We recently connected with Stefani Fryzel and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stefani thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I was walking around one of my favorite bookstores Vroman’s in Pasadena when I realized that the book I wanted to see on the shelves wasn’t there. I was looking for a self-care book for artists. They say if you don’t see the book you’re looking for, then you are the one to write it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Stefani Fryzel. I also go by DYLN in the music community. I’m an artist/songwriter and author. I’ve been in the music industry as an independent, self-managed artist for almost two decades and have written a book called “Self-Care for the Creative” which is a survival guide for creatives, empaths and highly sensitive people.

An artist’s journey is tough. Creative careers are incredibly challenging and difficult to navigate. We live outside-of-the-box lifestyles, build businesses out of our art, and have to move through landscapes without any real guardrails. Add in being a highly sensitive or empathic person and it’s even harder. And that’s because empaths/HSPSs require an entirely different set of self-care skills than most.

Artists and writers are 10 times more likely to suffer from depression. 1 in 5 people are empaths/HSPs. I believe that part of the reason why artists tend to struggle more with their mental health in the first place is because of one simple fact that’s been completely overlooked. Artists are often empaths/HSPs. How do we know this? Art requires sensitivity.

I saw a gap in the self-help market. There’s plenty of self-care books. None that speak directly through the lens of a creative artist and the lifestyles that they lead and the challenges that they will surely face. There’s plenty of books on self-care, or empaths, or getting creative. But none that mash them all together.

My mission is to raise awareness in creative communities on what is required to nurture these special character traits, provide artists with practical, easy to implement self-care tools and techniques so that they thrive as creative empaths and continue to put their art out into the world.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

In general, there needs to be more services available to support us. Whether it’s access to a therapist or a mentor or financial aid. There needs to be more places where artists and creatives can congregate with each other and get mighty real about whatever it is that they’re going through. Artists can be lone wolves sometimes, but that doesn’t obliterate the need to be able to talk through the challenges we’re facing. Creatives need a place to turn to for help. Right now, there is no center for that.

This is one of the main reasons why I created “The Songwriter Series” a 2hr online event that offers 1:1 mentoring from hit songwriters. Up-and-coming artists and songwriters get to be in the room with award-winning hitmakers and ask questions, get mentored and submit demos for feedback! This safe and welcoming environment is a powerful container where artists can receive genuine support, encouragement, and inspiration. It’s mind-blowing that this doesn’t already exist. Again, I saw a gap and a need for this type of space…so I created it myself.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Sure. When I was 18 I experienced severe depression for about six months. At my worst I was suicidal and wanted to drown in my bathtub. I didn’t know what it was or how to cope with it. But I remember distinctly making a decision while flushing a bottle of sleeping pills down the toilet that I was going to get better. I made up my mind to persevere and find a way through it, even if it meant crawling my way out of it.

Depression sucks the living light out of you. And one of the things I did to overcome it, (which I explain more in my book) is “The Shortlist.” This list is three to five small manageable tasks that you give yourself to do each day. It doesn’t matter if it’s as minuscule as taking a shower or going for a walk, pick three to five manageable things to do today (if you’re currently struggling with depression). Giving myself a shot at having these small wins everyday really helped me to reclaim agency over my life and regain control over my mental illness.    

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stefanifryzel.com
• Instagram: @StefaniFryzel
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/StefaniFryzel
• Linkedin: Stefani Fryzel
• TikTok: @StefaniFryzel

Image Credits
Photos by Shane Lopes