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Holding On: Nadera’s Story
“Especially now, when there might not be anyone around physically to affirm you, you have to pat yourself on the back for every step you take in the positive direction and ignore the demons that tell you that what you are doing is not enough.”
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Growing Up With Mental Illnesses: Khai’s Story
“When I was just 10 years old, my mum was diagnosed with bipolar and it was tough growing up when roles are reversed, with you having to take care of your mum instead.”
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We are people first
“Accept us. Listen to us. Start thinking of us as people first, people with hurts, people who love, people who want to be loved, people who are the same as everyone else.”
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When Nothing Seems to Work: A.M.’s Story
By A.M. I’m A.M. and I have depression and anxiety disorder, or what I call, D+A. This has been my reality for the past three and a half years. The dysphoria started when I was 16. There was a ceaseless cloud of malaise and suicidal thoughts. Anxiety attacks were quotidian. I didn’t know what was…
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I Am More Than ‘Okay’: Michelle’s Story
By Michelle L. // It started when I was 15. I remembered feeling like there was something eating away at my very core, and that I was always crying and nauseous. After two years of skipping school and isolating myself, I was diagnosed with major depression. I was relieved that, finally, there was help. However,…
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When Illness is a Stepping Stone Towards Positive Experiences: Kurtle’s Story
By Kurtle // I used to cope with my troubles by self-harming. I have been self-harming since my teens when I was studying in Junior College. I later pursued my studies in Melbourne, where I fell ill. Hence, part of my recovery story happened in Melbourne, Australia, and then in Singapore, where I decided to come…
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My Fight With Depression: Kenneth’s Story
By Kenneth // On 27 Feb 2018, I attempted suicide. Back in Aug 2017, I joined a new company after spending four wonderful years at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). In the nation’s flagship hospital, I was given numerous opportunities to work with some of the brightest healthcare professionals, administrators and IT engineers in the…
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Depression Lies: Vivien’s Story
By Vivien Y. // Depression is a bad friend. The kind that sticks around and pours poison in your ear. It follows me to work meetings, Friday nights with friends, back home in bed and most recently, it followed me to a gig. You see I’m a singer-songwriter, and sometimes I get asked to perform…
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Three Dangerous Mindsets and Healthier Alternatives: Kevin’s Story
By Kevin W. // A healthy mindset (a belief or way of thinking) is crucial to positive mental health. Why? Because our beliefs largely influence our emotions and responses to stressors. Yet, due to flawed guidance and societal pressures, we subconsciously develop dangerous mindsets that sabotage our potential. When left unchecked, they could lead to…
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Play Therapy for Mental Wellness
With Adelyn Lee // Mental wellbeing need not be a solemn and stressful affair. For Adelyn, founder of Pandora Box Play Therapy, it was through play that she was able to process painful childhood memories and develop personal resilience. She candidly shares more of her personal story in our exclusive Tapestry interview and explains what…
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The Struggle for Better Days: Vivien’s Story
By Vivien Y. // I had lost a visible amount of weight in a short amount of time and people said that I looked great. The truth was that at 22 and living through the tribulations of the final semester of university, I was incredibly depressed. I wasn’t eating, I couldn’t sleep, I was running…
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5 Ways to Develop Empathy, A Bedrock Social Skill
By Joy Hou // “I just get so angry when she says she will call and then doesn’t,” said Celine about her good friend. Her husband Dave responded, “Darling, it’s such as a small matter, why are you always getting upset about these trivial things?” Inevitably, Celine got even more frustrated, leading to another one…
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If That’s The Way It Is: Andrew’s Story
By Andrew Y. // The Japanese word, “Sayonara”, translates literally into the phrase, “If that’s the way it is”. The phrase, for me, evokes a sense of something both unsettling and final. Perhaps it’s a sad sense of acceptance that some things that were, will never be again. I’ve been thinking of people who I…
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I Should Be Able to Handle This, Right?: Josephine’s Story
By Josephine N. // The past few months of last year were tough. I remembered waking up one morning feeling helpless and empty. I felt that there was something lacking in my life and, me being me, told myself that it was absolutely necessary that I do something about it. “I scared myself this morning,” I…
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One Meal At A Time: Joanne’s Story
By Joanne // I never imagined myself writing on a platform that raises awareness for mental health issues, because in my mind mental health had such a stigma. But the truth is, there is no shame in having/having had a mental disorder. In a way, it is just our brains falling sick. And since National…
