Zine

EraseRestart, 21st issue: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 💙 . Hello friends! EraseRestart is back with an issue about OCD. An often overlooked and very complex disorder that’s not talked about as much as it should. Throughout my research for this issue, I was stunned by the lack of studies and resources (always in comparison with other mental illnesses covered by EraseRestart). Looking at various portals, in my humble opinion, the best online source of information can be found on the website of OCD UK. OCD UK is charity that’s dedicated to representing people who live with OCD in the most honest way. As I always say, EraseRestart is about knowledge, education. It’s meant to encourage a bigger, open-minded conversation about mental health. We need more scientific researches in this field. We need governments to invest on mental health right now. It’s absolutely baffling that we’re soon entering a new decade and the last research published by World Health Organization on OCD was in 2006. You get the idea… Closing on a more positive note, I’d like to thank everyone who joined us last month in celebrating World Mental Health Day at Romantso. I will soon publish some photos and write more extensively on creating what felt like a safe space to share experiences, learn more about mental health and consume stunning art. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining (physically and mentally). More EraseRestart happenings to follow – keep your eyes open! Happy scrolling and thank you so much for stopping by, SP 🌝✨✨

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Nov 1, 2019 um 1:09 PDT

EraseRestart, 19th issue: Eating Disorders 💜 . I never quite felt comfortable with my weight and what I saw in the mirror. When I was 19 years old, I became obsessed with weighing myself and trying to “score” lower. For me, it started after a back injury I had at the drama school. I thought that the thinner I became, the easier the doctor would access my vertebrae during therapy, the faster I’d get out of bed. But even after my back got better, I kept up with my new, unhealthy eating habits. There would be days I wouldn’t even drink water. I reached 38 kgs. Luckily – and with the help of my family, I managed to get out of that spiral… but then the hormonal issues kicked in, leading to weight gain, mostly due to fluid retention… I would starve myself all day but would still gain grams, kilos. Going from the “you should eat something” to the “you’re not so light anymore huh? You’ve gained so much weight” – having people almost constantly commenting on my weight, both at the drama school and in my band surrounding, I felt ugly and useless. Even though my hormone levels  balanced out within a year or so – whether I was on the thinner or the fuller end, I never truly managed to embrace myself. So this issue is personal – yet filled with valuable (and hopefully helpful) information. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, please do seek out for help. I know first hand that it never truly goes away, but it can get better – that I can promise. Thank you for stopping by – SP 💜💜 PS. What helped me get better and re-develop a healthy relationship with food was cooking. I would find the most complex, the most difficult recipes – those that required hard-to-find ingredients and took ages to prepare. Through enjoying the process, I would slowly start enjoying tasting my creations, too. It took a long time, but that’s what worked out for me – shout-out to Nigel Slater for having some of the most creative and delicate recipes. – S. x . . . #eatingdisorders #beatingeatingdisorders #foodfreedom #mentalhealthmatters #edwarriors #edrecovery #endthestigma

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Sep 12, 2019 um 10:58 PDT

EraseRestart, 17th issue: Bipolar Disorder 🎭 . [REPOSTING BC SOME OF THE PAGES TURNED BLANK 😬🖤] . Hi there! This month’s issue will be looking into bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is one of the most stigmatised mental illnesses. Perhaps, that’s because of the unrealistic portrayal of bipolar disorder in arts and culture – those struggling with it are often presented as mad criminals, (self-)destructive people who can’t separate reason from emotion. Unfortunately, stigma spreads fast, leading to people living with bipolar disorder left without a support system and/or ways to handle and treat their illness. EraseRestart means education and that’s what this and all issues are about. For this issue in particular, I decided to make it less visual and more factual – something that may not agree with Instagram’s algorithm. Regardless, I’d like to start a conversation about what we can do to make it better for those struggling. How can we improve our understanding of (in this case) bipolar disorder and help those around us? I was recently told by a friend that it’s probably about time to change the cover and the style of EraseRestart – but EraseRestart is hardly about aesthetics. It’s about learning more about mental health, educating ourselves (myself included, of course). It’s about erasing stigma and restarting with more understanding and kindness for those struggling. There’s nothing glamorous and/or aesthetically pleasing about mental health. There’s nothing mystifying about it and frankly, for a generation that claims to break the stereotypes (and does so well, so often), we still have a long way to go in understanding that achieving good mental health means facing mental illness. For real, though. I hope you’ll find this issue informative and helpful. Until next month – thank you for stopping by, SP 🌝✨✨ . . . . #bipolardisorder #bipolardisorderawareness #yourenotalone #mentalhealthmatters #breakthestigma

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Jun 14, 2019 um 2:06 PDT

EraseRestart 15th issue: Depression 🥀 . Hi everyone! This issue will be looking into depression – one of the most common illnesses. According to World Health Organization, 300 million people around the world have depression which makes it the leading cause of disability worldwide. It can affect anyone; that’s why it’s important to educate ourselves on what it is, what could the symptoms and the risk factors be and how to treat it. In regards to the cure of depression, although we have the tools, unfortunately, many patients remain untreated. That may be due to the lack of resources (reduced funds, too few trained mental health professionals, too few mental health care facilities), limited to no accessibility to receive treatment (high costs, not many options for remote communities/rural areas), the social stigma that (unnecessarily)surrounds mental health… The message EraseRestart wants to send with this issue is that no matter the case and the circumstances, if you need help, please reach out to your closest ones and/or your national/local crisis lines. Depression is a serious illness and needs to/can be treated. Always remember, we’re together in this – talking about mental health. Thank you for stopping by, SP 🌝 ✨ (List of suicide crisis lines – worldwide: http://bit.ly/suicidecrisislines)

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Apr 4, 2019 um 11:59 PDT

EraseRestart, 13th issue: 1 Year of Talking About It 💚 . Hi friends! This EraseRestart issue is rather celebratory. A year ago, I decided to start publishing EraseRestart and commence a conversation on here around mental health. Every month, I dedicated time to educate myself on mental health and learn about the latest studies and their findings. Through this platform, I was given the chance to connect with lots of activists, people who want to follow a similar path or simply felt connected to the topic of breaking the stigma that surrounds mental health. I’m eternally grateful to all the people who stopped by and scrolled through EraseRestart. I’m oh-so-thankful to those who listened and became more mindful in their everyday lives. EraseRestart is here and will keep being published, in the hope of building bridges within our societies. For more understanding and kindness, as I always like to say. Thank you all for your time and for showing love to this project. Sky is the limit, so here we come! Happy scrolling and happy first year anniversary to EraseRestart! SP 🌝✨

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Feb 8, 2019 um 12:05 PST

EraseRestart, 11th issue: Through Songs 💛 . Hi all! Do you have a song that you put on when you’re feeling blue? Do you have a song that lifts you up? Music is powerful! Not only it’s got a biological effect on us (can help reduce heart rate, can help increase serotonin levels etc), but it’s also helping us connect with each other and become more social. It’s been reported that music therapy was used for healing purposes in Ancient Egypt & Ancient Greece. It’s proven by studies that music therapy improves the lives of those struggling with schizophrenia. Music has also been helping individuals cope with their depression and anxiety. I’d like to hear from you – your favorite songs, lyrics that helped you through tough times. I’d also like to invite you to care for yourselves this weekend and take it slow. I compiled a Spotify playlist titled “Self-Care/EraseRestart” with some super sweet tunes released in 2018 – candy for your ears! Happy scrolling and happy listening 🎧, SP 🌝✨

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Dez 7, 2018 um 12:03 PST

EraseRestart, 9th issue: Youth ? . Hi all! Today is #worldmentalhealthday and I think it’s most appropriate that the theme of this issue is the mental health of the youth. The numbers of poor mental health among children, adolescents and young adults are doubling from year to year. In the UK only recent studies proved that the average time for a child to be treated for a mental health problem is ten years, with the parents reporting deterioration of their child’s health within that time. But what happens to countries with even less funds (or no funds at all) to spend for the treatment of children and young people’s mental health? What happens to children traumatized by war and a painful journey to seek refuge in another country? We’re responsible for the youth and the generations to come – it’s about time that we realize that and we start taking actions. Erasing the stigma that surrounds mental health is one good, first step towards a healthier society. Then we can restart/reset/reboot. It shouldn’t be that hard; we didn’t do it for us – we HAVE TO do it for our children. We must empower and provide them with the right tools for the difficult years to come! Thank you for reading & happy (mindful) scrolling! More power to the youth ? . . #theworldneeds to empower its children #childrenarethefuture #globalmhsummit #timetoact #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Okt 9, 2018 um 11:30 PDT

EraseRestart, 7th issue: Men ? . Hi all! The 7th issue of EraseRestart is about men’s mental health. Men are less likely to talk about their mental health struggles and seek out for help. Due to the toxic stereotype of the man being seen as the provider in our societies, a mental illness is often seen and perceived as weakness both by the one struggling and his peers. LGBT+ men, as well as men who belong in racial/ethnic minorities appear to struggle the most because society is making it even harder for them from very early on in their lives. The high rates of male suicide worldwide prove that stigma and internalised pain are leading nowhere. If you need emotional support and/or are struggling with thoughts of suicide, seek out for help at your national suicide prevention line. Be healthy and thank you for stopping by, SP ?✨ (List of help lines worldwide http://bit.ly/suicidecrisislines)

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Aug 10, 2018 um 1:57 PDT

EraseRestart, 5th issue: In Music ?? . Dear music fan, dear fellow artist, Music artists all over the world are being exploited on a daily basis. That leaves them with poor mental & physical health, debts and no hope for the future. It’s up to you and me to change that. We should all come together, united by our love for music. • Stop supporting management companies & labels who cash in on the backs of exhausted artists. • Boycott labels & publishers who promote quantity over quality. • Boycott events where performers are criminally underpaid – invited to play for “exposure”. • Lastly, turn your backs to clickbait publications and unethical journalists who see a story in someone else’s tragedy. We can bring a change, but only if we stick together. Power to the artists! ✊? Yours faithfully, Sarah P.

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Jun 7, 2018 um 10:43 PDT

EraseRestart, 3rd issue: Talking about it with friends & family ? . Hi all! The third issue of @eraserestart is here featuring tips on handling a mental health crisis and talking about mental illness with a loved one. Friends and family can play a positive role in the life of someone who’s struggling. That being said, one should know their limits and be able to recognize the seriousness of their loved one’s situation. Essentially, it all breaks down to your relationship with them and your willingness to understand. Remember: research, educate yourselves & always be kind. Thank you for stopping by, SP ?✨

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Apr 13, 2018 um 12:05 PDT

EraseRestart, 1st issue: When at home & when in worry ? . Hi all, as I mentioned previously, this marks the beginning of a series of actions that aim to raise awareness around mental health. Mental illness is a topic that’s been covered broadly in the recent years, but there’s a long way to go when it comes to breaking the stigma. This instazine is meant to focus on solutions. It’s made with love and is the result of personal struggles and history. Together with you, I want to erase the societal stigma and restart on new grounds, with profound understanding for all those affected by mental illness whether directly or indirectly. It would mean the world to me if you spent 1 minute swiping through EraseRestart. Ultimately grateful for your time, SP ?✨

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Sarah P. (@sarahpofficial) am Feb 9, 2018 um 3:25 PST