Why did I want to talk with Nick Jonsson on the Knockin' Doorz Down podcast? Nick is a top-level executive, one would say an overachiever. Like many Nick had some issues with his parents, mainly his father. After making the bold move to leave his home country of Sweden Nick began to feel isolated. Now Nick has become an advocate in battling addiction, depression, and anxiety, he is on a mission to help not only executives who are suffering from the same issues he has but anyone that is willing to raise their hand and ask for help. Nick's book Executive Loneliness: The 5 Pathways To Overcoming Isolation, Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in the Modern Bussiness World caught my attention.
Nick knows executive depression, anxiety, and isolation – and the substance abuse, family breakdowns, poor physical health, self-harm, and suicide that can all too frequently result – and these major issues have been around long before most of us had even heard the word “coronavirus”.
Nick knows this for a fact because three years ago, he went through a severe breakdown. At the time, he was performing very well in his career and had recently been placed in Singapore by his company.
Over the previous decade, however, he had been unexpectedly laid off from senior roles working in Indonesia and Vietnam.
He couldn’t shake the paranoia that no matter how good his performance was, he could be retrenched at any moment. Nick lived on the edge – and drinking took the edge off.
When Nick first moved to Singapore, he was all alone in a foreign country, so he sought solace in alcohol and the superficial social circle of his local bar. He stopped exercising and gained 20kg within a few months of arriving in the country.
It wasn’t the incredible food that did it – no, it was the booze. Drinking heavily at the end of most days was, to his mind, a reward and a form of therapy, but it only left him feeling more imbalanced, lonely, and disconnected.
Psychosomatic disorders and an unhealthy lifestyle began to affect Nick physically.
Then the suicide of a close friend, when Nick was in the early stages of my recovery, came as a real shock.
No one knew his friend was feeling such despair. He suffered in silence, as so many high-powered executives do (especially men).
Nick's friend hadn’t told anyone about his depression or dark thoughts – and that was a terrible wake-up call for Nick. It spurred Nick to speak out about the dangers of depression and anxiety publically, to go on the radio and do keynote talks, to write articles about these issues, and hopefully, save lives. Nick was encouraged by his friend’s brother, who told him, “Scream it out loud!” The hope was to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
This led Nick to write his book Executive Loneliness. In the book, Nick details each of these five steps: Taking Stock, Asking for Help, Getting Healthy, Nurturing Healthy Relationships, and Finding Your Purpose
In the chapters dedicated to each of the steps, Nick takes you through his own recovery journey, providing you with deeply personal insights and perspective—as well as practical, actionable advice.
This is Nick Jonsson in her own words on Knockin' Doors Down.
For more on Nick Jonsson, his book and to connect with him online or via social media, visit: https://nickjonsson.com/
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