The Link No One Talks About: How Airway and Fascia Impacted My Mental Health

May 9

4 min read

Introduction: Mental Health Awareness Month — It Is Okay To Not Be Okay

Introduction by Shawn Sékou Bonney

Each May, communities across the nation unite to observe Mental Health Awareness Month — a time dedicated to shining a light on the vital role mental health plays in our overall well-being. Established in 1949, this annual observance serves not only to educate and inform, but also to reduce stigma, foster empathy, and encourage an open conversation about mental health challenges that touch so many lives. With one in five adults in the U.S. experiencing mental illness each year, and countless others affected indirectly, the importance of elevating mental health in the public consciousness cannot be overstated.

At its core, Mental Health Awareness Month is about connection and hope. It is a call to action to ensure that no one feels isolated in their struggles, and that everyone has access to the resources they need to feel seen, heard, and supported. By turning the spotlight on personal stories and journeys, we help dispel misconceptions, inspire others to seek help, and remind one another that it is okay to not be okay. Sharing these narratives is a powerful way to promote understanding, compassion, and healing.

Charity, from Cocoon to Bloom, with her husband and two children. — Charity and her family, cocoontobloom.com

We are deeply grateful to “Cocoon to Bloom” founder, Charity Spears, for courageously sharing her personal story of her mental health journey with us this month. Her honesty and commitment to uplifting others embodies the very spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month. We are honored to help bring attention to this significant topic.

Through open dialogue and active listening, we help build a culture that values and prioritizes mental health awareness — this month, and every month.

What If Mental Health Isn’t Just in the Mind?

What if the way we breathe — or can’t breathe — is playing a bigger role in mental health than anyone’s talking about? What if things like poor sleep, shallow breathing, and fascial tension are quietly making symptoms like depression, anxiety, and emotional instability even worse?

When the Diagnosis Finally Comes

I didn’t understand it either. Until it was my story.

In 2018, I finally reached out for help and was diagnosed with Bipolar Type 2. It was the first time someone gave a name to what I had been silently carrying for years — and the first time I gave myself permission to heal. That same year, I got sober. June 2018 marked the beginning of a new life.

Doing the Work — But Still Not Feeling Safe

But even after getting sober and starting therapy, something still felt off. My nervous system was on high alert all the time. I was exhausted, short-fused, disconnected. I was doing the work, but my body didn’t feel safe.

Motherhood Sparked a Deeper Search

Then I got pregnant with my daughter. And like many mothers, my world shifted again. I didn’t just want her to be healthy — I wanted her to feel regulated, connected, and safe in her own body. That desire led me to learn everything I could about the nervous system, early development, and trauma. And eventually, it led me to Craniosacral Fascial Therapy (CFT).

The Turning Point: Craniosacral Fascial Therapy

At first, I pursued CFT for her. But what I discovered changed how I saw everything — including my own mental health.

Through CFT, I learned how the airway and nervous system are deeply intertwined. How things like shallow breathing, poor tongue posture, mouth breathing, and tension in the fascia can create a constant state of survival in the body.

A Body in Survival Can’t Heal

And a body stuck in survival mode makes mental health struggles louder.

Let me be clear: I still have Bipolar Type 2. This is not a story where it magically disappeared. But I now know that the airway issues, the poor sleep, the chronic dysregulation — they didn’t cause it. They absolutely made it worse.

They triggered more mood swings. More exhaustion. More spirals. More misdiagnosed symptoms.

Because when you’re not breathing properly, not sleeping deeply, and your fascia is locked up in tension — your brain is constantly battling to function. That’s not healing. That’s surviving.

Reclaiming Regulation

So I began to do the work for myself.

I started myofunctional therapy. I received CFT. I re-trained how I breathe. I finally began to understand what regulation actually feels like.

Everything Shifted

And everything changed.

I could sleep. I could think more clearly. I could feel the difference between a flare and a trigger. I could respond instead of react. I could breathe.

Mental Health Is a Whole-Body Experience

Mental health isn’t just about the mind — it’s about the whole body. And for so many of us, especially kids, the airway is a root issue no one’s checking.

A Message for Parents and Struggling Adults

Woman sitting on the floor, hugging a child tightly in a cozy living room. Both are embracing, creating a comforting mood.

If your child is struggling with behavior, anxiety, potty delays, sensory overload, or emotional meltdowns…If you’re constantly overwhelmed, burnt out, reactive, or just barely holding it together…

Check the airway. Check the breath. Check for fascial strain.

When your body is no longer fighting to survive every day — healing becomes possible. From someone with mental illness… even that can feel more manageable.