In My Mind brings viewers into the headspace of people facing struggles related to their mental health.
In this episode, we explore Michael’s journey – from his rough upbringing to his plunge into vices and his eventual recovery.
Circles of Resilience by Resilience Collective is a safe space where peers, or persons with lived experience of mental health conditions, come together to help each other thrive and lead authentic lives.
The National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) Singapore was set up with the support of the Ministry of Health to provide treatment for people with addictions.
Helpline: 6-RECOVER (6-7326837)
Watch more: https://www.asiaone.com/video
In this episode, we explore Michael’s journey – from his rough upbringing to his plunge into vices and his eventual recovery.
Circles of Resilience by Resilience Collective is a safe space where peers, or persons with lived experience of mental health conditions, come together to help each other thrive and lead authentic lives.
The National Addictions Management Service (NAMS) Singapore was set up with the support of the Ministry of Health to provide treatment for people with addictions.
Helpline: 6-RECOVER (6-7326837)
Watch more: https://www.asiaone.com/video
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00 Sometimes, in order to rebuild yourself, you must let go of your old self.
00:04 After all, letting go of whatever that is holding you back may be key to your growth
00:08 and recovery.
00:10 I was a curious, mischievous and jittery child.
00:14 For some reason, I was the odd one out, and did not fit in.
00:19 But that made me fearless, and I was never afraid to veer off the beaten track.
00:24 I've always had this burning passion for music, acting and graffiti.
00:29 Art has always been my compass, and guided me when I was growing up.
00:34 I saw art as a guiding compass for me.
00:37 It provided me with direction to work towards my goals.
00:42 During my teenage years, I met people whom I was always told to stay away from.
00:47 But curiosity got the better of me.
00:50 I wanted to see that side of life that I've never experienced.
00:54 It opened doors to vices I never knew.
00:57 I met people who shared the same passions as me.
01:00 I felt that I finally found my space, where I had like-minded individuals around me who
01:06 could help me achieve my dreams.
01:10 In the name of art was a lie I held on to, telling myself that it would give me inspiration
01:16 for creativity.
01:18 As a musician, I wanted to write insightful music, even at the cost of lowering my own
01:24 inhibitions.
01:25 Indulging in smoking and drinking was just the tip of the iceberg.
01:33 These cravings took over me, and before I knew it, I was hooked.
01:40 Without them, my mind and body could not function, and I was falling into a downward spiral.
01:47 My life was in a mess, and my depression held me by my neck.
01:53 Depressions no longer fueled me.
01:55 I was losing money, friends, sleep, and eventually, my will to live.
02:01 I felt that life had nothing to offer, and I was no longer worried about my future.
02:07 I was jobless, void of passion, and I found myself lost in the grip of addiction, and
02:14 my whole world came crashing down around me.
02:17 My parents were getting older, and my friends got arrested one by one.
02:22 I thought of escaping this vicious cycle.
02:25 It only truly hit me when a close friend of mine died from an overdose.
02:32 I thought that person could have been me.
02:36 It felt like an electric jolt to my body, but it was the wake-up call I desperately
02:41 needed.
02:43 It was a harrowing escape for me.
02:49 I was tired of being enslaved to my addictions.
02:52 I knew I had to turn my life around.
02:55 I took the first step and started therapy, while also reconnecting with my faith and
03:00 taking accountability for my actions.
03:03 There is so much more I want to achieve in life.
03:06 I kicked my bad habits and replaced them with healthy ones like fitness activities and meditation.
03:13 I slowly started to gain confidence.
03:16 But it wasn't a linear journey.
03:19 Every now and then, I find myself slipping back into the same old habits.
03:25 But with the support of my family and real friends who understood and heard me, I had
03:30 the strength to be committed to my healing process.
03:33 Eventually, I managed to break free of my addictions and never look back.
03:39 You could say that I turned over a new leaf.
03:41 I'm now taking my degree in psychology and giving back to the people who helped me by
03:46 helping others.
03:48 I'm also a member of Circles of Resilience, a peer support group where I share with them
03:53 my experience.
03:55 Living with depression and addiction can be incredibly hard, but it is possible to take
03:59 back control of your life again.
04:02 Letting go of your old self is key to growth and recovery.
04:06 Now I value honesty and no matter what the situation is, I try to be honest with myself
04:12 and others around me.
04:15 I no longer hide my burdens and fears, and my relationships have since grown stronger.
04:19 [Music]
04:34 [Music]
04:37 [Music]