AJ Mendez Brooks (AJ Lee) hosted a “Tumbler Answer Time” Q&A session on the mental health and wellness platform Post It Forward. She spoke about her favorite comic books, how her life has changed since WWE and more. Here are highlights:
On how her life has changed since leaving wrestling: “I sleep. Damn do I sleep. Also I’m about fifteen pounds heavier because donuts. Do you know about donuts? Donuts.”
On her favorite chapter to write in her book: “My letter to my future daughter was the first thing I wrote. It was my way of letting my editors know how ridiculous the tone of this book would be while still trying to send a positive message, and they were awesome about it. I also got to type ‘morning boners’ so it’s maybe my greatest professional accomplishment.”
On the most important thing she learned about herself while writing her book and if the process was therapeutic: “The process was free therapy. It definitely helped me heal old wounds. Once the book was finished I realized that if I take a huge goal one day at a time I can accomplish anything. Pretty sure this is my super hero origin story…”
On people who suspect they have mental illness but aren’t sure about getting treatment: “My life officially started the day I decided to get treatment. There are a million ways to take that first step. Having a simple conversation with someone you trust, putting the words out there, can alleviate so much of the burden. I believe in all sorts of treatment from therapy to medication to simple steps you can take in your day to day life, but choosing action is the most important first step you can take.”
On what she does to cope with her mental health: “What works for one person can be entirely different for another. So I had to try a lot of different methods to find that control in my life. I’ve discovered that physical exercise is a surefire way to clear my head and lift my spirits. There’s a definite science behind it, the rush of endorphins, adrenaline, etc- but ultimately it helps me to feel capable and strong.”
On embracing her weirdness: “I never fit in, no matter how hard I tried, in whatever situation I was in. I eventually realized that being different was the best thing about me. When you are confident in who you are, however “strange” that may be, it will actually attract people to you.”
On her favorite sports teams: “I know nothing about sports except that arenas have amazing snack foods.”
On her hobbies: “Sleeping, eating breakfast foods all day long, video games, eating more breakfast foods, petting strangers’ dogs, etc.”
On her favorite comic book: “All time: The Killing Joke. I think the idea that one pivotal moment can either make or break someone is something I’ve held dear my whole life. You have to choose to not be broken. Current favorites are Saga, Monstress, b—h Planet, Sex Criminals, Rachel Rising, pretty much anything with kickass female leads.”
