In our final episode of this season, Sabrina (Co-founder & CEO, Calm Collective) shares how she went from surviving to thriving with her bipolar II disorder. As Sabrina looks back on her mental health journey with Alyssa, she details her lowest point and what recovery looks like for her today.

Trigger Warning: mention of suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt

Read Sabrina's original blog post here: https://www.sabrinaooi.com/blog/2019/10/9/how-i-went-from-leaving-to-living

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Mental health conditions exist on a spectrum, and some people with a diagnosis are able to function well without medication. However, there should be no shame in requiring it. For those that need medication management as part of their mental health recovery, there are many misconceptions that continue to persist today. 

Join us on this episode as we demystify with Nicolette Yeo (Writer and Host, Calm Collective Asia) and Dr Ken Ung, one of Singapore's leading psychiatrists practising at Adam Road Medical, on what it is like to be treated with medication as a mental health treatment, how he works with patients to manage side effects, and what the process of finding the right medication mix is like.

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Read more from Nicolette 

How to talk about mental health at work without just virtue signalling

How to approach a loved one whose mental health might be in a downward spiral

Often, when someone goes through a traumatic incident, the trauma stays with them, even though the danger is gone. The deep pain and unforgettable moments that linger can have adverse effects on that individual. While it's impossible to undo what's in the past, know that it's possible to heal. 

In episode 10 of Calm Conversations, Anna Williams (mental wellbeing advocate and mindfulness devotee) bravely shares with us her story of overcoming trauma, life challenges and finding mindfulness, healing and self-love.

T/W: This podcast has references to (but no explicit details about) sexual abuse, incest and suicide

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When was the last time you openly had a conversation about sex with your Asian parents? Yeah, we can't remember either. In many Asian societies, talking about sex is an uncomfortable topic. That feeling is reinforced when growing up, we witness the discomfort of our Asian parents around this topic. However, when conversations around consent and sexuality don't happen during our formative years, feelings of shame around sex can affect our mental health well into adulthood.  

In episode 9 of Calm Conversations, we speak with Joo Hymn Tan (Project Director for the Birds and Bees Programme, AWARE) about how feelings of shame around sex can impact our relationships, and how parents can break the cycle of shame by learning how to address the topics of sex and consent to their young children.  

Resources  

Birds and Bees: A workshop for parents by AWARE 

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Men are not excluded from the wrath of insecurity, and more often than not, they find it difficult to voice them out. In episode 8 of Calm Conversations, Egan speaks to Sabrina and Sean Low (Ordinary Folk) about various male insecurities, from sexual dysfunction to hair loss, and how not talking about these things affect men's mental health.

Women who have experienced a miscarriage describe a range of emotions. Not only do they experience a sense of sadness and grief related to the loss of their miscarried child, but they may also grieve the chance to become a mother or to grow their family. However, often nobody knows about a miscarriage because there's no funeral to mark it, leading to women feeling alone in their loss.

In episode 7 of Calm Conversations, Alyssa speaks with Dr Mary Sawdon a naturopathic doctor and fertility coach about her journey dealing with infertility and the grief of her multiple miscarriages.

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Links to resources mentioned by Mary:

Books

Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod: https://miraclemorning.com

Affirmation cards

Love Powered Co: https://www.lovepoweredco.com

Guided Meditation

Expectful: https://expectful.com

Connect with Mary

Instagram: www.instagram.com/fertilityfundamentals

Every relationship requires effort and may face bumps along the road. But how do we know if our problems are just a normal phase or a sign of a toxic relationship? Join us for this episode with Alyssa and Jolene Hwee (Clarity Counselling & Consulting) as they discuss red flags and explore how various attachment styles and injuries can affect relationships.   

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We all have our emotional ups and downs. But for bipolar disorder, the mood changes between manic and depressive episodes are so intense that they could interfere with one’s daily life. Join us for this episode where Sabrina looks back on her mental health journey with bipolar disorder and speaks with Dr Pearlene Ng about recovery, medication, treatment and whether or not one can live a normal life with bipolar disorder.   

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Getting to live all over the world sounds amazing right? As parents bring their families to different countries to experience new surroundings due to their work, their children are often left to wonder... where is home? Where do I really belong? Join Alyssa and Josh Tan in this conversation as they discuss their experience as third culture kids in navigating their mental health, dealing with grief, searching for a sense of belonging all while growing up in several different countries.    

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TCK Resources:  

Boarding School Resources:  

In this episode, Alyssa and Joan (CEO, ThoughtFull) discuss their experiences of being caregivers to their loved ones who battle mental health conditions. As they discuss the challenges caregivers face, such as having to carry heavy secrets, we learn more about the importance of caregiver education and how it could help not only their loved ones but themselves as well.   

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Resources: