The Beauty of Being You

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Of all the things happening in the world every, single day, the one feature you should always be able to rely upon is yourself. You are the constant in this ever-changing landscape and without a doubt the best opportunity you have for self-improvement.

When you spend much of your time in front of a camera, whether it be on your phone, webcam or a video shoot, it’s really easy to start picking fault with every little detail. This can often come to the forefront for those performers and models who have created an alternative persona for work. The fear of your mask slipping and showing the real you to the outside world is ever present.

Much of this worry is due to the constructs that society places on labels and what they mean. Your family and friends may object to your chosen career, or they may have absolutely no idea what your job entails. The further away your work persona is from the real you, the harder it is to remain in control.

Disguise or Reveal?

It’s a strange concept to understand and get your head around but in real life men don’t really prefer blondes. You only have to scan the first page of any of the popular Cam and Adult sites out there to discover that the reality is actually further away than you imagine.

One of the most popular Cam girls ever is a red head, another has a bust size of 28A, whilst another wears glasses while on cam, even though she has near perfect eyesight. More and more the top girls on Cam are not conforming to the stereotypical blonde with big fake tits look.

Shedding Light on the Secret You

So, what does this mean for you? It definitely allows you the freedom to be more natural and not feel the need to hide behind a wig and a face full of makeup. It gives you permission to spend far less time honing your skills with your fake persona. You get to take advantage of improving other talents, such as interacting and conversing with others.

You don’t need to go out and buy lots of expensive items of clothing and underwear if you don’t want to. Just ensure you feel comfortable in what you wear. If you’ve never worn stockings and suspenders before, don’t start now as you won’t look natural on camera. There’s nothing worse than someone who is more concerned about what they are wearing, than what they are actually doing on cam or during a photoshoot.

Your Daily Aims

If at all possible, try and stay focused and make sure you keep in touch with your loved ones and friends. It’s crucial to your state of being, so that each day has a focus and meaning. You don’t need to speak to everyone, every single day, nor wait until the weekend before reaching out. Don’t wait for people to contact you first, remember some people find opening up a bit of a struggle. They are also the ones who truly appreciate that you were thinking about them and made contact.

The same applies to your fans and contacts on Cam, the more you stay in touch by messaging and sending them updates about your day, the more they’ll be likely to remain loyal. Don’t stress out when they are short of cash and can’t spend it on you, it costs nothing to send them a short message and will gain their loyalty in the long run!

Be Good to Yourself

Everyone has bad days from time to time and if you are having a particularly awful day, it’s not something you should really be sharing with anyone other than your nearest and dearest. These are the times when you need to unwind, relax and give yourself a treat. It doesn’t have to be something which costs money.

You could try some Yoga, or Breathing exercises, or perhaps reward yourself to a nice cup of hot chocolate and a good book. The time you take to care for you, is crucial to your wellbeing. It will enable acceptance of your whole being with or without faults. You’ll feel differently about creating improvements to your mind and body and no longer feel that you have to punish yourself for those tiny faults you previously perceived as mountainous.

Pineapple Supports

Pineapple offers all types of support groups and resources for improving your mental health and overall wellbeing. There is no stigma, and the team are there specifically for online, adult sex workers, worldwide. There are webinars covering specific areas and events which aim to bring like-minded people together.

Remember, you are loved, we are listening, and you are not alone!

Pineapple Support, The Cupcake Girls To Host Event for World Mental Health Day 2022

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, will host an in-person event to celebrate World Mental Health Day 2022, in collaboration with The Cupcake Girls, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting sex workers. The event is free and open to anyone working in the adult industry and will take place at The Cupcake Girls’ Las Vegas office on Monday, October 10th from 4pm to 7pm (PST).

Mental health professionals Monique Martihnez-Quiros and Michele Green will lead discussions about how best to navigate the adult industry, both professionally and mentally. Attendees will also be invited to discuss how the organization can strengthen its connection with the adult community. Food and refreshments will be provided and professional photographer Casey Jade will be offering free headshots for all who attend.

“Join us this World Mental Health Day to have your say on how we can do more to support the adult community in the future,” says Leya Tanit, Pineapple Support CEO and Founder. “We’re incredibly excited to partner with The Cupcake Girls on this event and we can’t wait to hear directly from you about how we can better support each other in our community.”

Tanit founded Pineapple Support in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 8,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“After taking headshots with a professional photographer, we’ll sit down together for food, to have an intimate talk about what you feel is missing from the adult industry and what can be improved,” says Tanit. “We’ll also be welcoming questions about how our therapists can support you and your peers, as well as how we can support each other and create a stronger adult community on World Mental Health Day. This is your chance to have your say and influence the future of your industry.”

The World Mental Health Day event with The Cupcake Girls is free and open to anyone working in the adult industry and will take place at The Cupcake Girls’ Las Vegas office on Monday, October 10th from 4pm to 7pm (PST). For more information, location details and to reserve your place, please email kelly.boyett@thecupcakegirls.org.

Pineapple Support To Host ‘Interpersonal Effectiveness’ Support Group

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, will host a free, online support group with a focus on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) techniques that performers can use to improve interpersonal relationships. The seven-week support group, “DBT – Interpersonal Effectiveness” will be led by Pineapple therapist Sophia Graham and will begin on Thursday, October 6th at 2pm EST.

“This course invites you to reflect on the myths that hold you back in relationships and teaches you skills to be more assertive,” says Graham. “We will talk about how to prepare for difficult conversations by creating scripts and anticipating pushback. We’ll be using DBT techniques to develop the tools and strategies you can use to navigate all types of relationships in your life.”

“This course invites you to reflect on the myths that hold you back in relationships and teaches you skills to be more assertive”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 8,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“Being able to approach difficult conversations with confidence, experience, and knowledge can be a real game changer,” says Tanit. “This support group is open to any performer that wants to learn some flexible and scientifically-supported DBT skills that will help you to have clearer communication and more fulfilling relationships.”

The seven-week “DBT – Interpersonal Effectiveness” support group begins on Thursday, October 6th from 2pm until 4pm EST. Sessions will last for around two hours and will take place online each Thursday at the same time until November 17th. For more information about this support group and to reserve a place, visit https://pineappleie.teachery.co/interpersonal-effectiveness-us.

Benefit Monkey joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome Benefit Monkey as a supporter-level sponsor. The ethical porn specialist joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“Pineapple Support fulfills a very important mission towards every person in this industry,” says Alex ‘The Monkey,’ CEO of Benefit Monkey. “Since the partnership between Benefit Monkey and Los Huequitos began, we have joined forces to improve the production environment and make our industry a more comfortable place to work. Sponsoring Pineapple Support is a small action that each of us should commit to taking — their services are an important part of the health of this industry and of every sex worker.”

“We have joined forces to improve the production environment and make our industry a more comfortable place to work.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“I’m so grateful to Benefit Monkey for their support,” says Tanit. “Thanks to donors like them, we are reaching record numbers of performers with life-saving services. Donors enable us to work every day to answer questions, provide referrals, and offer subsidized sessions to those who need it most. As an industry, it’s crucial that we come together, and I’m thrilled to have Benefit Monkey alongside us.”

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please click here. Details about additional ways to support, as a company or individual, can be found here.

Sliquid Joins Pineapple Support As Supporter-Level Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome Sliquid as a supporter-level sponsor. The natural, intimate wellness brand joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“We were absolutely thrilled when Pineapple Support reached out to us about a possible sponsorship,” says Dean Elliott, Founder and CEO of Sliquid. “We are a brand that understands, and wholeheartedly supports, the talented sex workers who make this vibrant industry so special. Sliquid’s mission and core value of advocating for comprehensive sexual wellness perfectly aligns with that of Pineapple Support. With such an important, necessary, and diverse range of services to address our industry workers’ mental health, there is simply no way we could pass up the chance to be part of furthering Pineapple‘s mission.”

“Sliquid’s mission and core value of advocating for comprehensive sexual wellness perfectly aligns with that of Pineapple Support.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“I’m grateful for Sliquid‘s sponsorship and support, helping us to meet the increasing demand for our services,” says Tanit. “Thanks for giving back to the adult industry and endorsing our mission to ensure every model has access to mental health services when they need it.”

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please click here. Details about additional ways to support, as a company or individual, can be found here.

Pineapple Support Continues Corporate Training Initiative – Crisis Or Attention?

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, continues its Corporate Training Initiative with a special session to help staff at individual companies identify when a performer or creator is in crisis. The training session, “Crisis Or Attention?” will be led by therapist Nicki Line on August 30th at 1pm EST.

“Social media is a powerful platform that allows us to share our voice with others and at times you may come across statements from individuals that appear dramatic or driven by attention-seeking behavior,” says therapist Nicki Line. “At times it can be but at other times it’s a cry for help. That’s why this webinar will explore the difference between a crisis and attention-seeking behavior, so you can spot the difference on your platform and provide help for those who need it.”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, which is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has so far connected over 5000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost, therapy, counseling and emotional support.

“We want platforms to be as effective as possible at identifying performers in crisis,” says Tanit. “Too many people dismiss crisis behavior, and assume that a performer in crisis is just being dramatic. However, it’s vital that we ensure that support is provided to everyone – even those that appear to be looking for attention deserve the same access to mental health support as everyone else. This session will educate employees who interact directly with performers to recognize the signs of someone in need of immediate support. By doing this, we can make sure everyone gets the help they need.”

“Too many people dismiss crisis behavior, and assume that a performer in crisis is just being dramatic…”

Sessions within Pineapple Support’s Corporate Training Initiative are exclusively available to employees of companies that sponsor Pineapple Support. Interactive training sessions take place every two months and are available to rewatch on a password-protected website.

More details about the upcoming training session can be found here.

If you have a business and would like to find out how to become an official sponsor of Pineapple Support, view the available packages by clicking here.

Elevated X Joins Pineapple Support As Supporter-Level Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome Elevated X as a supporter-level sponsor. The content management system for adult websites joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“We love what Pineapple Support is doing for our industry,” says AJ Hall, Co-Founder and CEO of Elevated X. “We are excited to lend our support and contribute to providing resources for those in need.”

“I’m very thankful for the support of Elevated X,” says Leya Tanit, founder and CEO of Pineapple Support. “It’s heartwarming to know we have the support of performer- and creator-focused companies that are taking action towards keeping those that sit at the heart of the adult industry safe and healthy.”

Tanit founded Pineapple Support in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please click here.

NSFW.app Joins Pineapple Support As Bronze-Level Sponsor

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Pineapple Support, the adult industry’s leading mental health nonprofit, is pleased to welcome NSFW.app as a bronze-level sponsor. The decentralized social platform for content creators joins over sixty adult businesses and organizations in committing funds and resources to the organization.

“We’re proud to be sponsors of Pineapple Support,” says Mark Hassell, Talent Manager for NSFW.app. “We believe in putting adult content creators at the heart of everything we do, so it’s important for us to play a part in making sure there is always access to emotional support, should anyone ever need it.”

“We believe in putting adult content creators at the heart of everything we do…”

Pineapple Support was founded by British performer Leya Tanit in 2018, after a string of losses in the adult industry from depression and other mental illnesses. The organization, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States, has connected over 5,000 adult performers to mental health services, including free and low-cost therapy, counseling, and emotional support.

“I’m thrilled to welcome NSFW.app as a generous sponsor of Pineapple,” says Tanit. “Thank you to all the team for helping us to meet the soaring demand for mental health services from adult performers that need support. It’s only by coming together as an industry that we can make sure every performer has direct access to help, whenever they need it.”

To learn more about becoming a sponsor of Pineapple Support, please click here.

The Real Benefits of Therapy

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For some people ‘Therapy’ is a dirty word and they envisage Freudian types charging the earth and promoting the need for repeat visits. However, anyone who engages with a Pineapple therapist may just tell you “They saved my life”.
Pineapple Support have put almost 1500 individuals in touch with a therapist for on-on-one therapy during the last 2 years and there are currently 227 clients receiving one-on-one therapy.
There are many inspirational quotes which provide positivity and Pineapples therapists strive to bring confidence and encourage self-belief.

Albert Schweitzer – “Happiness is the only thing that multiplies when you share it.”
Carl Jung – “The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no one recipe for living that fits all”.
Confucius – “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”.
Is There Such a Thing as Free Therapy?

There are many types of actions which we as individuals can term as ‘therapy’ and are indeed ‘free’. We can love another, make someone happy, provide them with moral support or simply be an ear for whenever they need it. However, sometimes the situation requires a whole lot more than a few kind words or a hug.
Professional therapy does have a cost and this is where Pineapple Support come in. Recognizing the need that Sex Workers in the online industry have, is the key to providing the correct support. Ensuring that those giving the therapy are open and in tune with the industry our clients operate in, is paramount to making this work.

The Cost of Therapy
All therapists engaged by Pineapple have licenses relating to the country they operate from. For some they are licensed per state. Each and every one is checked annually by us to ensure their licence and renewal is up to date, and there have been no reported items against them. There are currently just under 250 therapists providing support worldwide.
Pineapple are extremely lucky in that many of their therapists provide a reduced cost for the sessions they provide. Normal rates can be anything up to $300 per session and in some sectors a lot, lot more. However, it can be reduced to as little as $100 per session for our clients.

There are up to 16 sessions allowed, so even at the reduced rate, that can still total $1600 per client.
In the first 6 months of 2022, the incredible support by our sponsors and donors has meant we have been able to provide much needed therapy, at a cost of nearly $250,000.
We are so proud of the help and support we are able to give, thanks to the generosity of all those concerned. Without your help,

Tori Amos – “Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little deep to find it”.
Louise Hay – “You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens”.
Buddha – “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”.

How to ‘Man Up’ in Mental Health

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Being a 6’7 ex pro-athlete and on and off model, I have felt the full effects of society putting me into a box.

“You are too tall to have problems in life.”

“You are too good-looking to be depressed.”

“Man, you are living the dream.”

“I’d do anything to be you.”

I was the epitome of judging a book by its cover, and I let those people sway my thoughts about how I was supposed to live life.

What was happening inside my head and heart was the exact opposite of what those people perceived.
• Fear of failure
• Fear of being judged
• Thoughts of being inadequate
• Fear of not performing how women expected me to
• Constant anxiety from standing out

It wasn’t until I got C-PTSD from an abusive end to a relationship. Also, watching my father die from Parkinson’s, did I finally stopped worrying about what others thought and started acting for myself.

These are 5 takeaways from the lowest point in my life that helped me build myself up to the happiest version of myself to date.

1. Let your thoughts out
Society’s old views of how men should act, focus on us not showing any emotion, physically or verbally. I soon realized in my darkest moments that if I kept holding in my fears, I would never be able to overcome them.

There are many ways to take those thoughts swirling around your head and have them out in the open to digest in a new light.
• See a therapist weekly (here is a great article on how to email a therapist for the first time to help you start)
• Write daily in a journal
• Talk out loud to yourself when alone

2. Fail more often
Working on your personal growth is hard. By the time you are in your 20s and 30s, you have created this form of yourself from life lessons. This version of you kept you safe, guided you through puberty and now is all you know.

You can’t snap your fingers and re-train your brain to act differently. Instead, you need to fight that initial urge you have.

In the beginning, you will lose to the ‘old you’ far more than you win. And that’s ok!

Getting comfortable with failing is one of the main ways we learn and grow.

3. Get uncomfortable weekly
Constantly testing your comfort bubble will help your overall growth to combat anxiety, depression and other mental health struggles.

By choosing when you will get scared and most likely inducing the emotional pain, you can step away at any time it becomes too much to handle.

The more you poke, prod and test your comfort bubble, the easier it will be to handle other uncomfortable situations you can’t see coming.

4. Exercise often
Working on your fitness will help you feel more confident in your body, but not only that. Being physically healthy and in good shape does not get enough credit for our mental health.

Pushing yourself daily in the gym, CrossFit, spin class, or any other 60 minutes of sweat-inducing working out will constantly force you into those uncomfortable moments of potential anxiety-inducing pain.

Working out also positively affects the hormones and chemicals inside our bodies. Constantly leaving you in a better mood than when you showed up at the gym.

5. Learn how to sleep
“Learn” is the critical word in this section.

We all sleep at some point. Our bodies were made to shut down when we hit a critical point of exhaustion. That’s not the hard part.

What isn’t easy is getting constant sleep, night after night, that leaves you feeling well rested and repaired from the previous day.

All of these factors of everyday life can and most likely can or do affect your sleep.
• Money struggles
• Addiction to your phone/social media
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Relationship issues
• Loss of loved ones
• Anxiety
• Depression

Here are some tips to start working at bettering your sleep
• Stop looking at your phone/tv/computer 30 minutes before your start your evening routine to go to bed.
• Track your sleep patterns with a sleep tracking device and app.
• Eat cleaner/healthier foods before bed that your stomach can digest more easily while asleep.
• Journal before hopping into bed. This will help de-clutter your mind if you have difficulty falling asleep..

Getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t happen to people who say, “I wish I could sleep better.” It occurs from trial and error and hard work.

It took me 35 years plus losing my father to finally start seeing things from a new angle in my life.

There is no blueprint to this and we are all different. So don’t be hard on yourself my friend, in time it will start looking brighter for you too.

Paul Marlow / Tall Paul
Paul is a mental health speaker & leading global Tall Men’s Fashion expert. Helping men 6’3+ feel confident in their bodies.
Learn more about Tall Paul