I have just read today’s newspapers and found it very amusing to read the headline blast ‘S’poreans fear mental patients, study finds’. It triggered my memory of those days so long ago. I remembered very well when my family were staying quite near a mental home which was separated by some dense trees. The maids that my family had at that time, would frightened us with stories of ‘mad’ people coming after us whenever we get too naughty. Most of the time we didn’t hear anything from the home but once in a while we would hear screams from there. I remembered my siblings and I would get very scared whenever we passed by the mental home. Of course, by now we know better but I have still come across people who are still ignorant and therefore I fully agree that mental health professionals should work with the media to educate the public.

So here’s The Myths and Facts about mental illness by Chang Ai-Lien

>>Myth: Getting over disorders such as depression and anxiety is a matter of willpower
>>Fact: Pyschiatric disorders are legimate medical illnesses, just like heart disease or cancer. Most experts agree such disorders have physical causes, and the symptoms are caused by chemical changes in the brain.

>>Myth: Mentally ill people are dangerous
>>Fact: Most mental patients are not violent. In fact, those undergoing treatment are no more likely yo be violent than anyone else. However, other conditions such as alcoholism, drug abuse and having been a victim of child abuse increase the risk of violence.

>>Myth: Mental illness should be hidden as it cannot be treated
>>Fact: Even serious mental illness such as schizophrenia can be treated with professional help and medicine. As with many illnesses, the earlier it is spotted and treated, the better the chances of recovery.

>>Myth: Children do not get mental illness
>>Fact: Mental problems affect one in eight children aged six to twelve here. They affect one in four adults. And among those aged sixty and above, 5.6% are hit by dementia.

>>Myth: Medications to treat mental illnesses are addictive
>>Fact: While some sleeping pills can be addictive, anti-depressants and anti-psychotics to treat say, schizophrenia or manic depression, are not, and they help restore normal functioning.

>>Myth: Only mentally ill people see psychiatrists
>>Fact: Sometimes, people just need professional help to solve their problems

Like what Professor Chong Siow Ann had said, public education is needed to help remove the stigma and stereotyping of mental health related issues and we have to address these concerns as soon as possible.

Natural food is basically the food that can be found in nature and consumed in its original form without baking it. For centuries people have known that these foods are beneficial for a healthy living. The scientific reason for this however is not known to many. Furthermore, with the spoilt food habits of children nowadays who prefer to consume junk food than natural foods, it is essential that this reason is known to them but then education is not enough. From my observation, parents should lead the correct example at home.

Unnatural foods that are consumed by us produce toxins in the body that leads to various diseases. However, these toxins can further be destroyed by an increased consumption of natural foods thereby eradicating and making an individual free from almost or at least minimize all diseases that he would suffer from. Some of the doctors even claim that the natural foods even have the power for the growth of new hair and teeth in people in their old age. Not forgetting that medical bills can wipe out all your savings overnight!

Additionally, the cooling effect and their nutrients of the natural and juicy fruits such as watermelon, orange and many others that are found in summers are known to all of us. Similarly, there are other seasonal fruits and vegetables that provide high nutritional value.

People these days worry more about satisfying their taste buds rather than the nutritional requirements of their body. Most of us eat vegetables and fruits that have been peeled and in the process we also peel off the fiber, minerals and vitamins that are contained in them. Several naturopaths are of the opinion that natural products are present in their holistic form and thereby the effect that it has is also holistic, which is destroyed when the food is cooked.

Natural foods in some cases can also harm your body. That is to say, consuming a natural food, as it exists without cooking is good for health, but washing them before consuming it is also necessary. This is because, there are various pesticides and chemical fertilizers that might have got stuck to them at the time of farming which when consumed can cause many sickness.

Finally, natural food should be consumed no doubt, but a few precautions should also be kept in mind. After all, your body is your temple. Love your body and it will give you longevity.

Lately, I have been trying to think how to make my tea drinking much more interesting besides the normal breakfast tea and teh tarik. While looking for my camera which has ‘gone missing’ for months and have yet to find it, an idea popped up.
Remembering that I bought a box of Twinings with selections of fruit flavour and herbal infusions sometime ago, I decided to try the Strawberry and Mango. I chose this first because I can never resist anything mango and brew it with dried longans for about 20 minutes.
Wow! The fragrant of the Strawberry and Mango just enveloped the room and the taste was just heavenly….or is it because of the cool weather? A pity I haven’t found my camera or else I could put it up. I really must keep in mind never to get stuff that is palm-sized…I have a tendency to misplace them!