St. Marys Native Sara Berlesman Talks Mental Health, Writing And Asking For Help On Spectrum

St. Marys native and writer Sara Berlesman joined WCSM’s Spectrum with host Kevin Sandler to discuss mental health, writing, recovery and the importance of asking for help.

Berlesman now lives in Seymour, Tennessee. She is a writer and author who published a book in 2013 about her mental health struggles and alcoholism.

During the interview, Berlesman reflected on growing up in St. Marys and said she appreciates the experience more now than she did when she was younger. She said growing up in a smaller community helped shape her values, creativity and empathy.

Berlesman also said small towns can sometimes make it harder to talk openly about mental health because people may worry more about what others think. She said conversations around anxiety, depression, trauma and emotional struggles are more open today than they were when she was growing up.

She said writing has always been part of her life, going back to childhood journals and early creative work. Berlesman said writing became even more important when she decided to get sober, eventually leading her to write a book.

Berlesman said one of the most powerful lessons she has learned from sharing her story is that many people feel the same way but are afraid to say it out loud. She said when readers tell her “me too” or “I thought I was the only one,” it reminds her that being honest can help others feel less alone.

The conversation also focused on how people can support someone who may be struggling. Berlesman said it is important not to pressure or corner people, but instead to check in gently and normalize the conversation. She said some people who appear to be doing well on the outside may be struggling privately.

Berlesman also talked about self-care, boundaries and the pressure people often feel to stay busy and productive. She said people should remember their value is not based only on how much they accomplish.

For parents, Berlesman said it is important to create a home where children feel safe talking about their emotions without fear of being judged or punished. She also said parents should understand that children may open up to a teacher, coach, friend or another trusted adult, and what matters most is that they have someone safe to talk to.

Near the end of the interview, Berlesman encouraged anyone afraid to ask for help to remember they are not alone. She said reaching out once can be the first step toward finding someone who understands.

Berlesman also discussed trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, saying PTSD can come from many different life experiences and is not limited to veterans. She said people should not let others minimize what they have been through.

Berlesman currently shares much of her writing on Facebook and said she plans to continue posting future work there as well.