Meet Alfonsina Carissimo

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alfonsina Carissimo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alfonsina below.

Alfonsina, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

A few years ago, I didn’t understand what mental health really meant. I hadn’t tried therapy, and to me, it was still a taboo subject. I was always a perfectionist and held myself to high standards, so admitting there was something in my life beyond my control felt like admitting defeat. I kept pushing it aside, convinced I could handle it all—until I hit rock bottom.

In my teenage years, I struggled with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder. It was a dark chapter in my life. I didn’t love myself; I wasn’t happy with who I was; I had become a person I didn’t know. I had distanced myself from my family and friends. Life lost its meaning, and I began self-harming and having suicidal thoughts.

Getting out of bed each day became nearly impossible, and even simple things like eating or connecting with others felt like battles. The person who once handled everything could no longer manage her own life. The worst thing I did was isolate myself and not talk to anyone. I truly believed I was alone, which couldn’t have been further from the truth.

So how did I find a way out? Through years of therapy, with the support of friends and family, and by realizing that mental health is something we need to talk about openly. No one can go through this alone. I finally understood that I couldn’t take on everything by myself—and that was okay. When I started noticing all the people around me who cared, I began to see life in a new light and to accept myself.

Do I still have ups and downs? Yes. Have I faced relapses? Also, yes. But the path is always upward, and I always learn something from the journey. That’s what resilience is: reflecting on where we’ve been, learning from it, and emerging stronger. Slowly, I started rebuilding my relationship with myself. I could finally look in the mirror and like the person I saw. I became a better daughter, sister, and friend. I found that spark in my eyes again and, with it, rediscovered who I truly am.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m Editor-in-Chief at The Better Normal, a top online health and wellness publication. Our mission is to create a community that values authenticity, approachability, and the power of connection. We encourage our readers to pursue their own personal ‘better normal’ through engaging and informative content focused on health and wellness.
Health and wellness are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in the importance of interaction between readers and writers, fostering a space where connections can thrive. Our content spans physical and mental health, movement, food, body image, relationships, astrology, and more. Each article is crafted to be approachable and insightful, empowering you to enhance your health and wellness journey.
We believe it’s essential to talk about mental health. The more we discuss it, the less we’ll suffer. Talking about mental health opens a door. It lets others know they’re not alone and that it’s okay to talk about it. Enabling dialogue about these issues in the media is crucial. That’s why, at The Better Normal, we embrace our responsibility as communicators and work daily to remove the stigma surrounding mental health.
So, if you’re looking for a place to learn more about emotional and mental well-being, with a close and personal approach, The Better Normal is your place. You can visit thebetternormal.com to find answers to your questions and a community ready to welcome you.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think that the three qualities that were the most impactful in my journey are:

-Leadership: Effective leadership has been invaluable in navigating challenges and inspiring others. Why? Because I really enjoy working with others; I genuinely believe in the importance of teamwork. That’s why I have no issue delegating tasks and trusting others. Of course, this took time—it didn’t happen overnight. However, as I gained experience, I understood that it’s okay to let ourselves be helped. From that perspective, I realized that a good leader fully trusts their team, knows them better than anyone, and empowers them. Always with empathy, taking into account their circumstances and understanding that we are all different, with unique abilities that make us who we are.

-Sense of community: Building a strong sense of community has helped me create supportive networks and meaningful connections. Hearing the life stories of other women is truly inspiring. Once you experience the power of community, there’s no going back. There will always be someone who has gone through the same thing, or something similar, and who is willing to help you. Moreover, seeing things from a different perspective can add so much value to your own experiences. Always, always, if it’s in community, it’s better. Knowing we have support is important. We are not alone on this journey. That’s why I created “Empowered Women Empower Women”, a network of inspiring women who are willing to tell their stories.

Social commitment: I always say that journalism will either have a social conscience or it won’t be journalism at all. As communicators, we must recognize our responsibility for the content we create and the impact it can have on communities. We are responsible for the environment around us. As a society, we are all either building or breaking down social bonds. That’s why socially committed journalism is so crucial. We need to tell the stories that aren’t being told: those of minorities, the marginalized, and those who have been historically invisible.

That’s why I want to use this platform to encourage young communicators to speak up. Don’t be afraid to show who you are through your work. Being a good leader means making decisions that strengthen our teams; a sense of community is key to understanding societal issues and working together with other sectors to find solutions. Lastly, social commitment should drive us as communicators, because with every word, every piece of content, and every story, we have the power to change lives. Are we ready to take on that responsibility?

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

We are currently working to create a community of women focused on the pursuit of mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We believe that talking about mental health is essential, which is why we are seeking professionals who share our vision.

If you are a psychologist, psychiatrist, therapist, consultant, counselor, or someone whose discipline can bring value to overall wellness, we are looking for you. We want to build a community filled with meaningful conversations and valuable connections. We are interested in thinking of the search for solutions as a guiding principle that we should all strive for. Because yes, there are thousands of problems in the world, but there are also thousands of people willing to work on solving them. That’s why, at The Better Normal, we want to be the bridge connecting women who are on a journey to their “better selves.”

If this resonates with you, feel free to reach out at: hello@thebetternormal.com

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Productivity
Perspectives on Staying Creative

We’re beyond fortunate to have built a community of some of the most creative artists,

Confidence
Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb

This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move