About Alex:
Alexander Paul Burton is a Toronto-based worldwide musician and composer mixing neoclassical, EDM, and modern 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.
Presently, they’re engaged on Crossing Borders: Songs of House and Belonging, an EP exploring themes of identification 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 most important 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 going through what was happening inside. However after shedding three relations over the previous few years, alongside a automobile accident, every little thing caught up with me.
It took remedy, music, and accepting that I didn’t must ‘win’ at restoration—simply maintain displaying up for myself—to begin discovering a approach ahead.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT REALLY HELPED?
- Music – Composing and taking part in music gave me a approach to course of feelings when phrases weren’t sufficient. It grew to become each an escape and a approach to reconnect with myself.
- Remedy – Having an goal area to untangle every little thing helped me acknowledge patterns and slowly reframe my ideas. It wasn’t an prompt repair, but it surely 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 reasonably than punishment. Rowing, biking, and working nonetheless assist, however now I take heed 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 ache alone, however opening as much as trusted individuals made a distinction.
- Admitting I used to be struggling wasn’t weak point—it was step one to really therapeutic.
- Routine and Construction – Melancholy 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 outdoor, 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 approach with out guilt.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER GUYS FIGHTING TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH?
To any man preventing despair—cease believing you need to deal with it alone. We’re taught to ‘man up’ and push by, however silence solely makes it worse. Speak to somebody, whether or not it’s a therapist, a buddy, and even by music, writing, or sport. And keep 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 with out letting it outline your future.
– Alexander Paul Burton, Toronto, Ontario (in London and Zurich too)
