The Power of Sharing Your Story: Ripley from Aliens on Helping Friends and Family
- Bruce Schutter
- Sep 15
- 5 min read
The other day, I was craving a chicken sandwich, so I headed to my favorite spot, expecting the usual lunchtime rush. But when I pulled in, the parking lot was deserted — except for one massive spaceship hogging every space. Clearly, this wasn’t your ordinary lunch crowd. Inside, mystery solved: Ellen Ripley from the Aliens movies was standing at the counter, calm as ever.
Now, if there’s anyone who’d park a spaceship for a chicken sandwich, it’s Ripley. I placed my order, and since it was just the two of us, we started chatting. She noticed my Mental Health Warrior Program sweatshirt and asked what it was about.
I explained that for 20 years, I struggled with Bipolar Disorder, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. I felt so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in that dark time, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that truth, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge!
Ripley leaned in, intrigued. “You know,” she said, “in all my spacefaring adventures, the thing that kept me and my crew alive wasn’t just firepower — it was emotional resilience.”
Engage with Compassion
Managing emotions, according to Ripley, was crucial in overcoming the constant life-or-death challenges she faced.
“Absolutely!” I said, glad she understood the importance of emotional strength. “But here’s the tricky part — when friends or family struggle with mental health, we want to help but don’t know how.”
“That’s why I wrote Mental Health Warriors RESPOND to Crisis. The RESPOND mnemonic gives a clear roadmap, and this moment ties directly to the ‘E’ — Engage with Compassion. One of the most powerful ways to engage is by sharing your story.”
Ripley leaned back thoughtfully. “I agree — it opens the door for people to share their battles without feeling pressured.” She gave me a knowing look. “When someone realizes they’re not alone, it can make all the difference.”
She paused, then leaned in with a half-smile. “Let me give you three examples of just how powerful sharing your story can be."
Example 1: Helping Hicks Face His Fears
Ripley recounted how her crew member, Corporal Hicks, had his own fears of losing people close to him. After surviving a terrifying xenomorph attack, he became more withdrawn, avoiding any discussions about his mental state.
One day, Ripley decided to share her story of losing her daughter while she was in stasis for 57 years. By showing Hicks how deeply that loss affected her, she opened the door for him to talk about his own fears.
Our Turn:
I’ve seen the same power in my own life. When I first opened up to a friend about my struggle with Bipolar Disorder, it wasn’t easy — I worried they wouldn’t understand or would see me differently. But instead of pushing them away, it did the opposite. My honesty gave them permission to admit that they were struggling too, even though their challenges were different. From there, we had real conversations that built trust and connection.
That’s the lesson: when you go first and share your story (or mine), you show others it’s safe to share theirs. Vulnerability becomes the bridge that turns silence into support.
Example 2: Bonding with Bishop over Humanity
Next, Ripley talked about Bishop, the android who struggled with understanding emotions.
While Bishop technically couldn’t "feel" in the traditional sense, Ripley noticed he often seemed out of place when the crew bonded over shared experiences. One day, Ripley opened up to Bishop about her complicated relationship with trust —e specially trusting people again after Ash, another android, had betrayed her in the past.
Sharing about her vulnerability with Bishop made him feel accepted as part of the crew, and he responded by becoming fiercely loyal. "In a way, sharing made him more human," she laughed.
Our Turn:
I’ve found the same to be true in my own life. When I’ve shared my experiences with Bipolar Disorder or PTSD, I sometimes assumed that only those who had been through similar struggles would “get it.” But I was wrong. Even friends who couldn’t fully understand what it’s like still connected with my honesty. They told me my openness gave them the courage to think differently about their own challenges and to be more compassionate toward others.
That’s the power of sharing — it doesn’t just resonate with people who’ve walked the same path. It builds connection across differences, reminding us that being human means learning from each other’s stories.
Example 3: Giving New Recruits Hope
Finally, Ripley shared a story about a young recruit on the mission to LV-426. He was terrified — every bit of training hadn’t prepared him for the reality of facing xenomorphs.
Ripley pulled him aside and, instead of giving him a pep talk about courage, she shared how she, too, had been terrified on her first mission to that same planet. She was blunt about how overwhelming it was.
"But I also showed him how I found my strength in that fear. It gave him hope that fear wasn’t something to be ashamed of, but something to embrace."
Our Turn:
I’ve faced that same kind of fear during emotional downswings with Bipolar Disorder or in the middle of a PTSD episode. In those moments, it felt like I’d never find my footing again.
But when I’ve shared those vulnerable times with others, something surprising happened: instead of pushing people away, it gave them hope. They realized they weren’t weak for being afraid — just human. And more importantly, they saw that fear can become the very place where strength is born.
That’s why sharing isn’t just telling your story (or mine) — it’s offering a lifeline. Your honesty may be the hope someone else needs to face their own storm.
Wrap Up
As we wrapped up our conversation, our chicken sandwiches finally arrived. Ripley chuckled and glanced out the window. “I should probably move my ship before they tow it. Spaceport parking tickets are no joke!”
I laughed and handed her a copy of my book, Mental Health Warriors RESPOND to Crisis, so she could dive into the full 7-step RESPOND approach to helping others — and the SHIELD framework for taking care of yourself.
As we left, we both knew this truth: by sharing our stories — whether Ripley’s space adventures or my own Mental Health Warrior journey — we can help others realize they’re not alone.
And here’s your challenge: the next time you see a friend or family member struggling, don’t stay silent. Share your story (or mine.) Engage with compassion. Your honesty will spark hope and connection, making both of you stronger… and ready to triumph over any challenge!
Bruce Schutter
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