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My Anxiety; My Recovery
By Nicole K. // I feel like I’m unravelling. Rapidly. All the ground I’ve gained in the past months seems to be giving way under my feet. I’m falling through the cracks. Holding on. Holding on for dear life. This can’t be happening again. Not again. Those were the words I hastily scribbled in my…
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Psychologist or Psychiatrist?
By Nicole K. // I have been frequently asked on what the difference is, between a psychologist and a psychiatrist. So I thought I might just as well share what I know. To put it simply: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who treats the brain, as mental illness is a result of neurobiological imbalance. A…
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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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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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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 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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7 Ways to Surviving Festive Gatherings
By Nicole K. // “I struggle with small talk. I feel that people are judging me for not speaking, and when I do, it’s like they’re judging me based on what I had just said. I wish I didn’t have to go for the family reunions, but I’m obligated to.” – Tapestry reader. Festive occasions…
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What Does Recovery Look Like To You?
By Nicole K. // It may appear like a simple question. But in reality, there isn’t a straightforward answer to it. What recovery looks like to an alcoholic may vastly differ from that of a paraplegic. Similarly, what ‘wholeness’ is to a person with diabetes may not be the same as that of one stricken…
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Don’t Tell Anyone
By Nicole K. // Don’t tell anyone, I was once told. I genuinely appreciated that well-meaning piece of advice when I mentioned my struggle with clinical depression to a mentor. It was meant to keep me safe from hurtful comments, from the people that may not understand and might even exploit me on some level…
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The Thing About Stigma
By Nicole K. // It seems okay, maybe even noble, to talk about a broken arm, cancer or kidney disease, but somehow it is not okay to talk about schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Why? It’s about perception. Somehow, we have been given (and are sending) the message that the mind isn’t as important as what…
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Mental Health in Singapore
By Nicole K. // The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “not just the absence of mental disorder. It is defined a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make…
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The Tapestry and I: Nicole’s Story
By Nicole K. // Our lives are made up of stories–ours and others. Within these narratives, we often find an intricate weave of experiences, insights, advice and memories. It is also through these stories, that we discover we are not alone in our life’s journey. This knowledge is especially important when it comes to mental illness, which is isolating by its very…
