Taking care of your mental health as a foreigner
Written by Claudia Pecoraro, edited by Olena Cytryna, photos by Lizzie Simpson and Pixabay
If you’re a foreigner living in Bulgaria, perhaps you will need medical help at some point. Looking for assistance in a foreign country can be a challenge – especially if you don’t speak the language. We’ve already listed some English-speaking doctors in Sofia and the most important hospitals and clinics where you can head for an emergency.
But what if you need psychological support and don’t know where to ask for it? Maintaining good mental health is essential for your overall well-being, and looking for a psychotherapist who suits you and speaks English can be a challenge. In this article, we’ll introduce some English-speaking psychotherapists in Sofia plus some useful resources to help you deal with psychological and emotional pain.
English-speaking psychotherapists in Sofia
Kabinet.bg. This page provides free online psychotherapy and emotional support to all those in need. They offer individual, family, or group psychotherapy. You can reach out to them by calling the number below from 10:00 to 16:00 during the week. You can schedule a video session between 8:00 and 20:00 on any working day. Email: [email protected] Number: 0800-20-202
Boryana Angelova is a psychotherapist practicing in Sofia. She most commonly works with clients who have difficulties in their relationships, separation or loss of a loved one, confidence and self-esteem, problems in the workplace with colleagues and/or the boss, and anxiety caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Boryana can be contacted here by filling in the form on the webpage, by email at [email protected], or by phone at +359 887061199.
Dinamika. Dinamika is a center operating in Sofia and offering psychological support both in English and Bulgarian. The specialists offer individual and group psychotherapy, counseling, and other forms of group therapy. You can call (02 943 11 02) every day from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00 to book an appointment.
Orpheus. Orpheus is an Institute for Psychotherapy; besides training and conferences, it offers psychological support. You can find English-speaking psychotherapists there.
Gloomy Baboony: sparkles of hope to guide you through emotional pain
It’s hard to stay positive when you feel down and have no one around with whom you can talk. In these moments more than ever, it’s important to stick to little details that can make your day: the music you love, a cup of hot tea, or a good book.
If you’ve been through lonely days or moments when you felt “stuck”, you know that it’s tough to find the sparkle to get through your days. Giving birth to creation to share your emotional journey can literally be a light in the dark, and inspire other people who are experiencing depression or loneliness. We believe that being creative is essential and can uplift you when you’re lacking motivation.
We’ve reached out to Lizzie Simpson, who recently wrote an illustrated book for children about sadness and loneliness. Lizzie wrote “Gloomy Baboony” while she was experiencing a tough moment, as a way to cope with her emotional pain. The book aims to show people that it’s okay to recognize and accept their difficult emotions, and brings a light-hearted and warm feeling to all those who read it.
“Gloomy Baboony is an illustrated poem about accepting sadness, love and being there for each other. It’s to start a conversation around mental health for little ones, but also a way to say ‘I’m here for you’ in a light-hearted and gentle way. It has been gifted to grandchildren, parents, friends, and grandparents in 24 different countries and so far has been very well received,“ Lizzie told us.
The story of how Lizzie made it possible to publish her book is proof that, when you do something with love and kindness, you receive love and kindness in return.
“I self-published this book with the support of 420 people who pledged 22,351 BGN to put this book into production through Kickstarter in February. I wrote the book in Vitosha when I was feeling extremely low and just really wanted to be listened to and accepted... not fixed. My hope for the book is that it will bring families, friends, and communities closer.”
If you’re curious and want to get a copy of Gloomy Baboony, you can find it at www.lizziesimpson.co.uk (currently, the book is exclusively available through Lizzie’s website, but she’s looking to expand it into independent bookstores).
Speak out if you need help!
If you’re dealing with hard times or loneliness, it’s important to speak out and not be shy about asking for help. Seeking psychological support may seem difficult or even frightening, but it’s a necessary step when you feel you can’t make it all alone.
