‘A clear head is the only way to heal’

MALIN:

When Malin Andersson lost her mum to cancer in November 2017, she became depressed and admitted she turned to alcohol and partying to numb her pain.

She said, “I went wild. I was out every night, drinking and partying, trying to feel better. I’d wake up hungover and feel even worse.”

But after five months, Malin, 26 – who gave birth to her daughter Consy (named after her late mother) on 23 December last year – decided enough was enough and vowed to turn her life around. She gave up alcohol and started writing down how she felt and planning her goals for the future. She says, “Alcohol is a temporary fix for sadness and it’s so easy to turn to self-medication when you’re depressed. But having a clear mind and a clear vision of the future means you can get excited about it again. A clear head is the only way to heal yourself and it allowed me to properly grieve, accept things and look forwards in my life.” re-evaluate your thoughts before they consume you. By practising mindfulness, I’ve been able to see my depression coming before it hits.”