"It was an up and down that ultimately dragged on for four years": Actress Susan Sideropoulos had to struggle with a life crisis for a long time.
"I couldn't motivate myself and was very sad": After a life crisis that dragged on for years, actress and presenter Susan Sideropoulos (40, "GZSZ") is doing better today than before, as she reveals in an interview with spot on news . In "Pink Happiness: Put On Your Pink Glasses!" (Gräfe and Unzer) she explains what helped her. In an interview with spot on news, she reveals how she experienced the corona pandemic and homeschooling with her two sons (born in 2010 and 2011) and what she loves about Heidi Klum (47).
In your book "Rosarotes Glück" you report on a life crisis that you plunged into after the series "Mila" (2015) did not become the success you had hoped for. How long have you struggled with this crisis?
Susan Sideropoulos: It was an up and down that ultimately dragged on for four years. Say I was not consistently bad, there were many good times in between, but the feeling in my stomach stayed and caught up with me in weak moments.
What was your life like at the bottom of the crisis?
Sideropoulos: It was November and I noticed that I was losing fun in many things, that light things were difficult for me and that I perceived many things bleakly. I couldn't motivate myself and was very sad.
You then did a mindfulness seminar and an online seminar that helped you. What's the most important thing you got out of it?
Sideropoulos: Phew, difficult to summarize. The full answer is in my book. But a core essence is in any case that we cannot always decide WHAT happens to us, but we can decide at any time HOW to deal with it!
Have you considered starting therapy?
Sideropoulos: No, because I quickly realized that I was doing well with the path of personal development. Ultimately, the answers are within us, we just need the right questions. Of course, this can also be provided by a therapist, but in my case I was in good hands with my seminars and books.
Does your life look the same through rose-colored glasses today as it did before the crisis?
Sideropoulos: No, better! Because now I have learned a lot and on the one hand I know how to get out of the low points faster and on the other hand not to get into it that quickly.
The corona pandemic also means a great psychological challenge for many people. How are you doing and what helps you?
Sideropoulos: My point of view and all the tools that I gained helped me a lot. Because even in this difficult situation (to which we are exposed to a certain extent), we can still decide for ourselves how to deal with it. What do I focus on, do I direct my perspectives on possibilities? This is how I would describe my rose-colored glasses – it is the view of the most positive that the moment has to offer me.
What advice do you give to people who are currently feeling bad and energetic?
Sideropoulos: I advise you to do at least one thing a day that you really enjoy. You can start very small. Half an hour that's only mine. To read, have a coffee in peace, go for a walk, talk to a friend on the phone … Music and dancing really help me. This is how my Monday Dance came about. I dance every Monday at the start of the week on Instagram, just to lift my energy and inspire others with it!
How did you experience homeschooling with your sons?
Sideropoulos: Phew, probably like everyone else. I think it was and is one of the greatest challenges. We are parents and now we have to be teachers, quite apart from the nervous strain that is simply unhealthy for the mother-father-child relationship.
In your book you also repeatedly quote your husband and tell your story together. How would you summarize your relationship in three sentences?
Sideropoulos: I need a whole chapter for that (laughs). That's why there is. Our relationship is a gift. But just because we have them, it is not a matter of course. It is our job to appreciate them over the years and to develop further together.
Christian Polanc still raves about their "Let's Dance" adventure together. Are you still following the show and who are you keeping your fingers crossed for in the new season?
Sideropoulos: Yes, I love this show and I am so proud to be a part of it. I don't have any favorites in advance, I like to see the development.
What you will also never miss is "Germany's next top model", as you tell in your book. A show that is also repeatedly criticized. What do you like so much about the show and Heidi Klum?
Sideropoulos: Perhaps it is to a certain extent the childlike in me. I like the whole thing, to celebrate such an evening with my friends. I love the photo shoots and everything the girls experience. Of course you shouldn't forget that it's an entertainment show, after 15 years everyone who joins should know what they're getting into, and mostly the girls rave about the experiences they have there. And Heidi is the entertainment queen for me. I love her humor and the passion with which she does everything. I feel their love for their job and their life.
You last showed yourself with pink hair. How did the type change come about and what do your husband and sons think about it?
Sideropoulos: The idea came to me while I was still creating the cover. I love when a concept fits together and I love crazy changes. My family thinks it's funny.
What are your wishes and goals for the coming months?
Sideropoulos: For now, I'm just looking forward to the here and now. We should do a lot more than just looking to the future.