Hello, I'm Laura, the founder and main "stresse" here at Stressé.
I'm happy to call Jackson Hole home where I get to be an athletic coach, and avid matcha latte fan.
The idea for Stressé was born in the MRI machine; I was undergoing a two-hour-long brain scan. I was instructed over the speaker to minimize swallowing, as any movement could compromise the accuracy of the test. For the first time in my life, I felt the panic that comes with an anxiety attack. I was trying to remember the tools I had learned in therapy, but could barely recall them.
My background is in Exercise Science, not the fashion and design industry. In 2022, I had completed my professional education at the Mayo Clinic. I was fully immersed in athletic coaching in Jackson Hole and was competing as a professional triathlete. I was loving life…
On the morning of August 8th, 2022, while folding laundry and chatting with my husband in our living room, I unexpectedly passed out.
That night, I found myself in the ER, reaching out to clients to notify them of postponed training sessions for the week. Initially thinking it might be a simple issue, little did I know that this would lead to a transfer to the Mayo Clinic for eight weeks of hospital visits, numerous tests, and ending with a diagnosis of a rare heart condition.
I was devastated. I felt as if my identity (professional and personal) was shattered, and it hit me hard 15 minutes into a 2-hour MRI. I experienced a panic attack for the first time, and it has given me a newfound respect and empathy for those of us who hold those emotions daily.
The final months of 2022 proved to be challenging, providing me the opportunity to sit with myself, unlearn aspects of who I thought I was, and discover new ways of being.
The tools we learn in therapy are only useful if we can remember them in challenging moments; I don't know about you, but that's tough for me, so I decided to launch a brand where we use the tools learned in therapy as graphics.
Stressé Collective is more than a brand; it's a bright spot in my life. I adore this little community, which includes you. I'm genuinely excited to see where this goes & would love for you to join!
Air Hugs,