Month: February 2014

  • Discontinuing Psychiatric Medications: What You Need to Know

    Discontinuing Psychiatric Medications: What You Need to Know

    Discontinuing Psychiatric Medications: What You Need to Know By MARGARITA TARTAKOVSKY, M.S. Many people have a dark view of medication withdrawal. They may have read or heard the scary stories about uncomfortable side effects or come across startling headlines related to the risks of discontinuing various drugs. The reality is that it is possible to safely…

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  • Green Couches: Ana’s Story

    Green Couches: Ana’s Story

    Editor’s Note: Some of us come from difficult backgrounds, where family relationships were rife with conflict, inflicting wounds and scars that never seem to go away. These hurts, when not dealt with appropriately, can leave one vulnerable to mental distresses like depression and anxiety, even suicide. Our reader, Ana, shares how she rose above the…

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  • One Word At A Time

    One Word At A Time

    By Nicole K. // If only we knew how much power lay in a single word. Words wield the power to heal or to hurt; to bless or to curse; to reveal or to mislead; to inspire or to discourage. The root of stigma against mental illnesses is perpetuated by our choice of words. Let’s…

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  • Looking On: Angela’s Story

    Looking On: Angela’s Story

    Editor’s Note: Amidst the pain of loneliness and stigma that often accompanies mental illness, our reader Angela found comfort in her artwork. A talented artist, Angela has graciously provided one of her pieces to accompany her story on surviving a difficult childhood and what it’s like living with depression today.

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  • It’s Valentine’s Day – You Are Loved

    Like being trapped in a dense fog, having mental illness makes it especially hard for one to identify and accept help from others. To accept love.

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  • Why I Hurt Myself: Kelly’s Story

    Why I Hurt Myself: Kelly’s Story

    Editor’s Note: You can only conquer what you confront, and you can only confront what you are able to identify. Kelly had the self-awareness to recognise she had a problem, and found the courage to confront it. Because she received non-judgemental support and care from her close friends, she was able to discover healthier ways…

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  • Depression: The Facts Beyond Sadness

    Depression: The Facts Beyond Sadness

    By Nicole K. // “There are three things that people tend to confuse: depression, grief and sadness.” – Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression There is a significant difference between clinical depression (a.k.a Major Depressive Disorder or Unipolar Depression), and the emotion of sadness. Grief and sadness are natural responses to negative…

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  • 10 Tips to Build Resilience

    10 Tips to Build Resilience

    10 Tips to Build Resilience By AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 1. Make connections. Good relationships with close family members, friends, or others are important. Accepting help and support from those who care about you and will listen to you strengthens resilience. Some people find that being active in civic groups, faith-based organizations, or other local groups…

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  • Down, Down and Up: Erica’s Story

    Down, Down and Up: Erica’s Story

    Editor’s Note: Work stress can affect us more than we realise, and it can be especially difficult to cope with after a vacation or festive holiday. Our reader, Erica, shares her story on how work stress, along with family and financial struggles, had led to her first episode of depression and self-harm. Self-harm is a…

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