In My Mind brings viewers into the headspace of people facing struggles related to their mental health.
In this episode, we look at Claire’s journey, from dealing with lingering family trauma, depression, suicidal thoughts and being rescued through therapy. 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 Community Outreach Team (CREST), also known as Community Resource, Engagement and Support Team, provides screening to promote the recognition of early signs and symptoms of mental health conditions. The team also supports caregivers with resources to care for their loved ones in the community. You can reach CREST at 1800 650 6060.
Watch more: https://www.asiaone.com/video
In this episode, we look at Claire’s journey, from dealing with lingering family trauma, depression, suicidal thoughts and being rescued through therapy. 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 Community Outreach Team (CREST), also known as Community Resource, Engagement and Support Team, provides screening to promote the recognition of early signs and symptoms of mental health conditions. The team also supports caregivers with resources to care for their loved ones in the community. You can reach CREST at 1800 650 6060.
Watch more: https://www.asiaone.com/video
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Life, inevitably, has its highs and lows.
00:04Yet it is in these moments that compassion becomes essential.
00:09Not only towards those around us, but also towards ourselves.
00:14I was no stranger to chaos and turbulence growing up.
00:18My parents got divorced when I was a child,
00:20and I was left in the care of my grandparents.
00:23I felt like I had to be an adult in a house of grown-ups,
00:27where screams and quarrels were the norm at home.
00:30There were constant reminders of how worthless I was,
00:33echoed in every corner of our home.
00:36My family often lashed out at me.
00:39I tried my best to talk them out of the emotional spirals
00:42and immediate disputes between parties.
00:45I didn't know any better way to get around this.
00:49I thought I could bite the bullet and talk them through this,
00:52and everything would be alright.
00:54I often had to deal with episodes of suicide threats by my family members.
00:59Night after night, I stayed awake,
01:02dreading someone would do something rash.
01:05I kept everybody's secrets.
01:07I felt like I had to protect their fragile hearts.
01:10By the time I reached school age,
01:12I was already so used to hiding my pain.
01:15I would sneak away to secluded corners,
01:17letting my tears flow freely when no one could see.
01:21I remember breaking down in the middle of a workshop,
01:24feeling like my chest was caving in.
01:27My teacher referred me to the school counsellor,
01:29whom I only saw once.
01:32I didn't want to be a burden and bring shame to my family.
01:36All of this didn't stay hidden for long.
01:39By the time I hit my teens, it consumed me entirely.
01:43I didn't see a future for myself.
01:46I left for university in the UK.
01:50While university could have been a fresh start for me,
01:52a chance to escape home,
01:54the pain followed me like a relentless shadow.
01:57I drowned my sorrows in alcohol,
02:00hoping to numb the ache that lingered.
02:03The relief was always fleeting,
02:05leaving behind a bitter aftertaste of regret.
02:09Soon after, I lost interest in doing anything,
02:12even eating.
02:14Agony consumed me entirely,
02:16and I woke up staring into the abyss every day.
02:19I told my partner then,
02:21please end it all for me.
02:23But at the back of my mind,
02:25I felt like I didn't even deserve that.
02:27He was patient, and he didn't give up on me.
02:30He pushed me to seek help.
02:35On my first visit to the therapist,
02:37she told me that it was possible for me
02:39not to feel this way anymore.
02:41Tears streamed down uncontrollably.
02:44I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
02:47Therapy became a beacon of hope in the darkness.
02:51I learned to confront the demons of my past,
02:54to unravel the tangled web of trauma
02:56that I was trapped in for so long.
02:59And after some time, I made good progress.
03:02I opened up to my mum and mended our relationship.
03:06But it's still a long road ahead.
03:08As I look back on my journey,
03:10I've learned to have compassion and love for myself,
03:13to have conversations with others
03:15with similar experiences and struggles.
03:18However, I've learned to reclaim my narrative,
03:21to rewrite the story of my life on my own terms.
03:24I am now a Circles of Resilience member,
03:27and I help people find that glimmer of light within darkness.
03:43www.circlesofresilience.org