In the end, it didn't work out anymore. In the middle of the Danish playoffs in May, Nina Dano left the big club Odense and headed home to Gothenburg.
I had a coach who didn't give me what I needed in leadership, which gave me a lot of anxiety and doubts, says the right-back six months later.
It became an environment where she couldn't be herself. It could go weeks without a laugh or a positive thought, and she started getting panic attacks.
"It was tough"
In the end, it came to a point where I realized it wasn't working. Priority was to just break the contract. Play handball or not. I just wanted to come home. That was the only plan that existed.
During the tough spring, there was only one breathing hole.
The national team gatherings saved me. That I could come to an environment I thrived in, gather some energy and take it home. Live on it for the two weeks it lasted. Then I was back and had to start over.
She also got support from the national team in the form of a psychologist and the medical team. Despite the tough situation, the 24-year-old hoped for play in the summer's Olympic Games in Paris, but then the national team captain Tomas Axnér called and told her that Dano wouldn't be selected because she needed to focus on feeling well.
It was a very nice conversation, but it was tough to get it in black and white that you wouldn't get to be part of it.
The disappointment was great, but now Nina Dano knows it was the right decision.
In hindsight, it was the best thing that could happen. I needed that summer without handball – just to take everything at my own pace. Feel well, says the 24-year-old.
"Still bad days"
At the same time, the period before and during the Olympic Games was painful.
What was most difficult was just seeing that they were gathered and I wasn't with them. It depended on what kind of day I had. Some days I could watch a match, another day it just didn't work.
In Sävehof, Dano has found security again and is back in the national team for the ongoing European Championship.
I still have bad days, but they are much fewer. I work continuously with a psychologist. It's absolutely going in the right direction, but I don't feel completely clear of it.
At the same time, it's accepted to have bad days every now and then.
I've been honest with the club and the coach that there are days where it's crap and that it's okay. It's been very important for me, and I'm very grateful that they listen to me.
Born: June 12, 2000.
Position: Right-back.
Clubs: Torslanda HK (–2017), Sävehof (2018–2021), Horsens HK (2021–2023), Odense (2023–2024), Sävehof (2024–).
Championships: European Championship 2020, Olympic Games 2021, World Championship 2021, European Championship 2022, World Championship 2023, European Championship 2024.
In acute situations or when thinking of suicide, always call 112.
Here you can turn to if you're feeling unwell:
Mind.se.
Suicide Zero – suicidezero.se.
Spes – the national association for suicide prevention and aftercare. spes.se.
BRIS – children's rights in society. bris.se.
Save the Children – raddabarnen.se. Also for parents.
Anonymous alcoholics – aa.se.
On-call friend – receives calls from children and young people up to 25 years old. jourhavandekompis.se.
On-call fellow human being – can be reached at night on 08–702 16 80.
Friends – friends.se.
1177 – healthcare guidance and information about the nearest psychiatric emergency department. 1177.se
