A book designed to eliminate anxiety stigma started a movement last year at a time of heightened anxiety.
Lentini, 58, co-wrote the book Anxiety Insights with her daughter Nicole, a psychiatrist based in Chicago. They each documented their own human struggles with anxiety, alongside those of other family members and loved ones.
“One of my main passions in life is to eliminate the stigma around living with mental health issues,” said the Montgomery, NY resident.
Her passion for eliminating mental health stigma led her to become senior vice president of human resources and talent management at ACCESS: Supports for Living, an agency in Middletown, NY.
As clients and families underwent emotional trauma, she found herself in the midst of grief.
She lost her father, stepmother and mother to different causes.
“I think the hardest part this year was you could not grieve,” she said.
Her newfound grief and her book connected her with others across social media during the pandemic.
“The outreach is surprising,” she said. “I think people are using social media a lot more to connect.”
Lentini started a series of virtual events and clubs late last year to strengthen these new connections. She created a website and looks forward to hosting both virtual and in person events to address anxiety.
She received a life coach certificate last year through an Udemy program online, and plans to use the family farm she inherited from her father in Goshen to start a wellness retreat.
“It will be called Legacy and Lace Acres, because legacy is for my dad,” she said. “That is kind of the concept that I am working with right now.”
For more information on Anxiety Insights, visit www.amazon.com/Anxiety-Insights-What-Gets-Through/dp/173294945X
Correction: Lentini’s upcoming wellness farm is Legacy and Lace Acres. It was originally written as Legacy and Lease. News to Stay Sane regrets this error.
