lot of my songs are about mental health and experiences with mental health,” she explains. Her performances aim to break stigmas and create a sense of home for her audience.
Leah’s commitment to mental health extends beyond her music. She conducts workshops and presentations for youth and adults, focusing on the eight dimensions of wellness. Her therapeutic creativity workshops foster empathy and connection: “Everybody comes to the workshops with different experiences, but then we learn that we all have experienced the same emotions.”
Faith plays an important role in Leah’s approach to helping others. “My belief in God has definitely helped me help others process their emotions and experiences,” she shares. This belief fuels her desire to be a supportive presence in her community, offering hope and understanding.
Despite acknowledging the world’s challenges, Leah remains optimistic: “The world feels daunting and hopeless, but I have hope. We all have a capacity for love, hope, and joy.”
Leah emphasizes the importance of self-care in maintaining her positive outlook. She’s learning to “practically love myself” and “filling my cup.”
Her advice? Create a list of self-care activities and treat yourself with the same kindness you show others. “Self-care does not have to cost money. I realized that I could take care of others and myself through simple acts: making a cup of tea, going for a walk.” Leah is a big fun of Philadelphia’s many parks and hiking trails.
“How can I replenish myself?” Leah asks, the same question many of us grapple with. Her song “Spend It Well” captures her quest for balance. Through her music and advocacy, Leah reminds us that well-being is a journey of self-discovery, community support, and intentional self-care.
Music is a great vehicle for emotions. Learn more about the effect of music on emotions, mood and body.
Follow Leah on Spotify and see her perform live on February 21st in East Falls.
Leah has also been interviewed on the Better on the Inside podcast: Part 1 and Part 2.
