Threads in Tapestry - giving a voice to struggles of youths

Arzeen on post-natal depression: "I was just intensely sad.”

Arzeen on post-natal depression: “Logically it just doesn’t make sense because I just had a baby. I’m supposed to feel happy, to finally have my baby but I wasn’t happy. I was just sad. I was just intensely sad.” What's it like to yearn for a baby for 13 years? When he finally came, Arzeen was just anything but elated. How could this be? All she felt was hopelessness. “What’s the point of it all? We are all going to die one day. There’s no meaning to life.” Come listen to how post-partum depression can drastically change a new mother’s outlook and the coping strategies Arzeen used to to become the happy mother she is today. ____________________________________________________ We ask you to enter a “no judgement zone”, to listen with an open mind and empathetic heart, with the hope that it may spur you to positive action in your own struggle experience. There is something to be learned about digesting the experience of others to put your own trials and tribulations into perspective; a perspective that encourages rather than deflates. turning threads of struggles into the larger picture of your life. Have you considered sharing one struggle you have overcome?  Your life’s odds may feel ordinary to you, but it might seem extraordinary to someone else. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone. With your growth experience, you too can encourage, uplift and empower others! What’s your story? We’ll love to hear from you! Connect with us at Anthonia@ichoosegrowth.sg [Anthonia@ichoosegrowth.sg]!

John on depression: “When I began to feel the temptation for suicide, that’s when everything was really too much. It feels more comfortable to hurt myself than not to hurt myself."

What's it like to struggle with depression and tendency for suicide? John shares with us his painful experience: the quarrels in his family, the separation between his parents, the suicidal tendencies he experienced.  And looking back,  how it has shaped him to be the person he is today: to continue to work for a better set of cards than what he has been dealt with in life, and helping others to do the same. In our conversation, what shines through is the trusting love of John’s god parents who helped him connect with a counsellor, his desire to get well and his willingness to see that “it’s important not to blame the past situations for what I was going through. I have to own up to the wounds that I was carrying and the way I was responding, because when I pin the blame on someone else, that’s why I have depression. I can’t fix the other person – my mum and dad still exist no matter what happens in my life. If that’s the case every time I see them they will be my trigger – that shouldn’t be the case. Through counselling I see that whatever is happening is a reaction. I can learn to choose the response instead, to take time to discern what is happening, sit with it, sit with the uncomfortable of whatever occurs. To be still with whatever is happening, allow myself to accept and acknowledge the emotions that I have not recognized for so long.” ________________________________________________ We ask you to enter a “no judgement zone”, to listen with an open mind and empathetic heart , with the hope that it may spur you to positive action in your own struggle experience. There is something to be learned about digesting the experience of others to put your own trials and tribulations into perspective; a perspective that encourages rather than deflates. turning threads of struggles into the larger picture of your life. Have you considered sharing one struggle you have overcome?  Your life’s odds may feel ordinary to you, but it might seem extraordinary to someone else. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone. With your growth experience, you too can encourage, uplift and empower others! What’s your story? We’ll love to hear from you! Connect with us at Anthonia@ichoosegrowth.sg!

Sarah T :" I didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t feel the need to, even like wanting to see the next day. It's like there is not any point to it."

"I was in a rut. Not interested in anything. I just watched time pass away." Sarah shares with us her journey: what it was like in the beginning when she started having problems with her studies, not identifying the root of her problem to just being in complete listlessness – zero interest in anything, sleeping at irregular hours and doing absolutely nothing? Till the pandemic came along and she was forced to come face to face  with herself, reflect and turn her life around? Come listen as Sarah shares with us her coping strategies from living with with complete listlessness to having a personal vision – all in the pandemic. _____________________________________ We ask you to enter a “no judgement zone”, to listen with an open mind and empathetic heart, with the hope that it may spur you to positive action in your own struggle experience. There is something to be learned about digesting the experience of others to put your own trials and tribulations into perspective; a perspective that encourages rather than deflates. turning threads of struggles into the larger picture of your life. Have you considered sharing one struggle you have overcome?  Your life’s odds may feel ordinary to you, but it might seem extraordinary to someone else. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone. With your growth experience, you too can encourage, uplift and empower others! What’s your story? We’ll love to hear from you! Connect with us at Anthonia@ichoosegrowth.sg!

Clare on multiple miscarriages: “You go into that pregnancy with fear and anxiety. U get paranoid and any mistake may end the life of the baby you are carrying inside you. It’s very frightening."

What happens when a much awaited pregnancy turns into loss?  That’s what Clare and her husband experienced – four times over! And at the end of it to be told there’s nothing wrong with their bodies, it’s just genetics. Throughout each painful journey ,Clare was anxious, fearful and turned to self-blame for each loss. She “went into this hole of darkness, sadness and despair”- almost a state of depression -  and failed to see the blessings in her life - until she changed her mindset to one of growth. “We cannot control what the future holds but we can control how our lives are lived.” This is a story of courage and hope. For every young couple out there trying so hard to conceive and start a family, Clare has a message for you: You are brave warriors showing up everyday in your lives. Do not give up hope. In fact, in hope we must!” ____________________________________________________ We ask you to enter a “no judgement zone”, to listen with an open mind and empathetic heart, with the hope that it may spur you to positive action in your own struggle experience. There is something to be learned about digesting the experience of others to put your own trials and tribulations into perspective; a perspective that encourages rather than deflates. turning threads of struggles into the larger picture of your life. Have you considered sharing one struggle you have overcome?  Your life’s odds may feel ordinary to you, but it might seem extraordinary to someone else. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone. With your growth experience, you too can encourage, uplift and empower others! What’s your story? We’ll love to hear from you! Connect with us at Anthonia@ichoosegrowth.sg [Anthonia@ichoosegrowth.sg]!

Holiday on low self esteem: “I was brought up with a lot of negativity and told that I''m useless and good for nothing."

What's it like to grow up in an unsupportive family – with the constant narrative since childhood that you are stupid and a good for nothing? And believing it is true till proving otherwise! This is a story everyone needs to hear! For every teenager struggling with low self esteem. For  parents to be watchful of our words and actions.  For every one of us: how a few kind words can possibly transform a life – in this case from hopelessness which seeks flight from pain through inflicting self-harm – to believing that “as long as you have the courage to continue you can weather through any storm in life." ____________________________________________________ We ask you to enter a “no judgement zone”, to listen with an open mind and empathetic heart, with the hope that it may spur you to positive action in your own struggle experience. There is something to be learned about digesting the experience of others to put your own trials and tribulations into perspective; a perspective that encourages rather than deflates. turning threads of struggles into the larger picture of your life. Have you considered sharing one struggle you have overcome?  Your life’s odds may feel ordinary to you, but it might seem extraordinary to someone else. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone. With your growth experience, you too can encourage, uplift and empower others! What’s your story? We’ll love to hear from you! Connect with us at Anthonia@ichoosegrowth.sg [Anthonia@ichoosegrowth.sg]!