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Social media has given rise to a new breed of influencers aiming to have the right in the world, who use their charisma and creativity to engage and inspire their followers. Among these influential figures is Flores, who has carved a unique identity in a world where conformity often reigns supreme. Flores believes that everyone deserves to live their best life, and he uses his platform to promote mental health, well-being and resilience.
At 27 years old, Flores was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Since then, he has used his experience to help dismantle dated and untrue beliefs about OCD by partnering with various charities. Additionally, this diagnosis ultimately led him down a path of self-discovery; from being consumed by fear and depression to recognizing himself as an advocate for those affected by OCD. It took the assistance of a therapist to whom he promised to help others as a to thank you for Flores's healing journey to begin - but now it is safe for us all to say that Flores has gone from survivor to thriver with OCD.
He is also a public speaker with two TEDx Talks, TEDx 2022 & TEDx 2018. In 2018 Flores gave a TEDx Talk about the education system and how we can do more to ensure no one is left behind. His second TEDx talk was on "The straitjacket of masculinity and male mental health" in 2022. His third TEDx entitled “The revolution is through the mind" the power of the upcoming psychedelic revolution about why drug policy and drug laws are preventing the research into psychedelic treatment that could potentially help many individuals with their mental health struggles.
Flores recently appeared on Unapologetic on Channel 4, which is hosted by Yinka Bokinni and Zeze Millz, as Black guests talk freely about Black Lives Matter, racism, football and social media, without holding back. Featuring guests from the worlds of politics and popular culture. It was a great opportunity to present to the black audience about OCD.
Flores left the modelling industry in spite of success where he was featured in many magazines including 7hues, Cloud, Pap, Candid and Vogue Italia. Alongside catwalks at London Fashion Week and worked with commercial fashion brands such as ASOS, Papa John, UBER, John Lewis and Peleton.
Since then Flores has spoken out about the dangers of the modelling industry that left him with disordered eating, which drastically changed his relationship with his body and mental health. From being positively affirmed whilst at his very worse physically, Flores engaged in restricted eating in attempts to achieve cheekbones which at the time was positively affirmed. Whilst modelling brings much social and cultural capital, he left the industry in an attempt to help others"
Speech Topics
The Straitjacket of Masculinity
OCD took me to the brink of suicide, where I contemplated the various ways to take my life. In a year where after my OCD diagnosis in April, then my stepdad ended up in a home as he has vascular dementia, and has rapidly declined. My aunty who helped raise me after my dad died on Christmas day when I was six years old, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After this, I tore my ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), MCL (Medium Cruciate Ligament), and meniscus and fractured my leg. I then ended up in the hospital with severe pneumonia.
After this I found out my cousin was murdered, his body was tied up and he was found with gunshots that killed him. Then whilst in therapy, I found out my half-brother who I never met and only communicated with a few times died of cancer on 25th August. Then, my Aunty, my mother's sister also died.
There was so much pressure on my back and the responsibility and weight of being a man weighed too heavily on me. The one thing that was supposed to be my coat of shining armor my masculinity, was instead the straitjacket I wore. Being a man at times brings about unique struggles, but writing suicide notes is ready to say goodbye to everyone. I stopped myself and went to sleep and woke up crying scared of where my mind could take me. Hopelessness became hope and my
voicelessness became the voice I needed. I realized just how many people reached out to me that change was needed.
Attendee Results:
- Understanding the unique struggles that men face
- What we can do to challenge toxic masculinity
- The difference between hegemonic masculinity vs toxic masculinity
- The effects suicide has on society and those around them
- What in society can we do to encourage more men to speak up about their mental health
- How we can best support men to speak up
The revolution is through the mind | The power of the upcoming psychedelic revolution
Why is current mental health medication failing? During my time on medication antidepressants for my OCD recovery, I discovered that the antidepressants were not helping at all, I was still struggling and incredibly anxious. I wanted to help others so I enrolled on a psychedelic trial at Imperial College London which was a NHS trial for psilocybin which aimed to assess the therapeutic capabilities of psychedelics on OCD symptoms.
The trial drastically reduced his OCD symptoms. Since then he has sought to understand, explore and speak more about the power of altered states of consciousness. From survivor to thriver with OCD, he has reclaimed his life and become an advocate|activist for those with OCD.
According to a 2006 research project, psilocybin was reported to significantly reduce symptoms in OCD patients. The results were positive, yet, no further research has been carried out since due to a lack of funding. Current drug law and drug policy hinder more research which could potentially help lives.
Attendee Results:
- When we hear drugs what comes to our mind?
- Do we consider alcohol? Tobacco? sugar?
- Where do we get these views from? Yet they have existed in many previous civilizations we are the only society that bans altered states of consciousness
- The cost of the war on drugs is in the trillions, yet it has failed
- A potential radical solution for the future of those who live with mental health illnesses.
Whether you have taken recreational drugs in society or not, is not the issue or the problem, it's we pretend as if in society people don't take drugs and it harms people more. •'It is past high time to accept the fact that a society without drugs is an illusion'. This session shares why it’s important for us to challenge our misconceptions and prejudices about drugs and where we get them from, how society has shaped our perceptions and ideas and we have never challenged it. The takeaway is for us to think differently about drugs and to have more of an objective view of drugs regardless if we take them or not. "
Cleaning up the mess that OCD made | The misconceptions of OCD
OCD it’s a condition that affects 1–2% of the population, but it’s often misunderstood. So what is it like to live with obsessive-compulsive disorder? One man shares his story of acceptance and advocacy
When we hear the word OCD, many images come to mind: cleanliness and symmetry. Maybe even something comical “I am so OCD.” But for those living with OCD, it is the opposite of comical.
I use the word 'living' and not 'suffering', as language is very important. 'Suffering' infers a constant state of negativity, trying to survive, whereas 'living' suggests harmony. I live with OCD.
I received my OCD diagnosis on Saturday 4 June, at 27 years old. According to OCD action, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety condition that causes someone to become stuck in a cycle of distressing obsessions and compulsions. And it’s much more common than originally thought, with estimates of those with the condition suggesting between 1–2% of the population have OCD. That’s anywhere between 600,000 and just over one million people.
Even so, OCD is often trivialized, not helped by TV shows like Obsessive-Compulsive Cleaners. First airing in 2013, in this portrayal OCD was shown to be almost desirable. That couldn’t be more wrong. Additionally, the numbers (given by OCD UK) show that 'only 26.5% of people with it actually have cleaning compulsions'. Throwaway comments of willful ignorance about OCD perpetuate misconceptions and do not reflect the torture it can, at times, create.
Attendee Results:
- Challenging the ideas of mental health and how we casually dismiss OCD
- Understand the role of the media in shaping views on mental health
- Experience what the human experience is through a breakdown and how we can use it to set us up for a better
- Learn how anxiety disorders and conditions can affect people in the world and how we thrive in spite of it
- Develop a better understanding of what OCD is and how mental health language needs to be challenged.
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