Maxim De Jonge (29): “No longer a slave to my thoughts”

Maxim had a difficult childhood, with a father who left the family before he was born and a mother who struggled with an alcohol problem. When he was 20 years old, he decided to leave home. Yet he went looking for help. This is his story.

What made you take the step to consult a psychologist?

Maxim: “I thought: I want to move forward, I want to be able to live. Society is going to keep knocking on my door (metaphorically) until I join, so I have to find a way to be part of that, even if it means doing things that are outside of my comfort zone.”

Unfortunately, it was a difficult process for him and after numerous sessions with different psychologists, he still didn’t notice much change. But he is still positive about these experiences. “Each psychologist changed something. And each time, I grew in some way,” he explains.

A little while ago mindfulness crossed his path and that’s how he found the strength within himself. This was a real eye opener for him.

What exactly in the approach of this psychologist has helped you?

“Yet another program, yet another psychologist, will it make a difference? I didn’t expect much from it … and that made all the difference,” he says.

Meditation and mindfulness specifically turned out to be very helpful for him. Maxim: “I am no longer a slave to my thoughts. I am no longer drowning in the river of my emotions. I can now see the strength that others see in me.”

You can read his recovery story here (in Dutch).

And today?

Today, Maxim is active in several organizations dedicated to social projects, for example for the fight against poverty. In that manner, he has found his way to a meaningful existence.

In addition, Maxim is often engaged in creative activities. For example, he regularly writes poems. On his Facebook page, called Max Young Poetry, he occasionally shares them. Watch this video, in which he recites one of his poems.

Do you want to read Maxim’s full story? In this interview for deMens.nu Magazine, he talks more about his activities and how he started these.