In this episode, professional cellist, mental health advocate and author, Erika Nielsen shares:

Her unique childhood, stories of moving around and learning to become resilient.

How as a little girl, when she first heard the cello, she had an overwhelming desire and feeling—not only did she need to play that instrument, she felt like she was that instrument!

The need to follow the Plan A Dream and the importance of trying her hardest at it.

How having an open mind gives you the freedom to take more risks because you are not attached to your life becoming a certain way.

Pushing the Limits: How she travelled on an overnight bus, weekly just for validation as a professional cellist.

Facing the struggles and navigating the turbulent waters of being a professional freelancer.

What it was like to get diagnosed with type one bipolar disorder at the age 27, and how she thought her career as a professional musician was over.

How it felt to get diagnosed and hear doctors say the words “we are about 95% certain that you have Bipolar disorder.”

How she didn’t suspect that her euphoric moods were problematic.

How she felt humiliated, ashamed and had a huge secret. It had rocked her foundation as a creative professional.

Slowly coming to terms with the fact that she was a text book case of type one bipolar disorder.

The importance of taking a look at the lifestyle pillars: sleep, stress level, nutrition, living mindfully and how this can be beneficial to everyone.

Her desire to write her book Sound Mind: My Bipolar Journey From Chaos to Composure. And how the book is helping change the narrative around mental health and wellness.

FULL EPISODE NOTES | PDF