My journey

From a young age, I often experienced strong mood shifts from being euphoric to depressed. I thought my pattern was normal and I didn’t talk to anyone about it. It was not until I was 26 years old I crashed one day after several months of severe depression. On my journey out of depression, I discovered several patterns, behaviours and coping mechanisms I had developed that probably helped me when I was young but as a grown-up became toxic. Some of these behaviours were obsession over love and relationships, body images and food, being the perfect student, woman and so on. On my journey out of darkness, I let go of each of these behaviours and identities and started to reshape the person I am today. It was a rebirth. When I chose life over death I also decided to become the happiest version of myself I can be to become a better ambassador for healthy, conscious and sustainable living. I had several important insights during my journey and tools that I used and still am using, but every one of us needs to do our journey and come up with our conclusion based on what feels right for us. I am here to talk about mental illness so we can reduce stigma and put people’s wellbeing at the centre.

According to Our World in Data, 10.7% of the global population have some mental health disorder, that is 792 million people.

When to seek Help

Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms severely and for a longer period?

  • Anxiety

  • Feeling down

  • Worried

  • Difficult to sleep

  • Obsession/coercive acts

  • Anxiety in social situations

  • Panic attacks

  • Suicidal thoughts

That is an indicator that you are not feeling well, you need to stop with what you are doing and seek help. You should seek help if you are experiencing this regularly for at least two weeks or if they are making it difficult for you to handle, on your own, your day-to-day life.

It can be scary at first to go beyond your symptoms and understand their cause. But there are experts out there in the field that can help you. We are not here to live our lives in pain, there is a way for every one of us to improve our wellbeing. Remember, we are all also part of a society that either facilitates or hinders our wellbeing, so be kind to yourself.

Where to get help

  • Sweden: call 90101 - for people being suicidal or if you know someone who is.


Wellbeing toolbox

  • Meditation - there are several apps and free guided meditations out there

  • Breathwork - also available by class, online or through apps

  • Yoga - take classes, join a yoga school or start at home

  • Exercise - everything that makes you move your body, sweating and building muscles matters

  • Spend time in nature and green areas

  • Gardening, painting, music and other hobbies

  • Healthy and nutritious food

  • Love, hugs, kisses, compliments and other love languages, give them and ask for them

  • Quality time with friends and family

  • Religious, spiritual and other rituals, prayers and methods based on your worldview

  • Be of service - sign up as a volunteer and do something just to help someone else

  • Laugh - watch a funny clip, recall a funny memory or do laughing yoga

  • Optimal sleeping routines - bedtime same hours, early daylight, dark and cold room when sleeping and much more to improve your sleep

Things to avoid for your wellbeing

  • Alcohol

  • Drugs

  • Cigarettes

  • Environments that made you stressed or sick in the first place

  • People who complain a lot

  • Daily news

  • Social media

  • To much screen time

  • Sitting still too much on a daily basis

 

Learn more here

I share daily my sustainable conscious living on my Instagram. This is done with a lot of inspiration and no shaming. I aim to show you some of the tools I use but also to give recommendations of other sources that help both your mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Photo: Elisa Sanvito