Victoria Arlen is an accomplished motivational speaker, TV host/reporter, author, gold-medalist swimmer, philanthropist. With her TV career spanning more than a decade and starting at the age of twenty while in a wheelchair, Victoria has achieved far more than ever imagined, especially after not being expected to live to 15 years old and facing obstacle after obstacle. Her achievements and story of survival have been recognized internationally and nationally, including by the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
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A television host and gold-medalist swimmer shares her previously untold story of moving beyond survival to true healing, offering hope and help for anyone battling the silent pain of mental health struggles.
Imagine appearing to have it all—a miraculous story of survival, a rewarding career as a TV host and reporter, multiple medal wins in swimming, and the opportunity to travel the world speaking—but silently wanting to end it all … and nearly succeeding. At the height of her success, Victoria Arlen found herself in a hopeless place she calls Rock-Bottomville.
Behind the smile was a struggle few could see. Victoria could no longer outrun the anxiety, depression, PTSD, panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts pulling her down. She was known as the woman who—despite being written off as a lost cause—had emerged from a four-year vegetative state and survived. Then very quickly thrived. But the weight of being “the successful survivor” became too much. She spent a decade encouraging others not to give up, but she was slowly giving up on herself.
In this powerful book, Victoria speaks directly to the rising mental health crisis among younger adults, sharing helpful tools and powerful truths to remind us:
- Your story does not end in defeat.
- You can find a purpose for the pain.
- There are blessings in the breakdowns.
- It’s okay to not be okay.
As Victoria has discovered, the climb out of Rock-Bottomville is steep, but the view from a place of faith, hope, and healing is always worth it.
