From Rock Bottom to Wellness Leader: Britt Turpack Talks Anxiety, Digital Overload and Why Fitness Is Mental Health
…When you’re 5’8, blonde, and bubbly, people just assume you’re fine. No one would guess I was struggling with mental health or homelessness. Hitting that rock bottom made me realize something had to change. I got involved with a local mental health nonprofit called NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and started sharing my experiences with high school students through their programs. That really launched my journey as a mental health advocate…
I had the pleasure of talking with Britt Turpack. Britt is a Los Angeles-based mental health advocate and wellness educator whose work integrates lived experience, movement-based therapy, and peer support. Her approach, informed by personal struggles with depression, anxiety, and homelessness, emphasizes the accessibility and necessity of mental health resources — particularly for young women navigating the complexities of early adulthood.
Born and raised in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Turpack grew up in a close-knit Italian-American household. Her childhood was grounded in family tradition, Sunday dinners, and a strong sense of communal support. These early experiences provided a foundation of values that she would later return to in her work, though her journey to becoming a public mental health advocate was shaped by a more turbulent chapter in her early twenties.
Turpack moved to California after being accepted to Pepperdine University, fulfilling a long-held dream. However, the transition from her small-town upbringing to life on the West Coast proved difficult. Despite having been a high-achieving student involved in athletics and academics, she found herself overwhelmed by persistent sadness and anxiety that she could not initially identify. At the time, mental health was not as openly discussed as it is today, and Turpack struggled in silence.
Without the vocabulary or resources to understand what she was experiencing, she began making decisions that would destabilize her life. She left school, entered an unhealthy relationship, accumulated debt, and eventually became homeless at the age of 25. Her outward appearance masked the severity of her internal challenges — something she now frequently discusses when addressing the invisible nature of mental illness.
Turpack’s entry into mental health advocacy began after connecting with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals affected by mental health conditions. Initially participating in peer education programs, she discovered the healing potential of sharing her story with others. She became a certified NAMI Peer-to-Peer Facilitator, Group Leader, and Presenter, allowing her to reach audiences with firsthand accounts of resilience and recovery.
In tandem with her advocacy work, Turpack turned to physical wellness practices as a means of healing. She obtained certifications in yoga, Pilates, and Lagree fitness, as well as a credential in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction from Brown University. These modalities became central to her belief in the interconnection between mental and physical health.
In 2023, Turpack founded Be Well with Britt, a wellness initiative aimed primarily at supporting college-aged women. The program combines mental health dialogue, movement, and mindfulness in workshop-style sessions. A typical event features a 15-minute discussion on mental well-being, followed by a mat-based Pilates session, and concludes with breathwork or meditation. Since launching, Turpack estimates she has worked in person with over 10,000 students across campuses nationwide.
Her curriculum focuses on practical tools such as journaling, gratitude practices, and physical activity, which she presents as small, accessible actions that can yield long-term benefits. She is particularly vocal about the dangers of toxic positivity, instead advocating for emotional honesty and self-compassion. “If you have an emotion, feel it,” she often says. “The goal isn’t to avoid negativity, but to move through it with the right tools.”
In public appearances and interviews, Turpack frequently discusses the connection between nervous system regulation and digital overload, citing smartphones and constant screen exposure as major stressors. She recommends setting boundaries with technology and reconnecting with nature — be it a walk in the woods or time by the ocean — as ways to recalibrate.
Turpack also highlights the importance of community and social connection in supporting mental health. Whether through relationships, pets, or involvement in shared activities, she encourages people to develop meaningful bonds as a protective factor against stress and isolation. Her own self-care routine includes daily meditation, journaling, physical movement, and regular communication with loved ones. Even small habits — like making the bed or FaceTiming her family’s pets — are part of a structure she uses to maintain mental clarity.
Her work has been shaped as much by professional development as by personal introspection. She often frames self-acceptance as a daily commitment rather than a final destination. “There’s always something we can change,” she says, “but self-love comes from showing up for yourself consistently, even in small ways.”
In a landscape where mental health conversations are increasingly urgent but still stigmatized, Turpack offers a narrative that is both personal and widely resonant. Through vulnerability, structure, and a commitment to service, she has positioned herself as a distinctive voice in the broader movement toward mental health normalization and accessible wellness.
Her work can be followed through her website, bewellwithbritt.com, or on social media platforms under the same name.
Yitzi: Britt, it’s a delight to meet you. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share with us the story of your childhood and how you grew up?
Britt: It’s so nice to meet you. Thank you for having me. Totally. High level, just so people know, I’m a mental health advocate, speaker, and Pilates teacher. I live in Santa Monica, California, but I’m originally from Pennsylvania. I come from an Italian-American family, and I mention that because my childhood really revolved around family, Sunday dinners, and food. And wine — even though I was a little girl, it was just little bits. There was always a lot of loud noise, but in a really positive way. I come from a wholesome background, I guess you could say. I grew up in Central Pennsylvania, in Lewisburg, PA, and had a strong foundation of core family values.
Yitzi: Can you share with us the story behind your choice to become a mental health professional and a fitness professional?
Britt: Sure. Growing up in Pennsylvania, I was definitely a student who checked all the boxes — athletics, academics, friendships, extracurriculars. I always had big dreams of coming to California for school. What I didn’t expect was how hard the transition from high school to college would be. I got into Pepperdine University in Malibu, and when I got here, I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t feeling like myself. I was crying all the time, didn’t want to get out of bed, and had this overwhelming anxiety. At the time, I couldn’t even label it as anxiety.
Even just 12 years ago, mental health wasn’t talked about like it is today, so the emotions I was experiencing — I didn’t realize they weren’t normal. I didn’t know how to name what I was feeling, so I quietly lived with it. I didn’t have one dramatic episode that landed me in a hospital, but it was a series of poor choices that weren’t in my best interest. I ended up dropping out of school, getting into an unhealthy relationship, falling into credit card debt, and eventually, I became homeless at 25. I kept it from my family.
When you’re 5’8, blonde, and bubbly, people just assume you’re fine. No one would guess I was struggling with mental health or homelessness. Hitting that rock bottom made me realize something had to change. I got involved with a local mental health nonprofit called NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and started sharing my experiences with high school students through their programs. That really launched my journey as a mental health advocate.
From there, one thing led to another. I found a lot of healing through fitness, movement, yoga, and meditation, and I wanted to share that with others. So I’ve had these two parallel paths — mental health education and advocacy, which I continue with NAMI, and then fitness. Honestly, from a holistic health perspective, there’s so much interconnectedness between the mind and the body.
Yitzi: You’re very unique in how open and vulnerable you are about your story. You’ve shared about the challenges you faced, including homelessness. I think a lot of people would feel shame around that and not want to talk about it. Where did you find the courage to share your story publicly, and why was that an important part of your healing?
Britt: I didn’t intend for it to be. I just kind of stumbled upon NAMI, and serendipitously — I think it was God just aligning everything in perfect timing. There’s a lot of power in sharing your story for your own healing. I think it really comes back to this idea that when you’re genuinely of service, it doesn’t just help the other person, it helps you.
Yitzi: You probably have some amazing stories from your career as a fitness leader and health professional. Can you share with the readers one or two stories that most stand out in your mind from your professional life?
Britt: Totally. I have a business called Be Well with Britt that hosts mental health and wellness programming for college women. I created it two years ago out of my own personal need. I had a really touching experience just two weeks ago at the University of Arizona. I was working with their Panhellenic group, and the structure of my programming is 15 minutes of mental health discussion to help destigmatize the topic, 30 minutes of mat Pilates movement, and then we close with breathwork and meditation.
I’ve worked with over 10,000 young women in person over the last two years, and sometimes I forget the impact that work can have because not everyone shares openly. But during that session, one girl came up to me afterward and expressed how much she had been struggling and how much she appreciated and needed the message and the tools we shared. It was such a simple acknowledgment, but a powerful reminder of why I do what I do.
Yitzi: In your opinion, what do you think society and our culture can do to better support people suffering from mental health challenges?
Britt: I think it starts with having open and honest conversations. I know it sounds simple, but just doing that helps destigmatize mental health. There’s still such a heavy stigma around it. I have three main thoughts on this. That’s the first — conversation. The second and third are really connected, and they center around judgment. We talk a lot about mental health, but I think we should also be having a kindness conversation. That kindness should extend to others, of course, but also to ourselves.
Yitzi: That’s great. What do you think it is, particularly these days, that’s causing so much mental stress and intensity for all of us?
Britt: I think our phones. We’re constantly being bombarded with notifications 24/7, and it’s impacting our nervous system in a way that humans weren’t prepared for. That would be my number one answer. And then, a disconnect from nature.
Yitzi: So you think if we focused on those two areas — putting away our phones for a day or two, and spending more time in nature — we’d be much healthier?
Britt: Yeah, I do. And it doesn’t even have to mean putting your phone away for an entire day or two, but setting boundaries with it. Setting boundaries with technology, with screens, and really reconnecting with something outside of ourselves — like the ocean, the mountains, trees. Reconnecting with those living things makes a big difference.
Yitzi: You touched on this a little bit, but can you share the five strategies that you use to promote your own mental well-being?
Britt: Totally.
- The first one is — I know it sounds silly — but I make my bed first thing when I wake up. Doing a task right away sets you up for success to complete other tasks throughout the day.
- Number two is my meditation and prayer practice. It doesn’t have to be long. It could be a 60-second breath reset or five minutes — just something intentional to ground myself.
- Number three is my journaling and gratitude practice. I do this right after meditation. I don’t believe gratitude is toxic positivity. I see it as an exercise in perspective — acknowledging what’s working in my life or how I can grow from situations, even if they’re difficult.
- Number four is physical movement. That happens every day. Maybe it’s not a full Pilates class, but even a 10-minute walk. Just something to move my body.
- And number five is calling a loved one — my mom, my dad, connecting with my boyfriend, FaceTiming my pets. Just having that connection to community really grounds me.
Yitzi: That’s great. FaceTiming your pets? I haven’t heard that before. Is that common?
Britt: I don’t know, but I’ve actually started making it part of my morning routine. After I do all that other stuff, I call my animals and my parents’ animals. I love them more than anything. It’s so silly, but I love it.
Yitzi: If someone doesn’t have a pet, do you think they should get one to improve their mental well-being?
Britt: Oh my God, yes. Adopt too. There are so many cats and dogs in shelters that need homes. And if you’re not ready to commit to adoption, fostering is a great option. Animals are one of the best things you can do for your mental health.
Yitzi: Earlier, you mentioned something in passing — you said “toxic positivity.” Is that a real thing? What is toxic positivity, and when is positivity healthy?
Britt: Again, I’m not a medical professional. I have a peer, lived experience. I live with anxiety and depression. But no, I hate it when people say, “Always be positive.” Sorry, but that’s unrealistic. If you have a negative feeling, if you have an emotion, feel it. Maybe don’t sit in it forever — figure out your tools and ways to move through it — but to be dismissive of it is ignorant.
Yitzi: That’s great. That’s amazing. Can you talk a little more about the connection between fitness, physical activity, and mental health? Aside from the fact that it releases endorphins, can you dig into why a lack of activity might contribute to mental health challenges, and how more activity supports better well-being?
Britt: Well, I mean, emotions get stored in the body. Thoughts get stored in the body. So you have to move through that. Anxiety, frustration, fear — they live somewhere in us. So maybe going for a walk, taking a class, or lifting weights won’t completely take those feelings away, but it helps you go from feeling really overwhelmed to feeling more grounded.
And scientifically, I’m not saying anything new — we know about serotonin, dopamine, all those feel-good chemicals. But beyond that, when you come to your mat or your workout, it’s time with yourself. It’s a chance to be present, to reflect, and to check in. It kind of forces you into the moment, and that alone can be really healing.
Yitzi: That’s great. Can you talk more about the connection between our relationships and mental health?
Britt: Yeah, there’s a lot of science around loneliness and its impact on mental health. Even something as simple as a hug or social connection can make a big difference. I just think community is so important. Wherever you can find that — whether it’s in a fitness space, a church, a club, or any kind of activity — it supports overall health and well-being.
Yitzi: That’s great. How about the opposite — people who become devastated or overwhelmed by not having a relationship or going through a breakup? Some people need relationships to feel mentally healthy, but how do you not let the absence of a relationship, or the end of one, take such a toll on your mental well-being?
Britt: Well, I mean, I’m an introverted extrovert. I recharge by being alone, even though I still need connection and stimulation from people. But I think it’s important to realize that connection doesn’t always have to come from other people in a traditional sense. It could be your cat, your dog — just some kind of living presence that brings comfort. It doesn’t always have to be a romantic relationship or even a big social circle.
Yitzi: Can you talk a little bit about stress reduction? How do you manage it?
Britt: I’m a big fan of hand-on-heart, hand-on-stomach breathing. I do what I call “brain breaks” or check-ins throughout the day. Before I go into a meeting, before I see someone, or after I get off a phone call — I take these little micro resets. Coming back to your breath for 60 seconds or just taking three deep breaths. Over time, it’s the best way to take care of yourself. It’s like gas in a car — you fill up that gas tank, and it helps sustain you when you really need it.
Yitzi: Because of your great work, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could put out an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be?
Britt: If I could inspire a movement, I think people just need to have more fun. People need to connect with each other and just enjoy life more. Like a dance party or something! That’s why I love my classes. I know I’m biased, but they’re fun. You move, you breathe, you reset your nervous system, and you’re doing it in community with others. But honestly, it’s just a fun experience.
Also we need to cultivate that relationship with ourselves — to find real self-love and self-acceptance.
Yitzi: Could you talk a little more about that? How does someone truly get to a place of self-acceptance? What if they’re unhappy with how they look, their fitness level, their job, or their relationships?
Britt: There are always things we can change. There’s so much within our capacity. Not everything is going to work out the way we want, but it goes back to that gratitude practice — choosing to see what is working in your life, and if something isn’t, making the choice to change it.
Self-love and self-acceptance is a journey. It’s about committing to yourself every single day. Maybe that means asking how you’re going to show up for yourself, setting boundaries, creating a morning routine, or sticking to a fitness plan. You find yourself through those practices. It’s in the consistency where you really build that connection with yourself.
Yitzi: That’s great. So how can the readers continue to follow your work? How can they get in touch with you or join your programs? How do they support you in any possible way?
Britt: Follow me on Instagram or TikTok, Be Well with Britt. Check out my website, bewellwithbritt.com. If you want to book me for anything — speaking engagements, one of my Be Well with Britt events — I’d love to support.
Yitzi: It’s been so delightful to meet you. I wish you continued success and good health, and I hope I can do this again next year.
Britt: Yes, thank you. I appreciate it.
From Rock Bottom to Wellness Leader: Britt Turpack Talks Anxiety, Digital Overload and Why Fitness… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.