It's the second week of the RMO, and we hope everyone is coping well. Today, let's talk about something that many of us have encountered, especially if we have access to the internet.---Today, let's talk about fake news.---We're exposed to so many fake news online, especially to chain messages on your family or friend WhatsApp group chats. Some infectious disease “expert” asking you to put onions on your front door so the virus would not come into the house? Drinking warm water to "flush" the virus down your throat and the virus will dissolve in your stomach acid? Yes, those.---Worse, some of these messages are dramatically emphasising on the severity of the issue. While this situation is serious, some of these messages are solely bent on catastrophizing the problem and causing unnecessary panic in the public. Some of you may remember the viral messages of governments imposing a nationwide lockdown. This message has made such a huge detrimental effect in the public which has caused incidences of panic buying in grocery stores that put more people at risk of getting infected due to the mass gatherings in supermarkets. These fake messages are doing nothing but feed on our panic and desperate need to gain a sense of control. In the end, our rational behaviour of maintaining social distancing is overruled by the need to purchase toilet paper in quantities enough to survive an apocalyptic lockdown.---But we are here to remind everybody that we will always have control over our situation and we can do something about this. And for us who are at home, we can fight the disease in a non-direct way – we can control the spread of fake news.---How do we know what’s real and what’s not online?---Always check for the source of the message. Mainstream news portals are a good place to start in order to receive credible information on the current situation of our surroundings. If a message claims to be advice from a “renowned infectious disease expert”, look up the person online or check these claims online in scientific journals. You can also check with the Ministry of Health and real medical professionals on the credibility of “rubbing tiger balm on your nose to scare the virus away”. If you feel like you are still unsure of the credibility of a certain piece of information, just refrain from sharing it!---I’m receiving all this news and know they are fake and yet, I’m still feeling anxious and uneasy. What can I do about it?---Put the news away for a while, and talk about your worries with someone in real life. Confide in someone you trust with what you’re feeling at the moment. Emotional and physical support does wonders for your mental health because it helps you to feel less alone, knowing that we’re all in this together.---While we are practicing social distancing to stop the spread of the virus, let us also socially distance ourselves from fake news to stop its spread.#mentalhealth #fakenews #responsiblenetizen

The Restricted Movement Order (RMO) has been officially extended until the 14th of April. Hence, the clinic will be closed until then. Our admin is on duty as usual. The phone line will be opened as per the clinic's usual operating hours. You may drop us a WhatsApp / Call / Email if you have any inquiries during this period.We will provide updates according to the latest updates from the government.Stay home, and stay safe!

It's very tempting to just lay on the couch the whole day and relax. However, it is also important to keep moving because physical activity not only helps to keep your body active, it has a positive impact on your mental health too by improving your mood and keeping you motivated throughout the day.---You can move around the house by just walking around, doing house chores, or follow a live stream workout by fitness trainers online. There are so many ways to get your heart pumping---Let's get physical people!

Being at home with plenty of me-time, it gives you a great opportunity to be in tune with yourself.---For 5-10 minutes a day, get into a comfortable and relaxing place and position. Imagine you're facing a clone of yourself and start a conversation with him/her. Ask yourself:1. How am I today?2. What am I feeling at this very moment?3. Why am I feeling this way?---Just being with yourself in that space will allow you to understand yourself a little better. Also, it's alright to feel any kind of emotions at that time, it is, after all, you! ---Remember to thank yourself for giving yourself time to hold this conversation! 🙂

It's Day 3 of Movement Restriction Order. How is everyone feeling?---If you're feeling overwhelmed by this situation, it's always great to talk to a loved one on what is stressing you out. Social support goes a long way in providing emotional support. Alternatively, you can always look for support groups/forums online to talk about what you're feeling.

Uncertainty is a scary feeling to have especially in trying times like these. It makes us ruminate on the stress of what the future will hold. Plus, the information that we receive online may only add fuel to this feeling of uncertainty.---We rely on the internet to receive the latest news updates (and the memes), but do go offline after a while so to avoid feeling overwhelmed by all the information we're receiving online. Do something you enjoy instead, like gardening and doing workouts at home. ---Self-care goes beyond just staying at home and practicing social distancing; Self-care comes in the form of taking care of your mental well-being too.

The wellbeing of our clients and staff are of our utmost priority. In light of the restriction movement, ABRI will be closed from the 18th of March to 31st of March 2020. Existing clients whose appointments are affected by the rule may choose to reschedule the appointment or carry out online counselling with our therapists.Our phone line/WhatsApp/email will be operating as usual. Feel free to contact us if you have any further enquiries. Together, we can fight Covid-19!

One of our directors, Vincent Lim, had the opportunity to conduct a workshop on understanding the life stages of children and adolescents on the 22nd and 23rd February in Penang. A total of 40 participants attended the workshop.This workshop was held to enable parents, caregivers, and those working directly with youths to understand the developmental stages of children and adolescents. Job well done, Vincent!

-The Sower of Light-...Battling with depression can feel so real. Loss of energy, motivation, joy and sometimes, even the will to live. There will be anxiety, fear and hopelessness. It is a lot like staying in the darkness....IMAGINE THIS: ...You have yourself a forest, and your mission is to light up the forest using only one tiny light bulb at a time. You get only one shot per day. ...NOW PICTURE THIS: ...The forest is pitch black. Deeper and darker than any other place in the world. Tall trees soaring up to the sky, crisp leaves rustling against the wind - quiet. The temperature is low and cold. Chilly enough to make you wrap your sweater around a little tighter. Eeriness sending tingly goosebumps over your arms. There is nobody else around, only the occasional sound of breaking twigs and nocturnal insects chirping. You hear the sound of water from a steady stream in the distance. The first night of your mission. The forest needs light. ...You find a warm patch of land, reach deep into your pocket and gently pull out your first little light bulb. Going down on one knee, you carefully place it on the grassy ground. Your first light bulb is in place. ...Standing, you look up to see the result of your first step, but there is NO difference. The darkness is still thick, it’s still cold, still eerie and lonely – BUT, you now know there is a tiny light somewhere in the ground. First day, accomplished. Second night falls, it’s time to add one more. You do it all again, carefully placing one more light bulb on the ground. Look up, it’s all STILL the same, but now there are two little lights in the darkness. Second day, accomplished.The same way, you go back each day, placing one more little light beside another. Over weeks, months, and years of placing just ONE MORE light, illuminating just one patch of grass at a time. Finally, the day arrives, when you look up and see that you have covered about 10 feet of land. The size of a small bus stop, enough space to set up a bench. Aside from that, the forest is STILL the same and the eerie darkness hasn’t changed. However, you have successfully lit up 10 feet of it....That is exactly what overcoming depression or any other downfall looks like. The pitch black represents your state of mind, and those little light bulbs represent little acts of kindness to self. We often beat ourselves up for not being able to take BIG steps of change. For not being able to shine a spotlight into our forests, but we’re missing a point: It is NEVER about taking big steps. It is ALL about doing one small thing at a time....More importantly, recognizing each small step as labour invested into your own well-being, into bringing light to your darkness. Over time, enough of these small acts of kindness will create in you an illuminating space. Enough light for you to invite another person to that bench you set up and to inspire them to be a sower of light - just like you. ...Just ONE genuine act of kindness at a time. What can you do for yourself today?Juanita, Admin Intern.

We're hosting an EMDR Peer Support Group which will be led by one of our practitioners, Sudha! Organized specifically for all EMDR therapy practitioners. Seats are limited, so sign up today! Find out more in our poster.*For EMDR Practitioners only