Help me turn my pain into power

Help me turn my pain into power!

Hey, I'm Sophie!

I have a very unusual story and I need your help.

In 2012 I graduated with degrees in journalism and business from the American University in Bulgaria. In my 20s I worked hard and built a successful corporate career. I turned a decade-long eating disorder into a social enterprise in the food space, which taught thousands of people to use food as a superpower on and off the table.

My hard work got me on all major media outlets in Bulgaria, I was invited to be a TEDx speaker, published a book, and was on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.

To the outside world, I looked happy and successful. But this wasn't my full story.

I started struggling with depression in college. I ignored the symptoms and kept working hard - because I believed that if you want to be successful, you should always go the extra mile and outwork everyone. Which is exactly what I did. However, at the time I didn't know that I'm living with an undiagnosed mental illness - a monster, which has made my life extremely hard to manage.

After I lost a loved one to cancer, suffered a miscarriage, had my home broken into, had a close person attempt suicide for the second time, and burned out severely, my mental health started deteriorating rapidly and by 2021 I reached my personal version of hell.

I spent months in major depression. I could barely communicate and couldn't recognize myself in the mirror. I didn't want to be alive.

Soon after, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2 and borderline personality disorder. Living without proper care had pushed me to the edge of suicide. I'm still living with the consequences.

I spent the last year recovering from my suicidal depression, which made me unable to support myself. I started making art out of desperation, which unexpectedly saved my life and gave me back my hope for a brighter future.

I accidentally created a language for visual communication, which I have started teaching to people around the world as a way to process difficult emotions and overcome traumatic experiences. But I still need help!

I need financial help, so I can get back on my feet and start rebuilding my life. I need to cover my living expenses, so I can focus on slowly becoming a self-sustained member of society again.

You support my journey with a donation here or buy my art as NFTs.

You can learn more about me on my website.

Please, help me help myself!