Emma was 18 when she became ill from stress - now she is on her way back

Linda Henriksson was a newly born two-child mother, happily married and in the middle of the real estate career when it suddenly stopped. At first, she did not realize that she had been suffering from fatigue syndrome.

18-year-old Emma Hagen crashed and was laid off for stress during the final year of hairdressing at the high school. When it was at its worst, she says she forgot where she lived.

Today, both Emma and Linda say they feel better. Linda has started working a few hours a week and Emma has fulfilled her dream of working as a full-time hairdresser.

- It feels magical that something I dreamed of just a few months ago is now a reality. I'm still very limited because of my feeling and I'm tired, but I and others around me can see that things are going in the right direction, says Emma Hagen.

She says that one contributing reason for her feeling better is that she has people around her with a great understanding who know they sometimes had to tell her to think twice before accepting things.

- I have learned that it is not bad to say no, but can sometimes be necessary in order to be able to prioritize your own feeling, she says.

Life as a sick person, and the struggle to get well, was depicted in the Assignment Review's acclaimed series "Sickly Stressed". In the series, Emma and Linda, along with two other young women, are followed for some crucial months in their lives.

It's been over a month since the series was released. Both Emma and Linda have received a great response.

- I have received a huge response from people who recognize me in what I am going through that thanks me for daring to talk openly about it, says Linda Henriksson.

- Many say that the series and my participation in it have helped them. They have not felt so alone in their illness and are grateful that someone has finally dared to talk about it, says Emma Hagen.

Linda says that the response from others has touched her tremendously.

- When I decided to participate in the documentary, I had a goal picture. I wanted others affected to know that they were not alone. And the days I broke down during filming and questioned my participation, my husband reminded me of this target image. It is enough for a person to feel less alone, that was my goal.