The Power of Happiness
“A sad soul can kill you quicker, far quicker, than a germ,” John Steinbeck, an American author, once wrote. True enough, regardless of the stage of life we’re in, everyone strives to seek gratification and success - and to many, that is what makes life worth living...
Working From Home (WFH) aka Remote Working : How can managers get ahead of it
In times of the current Covid-19 pandemic, “Working from Home”, otherwise abbreviated to “WFH”, has become a term so synonymous with our new working lifestyle that it has recently been included in the expanded list for Oxford Word of the Year, as 2020 comes to an end....
Suicide Risks for Persons with Addictions
Written by: Juliana Pang, Therapist Caregivers with a family member affected by addiction problems are often exhausted, drained dry of their empathy and compassionate capacities. They recount countless cycles of suspended hope followed by just as many broken promises...
Stress – What It Really Is & How To Manage It.
Stress is something we can never escape from, be it good (eustress) or bad (distress). From the small, tedious daily hassles to long-term occurrences that weigh on your mind, stress can impact us in different ways, and the experience varies for everyone. Just as how...
What Are Anxiety Disorders and How Do They Affect Us?
We are no strangers to feelings of anxiety - at certain stages of our lives or in particular situations, we would have experienced anxiousness and worry with relation to our careers, studies, relationships and even our environment. However, anxiety levels may go...
Managing Anxiety And Depression During Festivities (especially during the COVID season)
Written by Jane Low, Senior Psychologist Christmas is a time of giving, peace and joy. It is also a time to celebrate traditions where family and friends gather, feasting on Christmas goodies and exchanging presents. There are scents, sights and sounds that are...
Five Unhelpful Things You Should Avoid Doing When You Meet Someone That Self-Harms
The anonymous author of this article is a person in the recovery of Major Depressive Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. The views of the author are not those of Promises. I have struggled with Self-Harm since I was a kid. Most of us are aware of the...
Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Using Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Originating from the Greek word ‘wound’, trauma is used to describe the unwelcome recollection of disturbing experiences - those which can cause one to relive horrifying, spine-chilling moments of a disaster or a tragic event which leaves a deep mark on a person’s...
How Does CBT Help with Social Anxiety Disorder?
In Singapore alone, 10% of the population is plagued by anxiety disorders - one of which includes Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD for short. And on a global scale, approximately 4.5% of the world’s population - 273 million people - are estimated to experience anxiety...
Building the Bridge with Generation Z
Take a look around our workplace and you will likely see people from across different age groups, particularly as we now have many people working past the age of 60. In fact, it is not surprising to see at least up to four generations on the job today, from the Baby...
Healing from being with a person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Written by: Winifred Ling, Couples Therapist & Relationship Coach Happily-ever-after is an ideal that many believe and pursue and numerous studies have suggested that the key to happiness lies in a thriving marriage. I am also convinced that when couples come...
Understanding Childhood Emotional Neglect
As a child, how did adults around you react whenever you expressed your feelings? Did you grow up receiving that subtle message to wall up your emotions so they don’t get the better of you, or become anyone else’s burden? Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) is a topic...
Evidence-Based Mental Health Disorder Diagnosis: How It’s Done from a Clinical Perspective
For individuals that are taking the first step to seek help from mental health professionals, it is natural that they may be concerned with the possibility of a misdiagnosis, or perhaps an overdiagnosis. With the pre-existing stigmatisation of mental health disorders,...
My partner may be a Porn Addict – What should I do?
Written by: Andrew da Roza, Addictions Therapist, Sex Addiction Specialist With the introduction of the fast speed Internet, a new addiction was born – Internet porn addiction. One client who has fallen down the “Rabbit Hole” of porn addiction reports: “I saw porn...
How Do You Find The Right Therapist For You
For many individuals, therapy is a rather intense and personal topic, and it could have taken them a lot of courage to finally seek the help that they need. Keeping this in mind, it is exceptionally crucial that one finds the right therapist, for there’s a...
Addictions in the Digital Age: Technology – The Accelerator of both the Problem and the Solution
Written by: Andrew da Roza, Addictions Therapist, Sex Addiction Specialist Ever since people first crushed and fermented grapes, the dark hand of alcoholism has been present. When the first games of chance and competition were born - so too was the addiction to...
Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnosis & Treatment
What comes to mind when someone mentions alcohol? For many, alcohol is often associated with the temporary avoidance of daily struggles. Whether or not we have the habit to drink, it is a known fact that people may tend to have “blackouts” whenever they’re really...
Drinking & Alcohol-Related Harm Among Young Adults Especially Since COVID Measures
With economic growth and increased globalisation, alcohol consumption generally increases as it gets more affordable and popular as a drink for celebratory or social occasions, and even for stress-relief. This same trend has been observed in Singapore - where the per...
Gaming Addiction: What It Is and How Can You Self-Regulate?
Predictive algorithms, the creation of alternate realities in which we are unlimited by the constraints of the real world we live in - such methods are extensively practiced by the gaming industry to draw players in. Gaming is undeniably a popular and widely-adopted...
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and When Do You Need Treatment?
What is Obsessive-compulsive Disorder? Think of the following scenario: you have friends over at your place and you serve them drinks. Before they can place their cups on your beautiful coffee table, you exclaim and dart out coasters underneath the ice-cold glasses...
Psychological Testing (Part 1)
Written by: S C Anbarasu, Senior Clinical Psychologist Psychological evaluation is often helpful in understanding the strengths and challenges an individual may have in their cognitive, behavioural, learning and socio-emotional functioning. At Promises Healthcare, we...
APBAM 2020 : Tobacco Harm Reduction – Myths & Reality
According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco kills more than 8 million people worldwide each year, and is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. But contrary to popular belief that smokers are “uneducated regarding it’s harmful...
Treat Smokers with Compassion – Why Quit Smoking is so tough
Written by: Andrew da Roza, Addictions Therapist To non-smokers and those who have an occasional cigarette at a party or outside a bar, it is baffling why smokers just can't simply quit. What's the big deal? If you think this, then the conclusion may be: "well they...
Burnout and How to Heal from It
It is an undeniable reality that life, in general, is busy. With long work hours and bills to pay, there are so many things going on that we must and are expected to do. With the increase in pressures and demands in daily life, it is very common for people to feel...
Building Trust in Relationships
Scientists believe we are essentially wired to connect with other people, to socialise and build relationships with others. Indeed, we are all a profoundly social species as our drive to connect with others is embedded in our biology and evolutionary history. But what...
Overwhelmed At Work?: Demystifying Executive Functioning Deficits
Written by Dr B. Malavika, Psychological & Educational Therapist Have you met Michael recently? He's the bright, young, dynamic person at our office… I always thought of him as the person who’s the life of the party, and he genuinely seems to care for his...
Chronic Stress Management: Why Am I Feeling Exhausted All The Time?
Are you feeling tired most of the time despite having a good night’s sleep? Are you constantly feeling low energy and unproductive? These are just a few of the typical symptoms pointing towards unhealthy levels of stress. Constantly feeling worn out could be an alarm...
The link between Anxiety and Alcohol Use; and Implications for Treatment and Early Intervention Especially In Youths
Alcohol. A beverage that many people enjoy drinking; be it for socialisation or as an escape from reality. However, it is also a beverage that can harm your health and adversely affect many lives. Indeed, alcohol abuse has become increasingly rampant, where it is one...
How to Build Positive Relationships
Strong social connections are vital to our mental and physical wellbeing - they help us navigate stressors and give us the courage to overcome the challenges that we face. Positive relationships are pivotal for an individual’s happiness, productivity, and form the...
What is Depression & How to seek help?
Depression has been portrayed extensively in pop culture and media, from R.E.M.’s hit song “Everybody Hurts”, to the television series “13 Reasons Why”. The phrase “I’m so depressed” is thrown around casually when someone has had a bad day or when they can’t get their...