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Heart Matters: Ling’s Story
Editor’s Note: Good mental health is about embracing who you are, and extending that acceptance to someone else. It is about building a trusted network of meaningful relationships. Our reader, Ling, shares her heart on what it means to love in spite of her own fears and vulnerability when it comes to meeting that special someone.
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Peer Support Specialist: Julius’ Story
Update: Julius is currently working as a Peer Support Specialist with IMH. He continues to be an inspiration to many 🙂 Kudos to Julius for boldly sharing his story on our local paper! Looks like the idea of mental health story-sharing is gaining traction here in Singapore 🙂 If you have a mental health story…
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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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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
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
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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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
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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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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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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A Chance To Live: Amanda’s Story
Editor’s Note: Our reader, Amanda, battles with schizophrenia, and shares her experiences and what treatment was like. She urges others like her to seek help early. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Amanda. We are rooting for your success.
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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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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…
