– Lillestrøm has meant an incredible amount to me, he says of the club he joined before the season last year. Because he has suspended his career until further notice. That is why he is heading home to Molde to get “well” again. He hopes he can come back, and sees that things are going the right way. – I feel that I have had the effect I was hoping for by coming home to my family, to the safe, the near and dear. It was a right choice. The days are better now, Svendsen says when news meets him in familiar surroundings in Molde. It was in June last year that Svendsen gave an interview to VG and talked about the problem he had struggled with for six years: Anxiety and inner turmoil had not let him find peace. On 16 August this year, he announced that he was taking an indefinite break from football to clear up his anxiety problems once and for all. He met with great sympathy for the decision. Five days later, when Lillestrøm met Sandefjord, he was warmly applauded by the Kanarifansen at Åråsen in the 11th minute (Svendsen wore kit number 11). And when Gjermund Åsen scored LSK’s first goal shortly afterwards, he dedicated it to his teammate, who was sitting in Molde and watching the match. – Fantastic group of players FANTASTIC GROUP: Tobias Svendsen praises the support he has received from both the players and the supporters in LSK Photo: Trond Reidar Teigen / NTB – It was touching. It meant a lot, and I really appreciated that, said Svendsen. He has only praised the club. – That group of players is absolutely fantastic. I have been able to be very open and honest with them. The supporters have also got a big place in my heart, in any case. They have shown fantastic care and really care, says Svendsen. He received the prize “car of the year” at the Football Festival in December for being open about his problems. He had struggled with problems for many years. It started after he and some comrades had experimented with spiritism. It triggered different types of anxiety. Despite the problem, he has also played football this season. Until he decided in August to take a break. – I felt that I had to come home and land a bit. I have worked quite intensively with the problem I have had, and I know that it has had an effect. But it has been easier to do it at home, in safe and good surroundings, says Svendsen. There he can lower his shoulders and relax together with mum Ellen Cathrine, and not least the dog Chanto. – He has meant a lot. He comes downstairs every morning and wakes me up. There is a lot of company in a dog. He is good company and a nice relaxation, says Svendsen about his four-legged friend. – A good therapist? – Yes. But he doesn’t know that himself. THERAPIST: Chanto is good and pleasant to cuddle with Photo: Harald Thingnes Looking brighter at the future Mum is also happy to have Tobias at home. – It came as a shock when he told them, but a lot fell into place afterwards, she says of the reaction when they found out about Tobias’s problem. – It’s nice to have him at home. We hope he stays as long as he needs, she says. Before she adds. – But at the same time, we would also like him to get out and play football again. That’s what he wants. Tobias himself confirms that. – When you see the crowd and the sun and the green grass, there is of course something you miss. But not without feeling well and being “whole” again, good old Tobias. – Are you sure you will be? – Yes. I am prepared that it may take the time it takes. But when I look back a year, I feel that I have made good progress. I see the future more brightly now than before, says Svendsen. Frisbee with friends COMPANIES: Childhood friends Ole Kristian Gautvik and Fredrik Wicken were one of the reasons why Tobias Svendsen returned home Photo: Harald Thingnes / news At home he can relax together with his childhood friends Fredrik Wicken and Ole Kristian Gautvik. – We know Tobias well, and of course support him in everything, Wicken says when his friends play frisbee in the park. Last Sunday they were together at the Molde game. – It is a wise choice “Tobbe” has made. We have spoken to him all the way since this became public knowledge, and we stand with him the whole time. – We take him along on things, so he can think about everything else, adds Gautvik. – But in the frisbee arena, he still has a way to go. – Friends mean a lot, and make me think about something else. There are many people who are in such situations, and who do not have friends and family to support them. That was one of the reasons why I came home and, says Svendsen. He has long been a great talent, and stands with 51 age-specified international matches. He scored in his debut match for Molde, and later played for Haugesund, Sandefjord, Nest-Sotra and HamKam before going to Lillestrøm. – No healthy combo A chat with Chanto is a good help for Tobias Svendsen Photo: Harald Thingnes / news – What does it take for you to become “healthy”? – I have found out quite a few things about why thoughts and anxiety have been there. With the right help, which I have now, and with time to help, I think I will get through this. When he came forward with his problems, he talked about the stress and heavy thoughts he had struggled with on a daily basis since moving away from home as a 16-year-old. Having such problems when you are up in a hectic football weekday is not a healthy combo, he believes. – I think I have made the right choice. I have dealt with the problem properly, so that I can be ready when I go back to that circus. – What time perspective do you envision? – It is not something I have thought about, it will take the time it takes. I have a year and a half left in Lillestrøm, and feel that I have plenty of time. The least worry I have in life is perhaps my football skills. They lie there. “A guy from Oslo” In addition to the calm and harmony he finds among his family and childhood friends at home, he gets professional help from “a guy from Oslo”. We have found out a lot, why problems have arisen and where they come from – and what we can do to get rid of them for good. WANT TO BACK: Tobias Svendsen keeps fit with training in the garden at home Photo: Harald Thingnes / news – He is in Oslo, so there will be a lot of Facetime conversations, and then I do a good job myself. I keep myself busy, train for myself, go for walks in the fields and spend time with my family, which is therapy in itself. Tobias Svendsen also believes that he has helped others to stand up as he has. At least he has received a signal about that. – My main focus in being so open is to help myself, but I have received messages and signals that this is something that can help others too. I have known how easy and harmless it actually was to be open about it, but it took me five years to speak up. So one piece of advice I have is that it is better to spend five minutes talking than five years. There is a lot of good help out there. – Why did you wait so long before you said anything? – I don’t have a good answer to that. It was probably a little bit that I remembered that this was something I had to fix myself. That I don’t dare, simply. Inspiration for others SHOCK: – It came as a shock when he told me, says mum Ellen Marie, who is happy to have her son home Photo: Harald Thingnes / news Mum Ellen Marie also believes that Tobias’ story can help others. – Seeing that it is not dangerous to talk about things, I think it is important for other young people to see that. In any case, Tobias Svendsen is determined to put the problem behind him. – The most important thing is that I come out as a stronger person. I am prepared that it will take time, but the aim is to come back as a football player. – If I get out of this, I think I will get out of a lot.
ttn-69
