Alex's Story
Toronto musician Alex Burton shares how music, therapy, and balance helped them navigate depression and grief—showing that healing starts with showing up.
"For a long time, I tried to push through pain alone, but opening up to trusted people made a difference."
About Alex:
Alex Burton is a Toronto-based international musician and composer blending neoclassical, EDM, and contemporary music. With a background in piano and violin, Alex’s work is influenced by their Swiss heritage and deep connection to both the UK and Canada.
Currently, they are working on Crossing Borders: Songs of Home and Belonging, an EP exploring themes of identity and nostalgia, alongside curating the OUTLINE series to amplify LGBTQ+ voices in music.
WHAT WAS THE MAJOR TURNING POINT IN YOUR RECOVERY MENTAL HEALTH RECOVERY
The major turning point in my recovery from depression was realizing that I couldn’t outrun it—literally. For years, I threw myself into competitive sports, pushing my body to the limit to avoid facing what was going on inside. But after losing three family members over the past few years, alongside a car accident, everything caught up with me.
It took therapy, music, and accepting that I didn’t have to ‘win’ at recovery—just keep showing up for myself—to start finding a way forward.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT REALLY HELPED?
- Music – Composing and playing music gave me a way to process emotions when words weren’t enough. It became both an escape and a way to reconnect with myself.
- Therapy – Having an objective space to untangle everything helped me recognize patterns and slowly reframe my thoughts. It wasn’t an instant fix, but it gave me tools to manage the worst days.
- Exercise (With Balance) – Competitive sports were my coping mechanism, but I had to learn to exercise for well-being rather than punishment. Rowing, cycling, and running still help, but now I listen to my body instead of using it to avoid my mind. No more 24-hour Rowing Marathons!
- Letting Go of ‘Toughing It Out’ – For a long time, I tried to push through pain alone, but opening up to trusted people made a difference.
- Admitting I was struggling wasn’t weakness—it was the first step to actually healing.
- Routine and Structure – Depression thrives in chaos, so having small daily rituals (even just making coffee at the same time each day) gave me a sense of stability.
- Spending Time in Nature – Being outdoors, whether rowing on the Thames or hiking in the Rockies, gave me perspective. Nature doesn’t rush, and that reminder helped me be more patient with myself.
- Grief Acknowledgment – Losing three family members was something I tried to push down, but grief demands to be felt. Accepting that mourning isn’t linear allowed me to honour them in my own way without guilt.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER GUYS FIGHTING TO IMPROVE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH?
To any guy fighting depression—stop believing you have to handle it alone. We’re taught to ‘man up’ and push through, but silence only makes it worse. Talk to someone, whether it’s a therapist, a friend, or even through music, writing, or sport. And remember, healing isn’t about snapping back to who you were—it’s about learning to exist with what you’ve been through without letting it define your future.
– Alexander Paul Burton, Toronto, Ontario (in London and Zurich too)
