About Alex:
Alexander Paul Burton is a Toronto-based worldwide musician and composer mixing neoclassical, EDM, and up to date music. With a background in piano and violin, Alex’s work is influenced by their Swiss heritage and deep connection to each the UK and Canada.
At present, they’re engaged on Crossing Borders: Songs of Residence and Belonging, an EP exploring themes of id and nostalgia, alongside curating the OUTLINE collection to amplify LGBTQ+ voices in music.
WHAT WAS THE MAJOR TURNING POINT IN YOUR RECOVERY MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY
The main turning level in my restoration from despair was realizing that I couldn’t outrun it—actually. For years, I threw myself into aggressive sports activities, pushing my physique to the restrict to keep away from dealing with what was occurring inside. However after dropping three relations over the previous few years, alongside a automotive accident, every part caught up with me.
It took remedy, music, and accepting that I didn’t need to ‘win’ at restoration—simply maintain exhibiting up for myself—to begin discovering a manner ahead.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT REALLY HELPED?
- Music – Composing and taking part in music gave me a option to course of feelings when phrases weren’t sufficient. It turned each an escape and a option to reconnect with myself.
- Remedy – Having an goal house to untangle every part helped me acknowledge patterns and slowly reframe my ideas. It wasn’t an on the spot repair, nevertheless it gave me instruments to handle the worst days.
- Train (With Steadiness) – Aggressive sports activities have been my coping mechanism, however I needed to study to train for well-being moderately than punishment. Rowing, biking, and working nonetheless assist, however now I hearken to my physique as an alternative of utilizing it to keep away from my thoughts. No extra 24-hour Rowing Marathons!
- Letting Go of ‘Toughing It Out’ – For a very long time, I attempted to push by means of ache alone, however opening as much as trusted individuals made a distinction.
- Admitting I used to be struggling wasn’t weak spot—it was step one to really therapeutic.
- Routine and Construction – Despair thrives in chaos, so having small day by day rituals (even simply making espresso on the identical time every day) gave me a way of stability.
- Spending Time in Nature – Being outside, whether or not rowing on the Thames or mountaineering within the Rockies, gave me perspective. Nature doesn’t rush, and that reminder helped me be extra affected person with myself.
- Grief Acknowledgment – Dropping three relations was one thing I attempted to push down, however grief calls for to be felt. Accepting that mourning isn’t linear allowed me to honour them in my very own manner with out guilt.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER GUYS FIGHTING TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH?
To any man preventing despair—cease believing it’s a must to deal with it alone. We’re taught to ‘man up’ and push by means of, however silence solely makes it worse. Discuss to somebody, whether or not it’s a therapist, a buddy, and even by means of music, writing, or sport. And bear in mind, therapeutic isn’t about snapping again to who you have been—it’s about studying to exist with what you’ve been by means of with out letting it outline your future.
– Alexander Paul Burton, Toronto, Ontario (in London and Zurich too)
