---
title: How Ballroom Dancing Saved my Mental Health
description: How ballroom dancing saved my mental health by Dance Vision, Brand Director, Morgan Wissel.
image: https://blog.dancevision.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design-3.png
---
[](https://blog.dancevision.com)
[](https://blog.dancevision.com/)
[Get started for free](https://dancevision.com/)
[Dancesport](https://blog.dancevision.com/tag/dancesport) [Beginner Guides](https://blog.dancevision.com/tag/beginner-guides) [Dance Culture](https://blog.dancevision.com/tag/dance-culture) [Inside Dance Vision](https://blog.dancevision.com/tag/inside-dance-vision) [Tips and Tricks](https://blog.dancevision.com/tag/tips-and-tricks)
---
[Get started for free](https://dancevision.com/)
# How Ballroom Dancing Saved my Mental Health
May 16, 2022 | [Morgan Wissel](https://blog.dancevision.com/author/morgan-wissel)
[# Dance Culture](https://blog.dancevision.com/tag/dance-culture)
Just like dancing, sharing one's story is deeply personal, requires vulnerability, and can even be scary. I am dedicated to breaking the stigmatization of mental illness, while helping others find joy through ballroom dance.
I’d fallen for the “shoulds” in life. You *should* do this to make money. You *should* do this to be happy. You *should* do this to be successful. You *should* quit dancing. And so I did.
For 8-10 years I felt an emptiness in my heart.
Until one day, I hit rock bottom. The emptiness grew into a bottomless pit.
I felt hopelessness and despair; I thought of my family, my nieces, my nephews, my significant other, my dog, and yet, experiencing happiness felt so far removed. Impossible, really.
I hadn’t showered in weeks. I slept through the mornings, through noon, through night. I considered taking my own life. I was diagnosed with a mood disorder, encompassing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
—
I made a change. I returned to dance. And to no surprise, [dance welcomed me with open arms](https://blog.dancevision.com/what-are-the-benefits-of-ballroom-dance).
Dance lessons feel like trips to Disneyland. Having showcases and competitions on my calendar makes every morning feel like Christmas morning. With dance, life has the joy and meaning I forgot existed.
I now find myself building a human-focused brand with which brings the power of ballroom dance to the lives’ of others. Teaching and learning the Waltz Box isn’t merely about the steps...every day I show up to the office and studio, I am reminded of my journey, who I serve, and the potential for me to help them feel like they’re meant for more.
To close, I’ll share an interaction I had with a [friend](https://blog.dancevision.com/member-stories-linda-morse-bourgeois).
After I lost my husband, I had a hole in heart. When I’m dancing, it feels filled,” she said.
I simply smiled at her, because while our stories are different, I couldn’t agree more.
—
You can hear more about my experience [here.](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-rock-bottom-to-living-with-meaning-and/id1509766996?i=1000523017659)
[](https://dancevision.com/)
### Sign Up to Stay Updated!
 
Company
- [Dance Vision](https://dancevision.com)
- [Foundation](https://dancevision.com/foundation)
- [Merchandise](https://shop.dancevision.com/collections/dv-merch)
- [Examiner Directory](https://dancevision.com/examiner-directory)
- [Independent Studio Directory](https://dancevision.com/studio-directory)
- [Teacher Directory](https://dancevision.com/teacher-directory)
Customers
- [Help Center](https://help.dancevision.com/)
- [Contact Us](https://dancevision.com/contact-us)
Legal Stuff
- [Terms](https://dancevision.com/terms)
- [Privacy](https://dancevision.com/privacy)
Follow Us
- [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/user/dancevisionlasvegas)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/DanceVisionOfficial/)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dancevisionofficial)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/29305103/admin/feed/posts/)
- [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@dancevisionofficial)
- [Discord](https://discord.gg/tyWtAn6gFf)
© 2026 Dance Vision
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Morgan Wissel",
"url" : "https://blog.dancevision.com/author/morgan-wissel"
},
"dateModified" : "2022-06-06T23:44:37.957Z",
"datePublished" : "2022-05-16T16:34:23.000Z",
"headline" : "How Ballroom Dancing Saved my Mental Health",
"image" : [ "https://blog.dancevision.com/hubfs/Untitled%20design-3.png" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://blog.dancevision.com/how-ballroom-dancing-saved-my-mental-health",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://blog.dancevision.com/hubfs/DV-logo-2021-1.png"
},
"name" : "Dance Vision"
}
}
```