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I spent my childhood in fear. I thought I was going to fail my exams and spend the rest of my life on the roads, begging for food and shelter. I obsessed that forgotten homework would end my entire school career. I lay awake at night, convinced that burglars would enter and kill us or our house would burn down. In college, I used the same two words as a source text and thought I’d be convicted of plagiarism and kicked out of school. I always worried I’d forgotten something.

How do I lead a positive life? I am asked this often. How I look at the positive in every life experience and manifest hopefulness and acceptance. As a young woman in my 20s, I lacked the confidence and self-belief to pursue my dreams. I felt down with every setback in life. Small setbacks included a bad table at a restaurant, a friend not showing interest in meeting, and a manager’s negative feedback. I took a 3-month sabbatical from work, traveling through various silent re

(Client identities have been changed to respect confidentiality) Awen, 26-year-old female I realized that I need motivation to reduce my compulsions. Motivating yourself to cease compulsions begins with a straightforward mental shift: understand that compulsions perpetuate the cycle of anxiety. By deciding to pause, endure the brief discomfort, and shift your focus, you train your brain to see the

Psychological research shows that self-formation works best when individuals identify their personal values, such as love, justice, friendship, duty, creativity, gratitude, humor, health, agency, and relationships. Then create personalized affirmation statements. The most helpful affirmation for you is one that truly feels believable and speaks directly to how you're feeling right now. If a statement feels like it's asking too much emotionally, your mind might turn away from

Psychological trauma is a person’s experience of emotional distress resulting from an event that overwhelms the capacity to cope with it emotionally. Life-threatening or distressing experiences cause significant fear, helplessness, dissociation, confusion, or other intense feelings that can have long-lasting negative effects on a person’s attitudes, behavior, and functioning. It often leaves people with lasting feelings of helplessness, fear, and hyperarousal. It undermines

Max’s sharing- I am 29 years old. I struggled with low self-esteem in my childhood and teen years. Well, I still do occasionally, as I’m sure we all do. Over the course of a year, I wrote and spoke positive affirmations almost daily. Afterward, I noticed my self-esteem had improved, as had certain areas of my life. I gained more confidence in myself, which benefited both my personal life and career. The key to using affirmations effectively is to say them aloud while truly fe

Key Takeaways · Obsessions in obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are unwanted, repetitive thoughts that cause anxiety or fear, e.g., contamination/germs, fear of harming others, symmetry, perfectionism, etc. · Compulsions are behaviors done to relieve anxiety from obsessive thoughts. e.g., excessive cleaning, checking, counting, and arranging. · The symptoms can be managed via therapy and medications. Amelie had obsessive-compulsive disorder for as long as she

Research shows that the typical high-hope individual tends to be optimistic, feel a sense of control over their life, believe in their problem-solving abilities, have high self-esteem, and generally feel positive. A 2025 study in Emotion found that hope uniquely predicts a strong sense of meaning in life, regardless of happiness levels. Research demonstrates that higher hope levels are associated with better chronic illness management, lower stress, and more active coping

I grew up with this notion. It was my mother’s anthem. A missed school bus, a broken friendship, unfinished homework, not being selected for the team, a sore throat, a boring holiday, a bad test result, a teacher who misunderstands, a pressurizing day, a tummy ache, a long wait at the dentist, a side effect from medicine, an unfriendly roommate at school camp… are just a few examples. We found a solution, sooner or later.” My sister and I internalized it. Now we are 18 and 20

The Journey of Awareness and Healing “My daughter was 11 when she first started wearing her hair loose and covering her ears, even while sleeping. I didn't notice anything unusual until our anniversary dinner a few months later, when I saw a large discoloration on her right earlobe. When I asked, she changed the subject. My husband suggested it might be her eczema flair-up. That night, I examined her discolored patch and was shocked to find it was a scratch—she had been skin-

"Hope is a waking dream." - Aristotle The above quote suggests that hope is a conscious visualization of a better future, serving as a powerful, imaginative motivator while we are awake. Our brain operates more effectively, and we feel better when we have hope in the face of adversity and uncertainty. “H ope is a choice, a powerful force that sustains life even in the direst circumstances . While the outcomes we hope for are not guaranteed, The act of hoping itself is a te

Trichotillomania is part of a group of mental health conditions known as Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB). These involve repetitive self-grooming behaviors that can harm the body. Often dismissed as mere bad habits, they can lead to physical and mental health issues. Manisha is a 49-year-old female. Manisha’s Trichotillomania began when she was 15 “That’s when I started pulling her hair and trying to come up with rational reasons as to why I did it. I thought I was

“Hope dampens the anxiety circuits in the brain, and when you feel less anxious, your brain function improves. ” Hope works for the brain and in the brain. What is hope? Hope is described as an optimistic mindset rooted in the expectation of positive results, whether concerning personal life or the broader world. Hope is a beautiful blend of emotion and thought. When we talk about the emotional side of hope, it’s all about a feeling of trust that comes from our relationships

Research from over 40 countries indicates that: Approximately 17% of individuals will engage in self-harm at some point in their lives. The average age at the first self-harm incident is 13. Cutting accounts for 45% of self-injury methods. Around half of those who self-harm seek help, but mostly turn to friends rather than professionals. “It started as a good day. I did my morning prayers and bid my husband and children goodbye. Did my yoga and was planning to go out to meet

“Above all, I've discovered that practicing cultivated kindness provides a sense of control in this overwhelmingly chaotic world. It can be very easy to feel overwhelmed and lonely, especially when many things seem beyond our control. Choosing to be intentionally and thoughtfully kind without anticipating anything in return holds great power. Kindness is subtle yet possesses a fierce, unstoppable strength.”

When it comes to mental health, finding the right support can make all the difference. In a vibrant, multicultural city like Hong Kong, language and cultural understanding play a crucial role in therapy. That’s why bilingual therapy Hong Kong is becoming increasingly important. Whether you are a child, teenager, adult, elderly person, couple, or family, having a therapist who speaks your language and understands your culture can create a more comfortable and effective healin

Psychologists, social scientists, and other researchers often say it’s a bit of both. Not only do we naturally tend to be kind, but we also have the wonderful ability to nurture and grow our kindness over the course of our lives. Although humans are innately predisposed to empathy and cooperation, kindness is additionally a skill that is cultivated, enhanced, and perfected through experience. “Throughout my childhood, I observed my father's benevolent acts of kindness. He wou

“I'm 21 years old now, and I've struggled with my weight and self-esteem since junior high. As a typical, awkward preteen, I was chubby, wore braces, and had acne. I was self-conscious about everything, especially my weight. As I entered high school, my concern about my body grew stronger. Then one day, I looked at myself in the mirror, still not entirely sure what I was doing. Then I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, knelt over the toilet, and made myself sick. I wish, wi

Living with undiagnosed ADHD can be challenging, especially for adults who may have struggled with symptoms for years without understanding why. If you find yourself often distracted, forgetful, or restless, you might wonder if ADHD is the cause. Fortunately, getting a proper ADHD evaluation for adults in Hong Kong is possible, and it can open doors to better management and support. What Is ADHD and Why Adult Evaluation Matters ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorde

“Ramesh lovingly provides blankets for those in need each winter. At the beginning of the season, he thoughtfully spends time with his children, visiting the local market to buy 50 blankets. Together, they head to the neighborhoods where less fortunate people reside, generously sharing these blankets to bring warmth and comfort to them.” “Every Sunday, Luca lovingly brings food to two hungry souls in his cozy town, spreading warmth and compassion. Sometimes he treats them to