I was born in Wisconsin (U.S.) and later in life moved to Finland. I was always interested in academics and religion. I began studies in foreign language in Wisconsin after a year as an exchange student in Sweden. During my studies I had my first panic attack. I didn’t know what happened, but I was aware that something was wrong. I did get past the anxiety and returned to pursuing my education. I studied at different institutions for different degrees: language, construction, engineering, history. I had time and interest, so I kept pursuing degrees. When I returned to my hometown to begin work at a family business, the environment was extremely stressful and I started having symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Of course, I neither knew what it was at first, nor how to deal with it. I am very outgoing and positive by nature and just assumed it recede from my life, as did panic attacks. However, I found instead that life just became a complex web of coping rituals. My world felt like it began to shrink and the number of things I was willing to do became fewer and fewer.
I realized I needed help, but after trying several therapists, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to find someone who had been through what I was currently experiencing and overcame the problem. Talk therapy was useless; likewise those therapists who knew what to say but lacked first-hand experience of OCD and anxiety .
I can tell you that today I am living life as I wished I could have years ago; without self-imposed limitations. For years, I thought, “if only I didn’t have this fear, I would …”
I went on to study psychology and theology, my two main interests now. However, my main source of knowledge is a lived experience of OCD, anxiety, and depression and overcoming these conditions. I truly want to bring you the same possibility of transformation that I underwent. Of course, it’s not easy. It requires you to do very difficult things. All these issues require action and a mental shift on your part. You need to take the process serious and fully commit to it. If you’re ready, please contact me.
Because I want you to succeed, I essentially follow the steps that helped me. Of course, we may be different personality-wise and culturally, but the remedies are the same. You have to change your addiction to poor thinking. Thinking that is keeping you stuck in a loop of anxiety or depression. I can coach you in this respect, but I need you to agree to push through discomfort. Otherwise, it will be a waste of time. I firmly believe people can overcome mental difficulties, but it requires a real commitment. We must identify what’s impeding your progress and then remove it. I will listen to what you have to say and then we’ll work on it together. I want to help you find ways for you to overcome obstacles. Feeling tired, trapped, and exhausted isn’t you living life optimally.
