After a severe psychosis, former business influencer and podcast host Yrja Oftedahl has found new meaning and perspectives in life. Now she uses her experiences to help others and fight for better mental health care.

It has been a year since Yrja Oftedahl emerged from the psychosis that turned her life upside down. Now it's summer. The sun is literally shining on Yrja. She's making a quick stop in Stavanger before heading to Oslo and new opportunities.

«Life is a million times better than it was a year ago», she says with a smile.

«It has been a gradual process to get to a better place. This year, I started to regain hope and see that I might be able to get back the life I had before. Right now, I'm doing well.»

TV and podcast

Before her illness, Yrja was known as a successful business influencer. She created the podcast «Powerladies», where she interviewed prominent women, including Gunhild Stordalen, and was a sought-after conference host. She also participated in the TV program «71 degrees north».

Today, she is finding a new direction.

«The podcast is on hold for now, but I do some speaking engagements and work as a conference host. I'm also returning to social media a bit more», she says.

«I'm not fully back. It's still a gradual process, so I'm taking it step by step and trying to determine the right direction to move forward. Whether I focus more on mental health or continue on the same path, it needs time to mature.»

Wants more mandatory treatment

Yrja has already begun using her voice to create openness about mental health. She has spoken with politicians, written articles in newspapers, and shared her story on social media.

«I'm probably not going to let this go, because I've always been a person who wants people to be well. And here I see a group of people who are completely trampled on, and that's just not okay.»

Something is wrong with the mental health care system. Yrja was able to discharge herself from the hospital, despite needing help.

«By all means, patient autonomy is good. But when mandatory treatment is necessary, as in my case, I shouldn't be able to discharge myself and end treatment. That can ultimately be dangerous. And you certainly don't get well by interrupting treatment.»

Valuable friendships

When Yrja looks back at the toughest period of illness, she especially highlights the friends who stood by her while she was hospitalised.

«I've been fortunate with my friends. There's a handful who have followed me. They stepped forward and extended an extra hand while I was sick,» she says.

«It has been an absolutely fantastic experience. They are busy people, but still sent messages and called me almost every day.»

Even though the conversations could be demanding at times – Yrja often repeated the same things – her friends continued to be there for her.

«It meant the world to me to feel that I had support. It's not the superficial acquaintances who remain when crisis hits, but the deeper friendships», she says and states firmly:

«They should have received medals and diplomas.»

Coping strategies for everyday life

For Yrja, finding good routines and strategies to take care of her mental health has been important. Although she has always been good at setting boundaries and taking care of herself, she now has even greater awareness of what keeps her healthy.

«The most important thing is to learn to get to know yourself and your own boundaries and needs», she explains.

«And I want to emphasise physical exercise. It's so essential for mental health. It has a natural antidepressant effect that actually works better than medication for mild to moderate depression. That's vital knowledge to share.»

She is also concerned with communicating that there's nothing wrong with taking medication when you need it.

«Many people are afraid to take medication because it's stigmatising, and people think that mental health is about mindset. But no, it's about a chemical imbalance in the brain, and sometimes you need a crutch for precisely that. That's why medications exist, and why you should dare to take them.»

New perspective on life

The period of illness has given Yrja new perspectives on what's essential in life. Before she became ill, she had achieved all the dreams she had set for herself as a young person.

«I had reached the top. Now I have to redefine what my life will be like going forward. That's actually what I'm working on now», she says thoughtfully.

One of the most significant victories in her recovery process came when she moved back into her own apartment a few months ago.

«I think it's incredible and never thought it would happen. I was convinced that the way forward was to live at home with my parents. But then, in June, things suddenly changed, and I realised that I'm now actually ready to build my own life again.»

The fight against stigma

Yrja is committed to fighting the stigma surrounding mental illness. She believes that much of the problem lies in the fact that mental disorders are invisible, unlike, for example, a broken leg.

«It isn't easy to relate to something you can't see. And it also has to do with having too little knowledge. Media, books, and films portray mental health and psychiatry in a way that often makes it seem scary, dangerous, and unpredictable. And as something chronic.»

She points out that many don't understand that you can be both healthy and have a diagnosis at the same time.

«I take medication, and I still have the diagnosis. Yet I don't have any mental problems when I'm on medication.»

Hope for the future and dreams

Yrja looks ahead and hopes that the illness never returns. She is also focused on regaining the cognitive abilities that were affected during the course of her illness.

«I struggle a bit with memory and cognition after what happened. My biggest dream is to regain control of my thoughts so that I can enjoy myself in my own mind.»

To maintain her health, Yrja has established clear priorities:

«I need to get full nights of sleep, exercise regularly, and take my medication. These are the essential ingredients I need to avoid preventing my illness. I also stay away from alcohol.»

Despite everything she has faced, Yrja emphasizes that psychosis is just one part of her story – not the whole story.

«I am so much more than that. Now, I need to carve a new path that helps people recognize that I have much more to offer. I've built a platform to showcase something beyond my experience with psychosis. This is just one part of my story.»