Markki Stroem
Markki Stroem has always been candid about his struggles with anxiety, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. And with people continuing to lose jobs, relationships and loved ones because of the COVID -19 pandemic, mental health has never been a more timely topic.
In line with his advocacy, the singer-actor recently released a single called, “Sanity,” which he recorded in collaboration with the Psychiatric Association of the Philippines. “It’s a song where I talk about my mental health,” the singer-actor said. “We wanted to send a strong message… that it’s OK to not be OK.”
Workaholic
How does he cope with episodes of anxiety? For Markki, working is one way that helps him stay grounded. “When my anxiety kicks in, I tend to work harder. I drown myself in work to avoid overthinking,” Markki told the Inquirer in an email interview. “We’re all stuck at home, so I try to be more focused than ever.”
Markki typically begins his day at 5 a.m. for his morning radio show, “The Morning Rush,” on RX 93.1. And then he jumps from one task to another. “Mornings are for radio, afternoons are for tapings and workouts, evenings are for corporate shows and online interviews,” he related. “Sometimes, I have two gadgets on at the same time to attend two separate meetings.”
Outside his daily grind, the 34-year-old artist also starred in the quarantine online series, “Unlocked,” hosted the lifestyle shows “Fitness Tips of Lazy Peeps” and “Soul’d Food,” which features homegrown food businesses. He produced a photo shoot titled “Adam in Paradise,” and shot his own music video for “Sanity” using only his iPhone.
On a lighter note, he admitted that the pandemic has also turned him into a “plantito” and a fish parent or “isdad.”
“Dedication, passion and perseverance” are the other things Markki banks on to help him “survive the pandemic.” “I guess you can say, I’m a workaholic. I’m doing pretty well,” he said. INQ