Bipolar Disorder in Mandarin Chinese 躁郁症 zao4 yu4 zheng4

Channel U Secret Garden U 頻道 秘密花園

Singapore Channel U Secret Garden U 頻道 秘密花園

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. I am sorry that I have been MIB (Missing in Blogging) as my friend Becky said :) There have been many things happening and I simply couldn't keep up with blogging.

It's so good to be back today. I am thankful to God for sustaining me and seeing me through many many challenges in the past weeks and months. I hope all things are well with you too :)

Last year, the Singapore Mediacorp Corporation in Singapore showed a very useful and informative tv show about various mental illness in Mandarin or Chinese Language. It was screened on Singapore Channel U (U 頻道) and the drama was called "Secret Garden" or "秘密花園" (mi4 mi4 hua1 yuan2). The majority of people in Singapore are Chinese and they speak Mandarin. So these shows were very useful and informative to them.

Bipolar Depression in Mandarin : What is Bipolar Disorder called in Mandarin or Chinese? It is called 躁郁症 zao4 yu4 zheng4

Bipolar Depression 躁郁症 - Insights and Info into Mental Issues

Bipolar Disorder in Mandarin 躁郁症 zao4 yu4 zheng4 
Bipolar Disorder in Chinese 躁郁症 zao4 yu4 zheng4
Bipolar Disorder 国语 躁郁症 zao4 yu4 zheng4
躁郁症（英语：Bipolar Disorder）是一種精神疾病 

Is bipolar depression treatable? Exclusive Online Series of Secret Garden invites experts to share their views. 什么是躁郁症？《秘密花园》独家网上视频找专家让你了解此精神病。

Read more about Bipolar Disorder in Mandarin : 躁郁症 中文版

Singapore Channel U Secret Garden U 頻道 秘密花園

1. Episode 2  
2. Bipolar Depression 躁郁症  
3. Schizophrenia - 精神分裂症  
4. Depression 忧郁症  
5. Narcissism 自恋型  
6. Bulimia - 暴食症

Other Links:

1. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
2. NAMI : National Alliance on Mental Illness
3. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
4. Singapore Early Psychosis Intervention Program
5. Singapore Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
6. Silver Ribbon (Singapore) Towards Positive Mental Health
7. Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH)
8. Mental Health in Singapore and Special Needs People
9. Psychiatrist and medical help in Singapore
10. Videos and resources on bipolar disorder and depression

Medisave use for Bipolar Disorder in Singapore beginning 1 November 2011

Thank God there are some good news for people undergoing treatment for Bipolar Disorder in Singapore!

From 1 November 2011, sufferers of bipolar disorder will be able use their Medisave funds to cover the costs of outpatient treatment.

Medisave (Chinese: 保健储蓄) is a national medical savings account system for Singaporeans. The system allows Singaporeans to put aside part of their income into a Medisave account to meet future personal or immediate family's hospitalization, day surgery and for certain outpatient expenses. This Medisave is part of every employee's contribution to the Singapore Central Provident Fund (CPF) every month.

The Health Ministry (MOH) of Singapore has just announced the extension of the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) to 2 mental illnesses - dementia and bipolar disorder. It was first mentioned at this year's Health Budget in March.

The CDMP was launched in 2006 to allow Medisave funds to be used in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders and stroke. Over the past three years, more chronic illnesses, such as major depression and schizophrenia, were added to the list. The inclusion of bipolar disorder and dementia brings the number of diseases covered under the programme to a total of 10.

The extension of the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) will help the reduction of out-of-pocket expenses and make treatment more affordable for Singaporeans who live with such conditions.

Similarly, the Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS), where needy elderly patients can see their general practitioner (GP) at polyclinic rates, will similarly be extended to include bipolar disorder and dementia.

The Ministry of Health says this will make it more affordable for Singaporeans to manage the conditions and also avoid unnecessary complications and hospitalisation.

In addition, the amount of Medisave that can be used for treatment of chronic illnesses will be increased from $300 to $400 per Medisave account per year with effect from next year ie 1 January 2012.

It will go a long way in helping the low- and middle-income in seeking treatment for these chronic illnesses, either for themselves or for their loved ones with the conditions."

For full report, read StraitsTimes, AsiaOne and ChannelNewsAsia.

Thank God that I can serve our Lord through this blog. It is solely by God's grace that I am able to cope better with this condition since my diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2007. I was interviewed by Straits Times Singapore in January 2011 this year regarding Bipolar Blog in Singapore on how blogging helped me to cope with Bipolar Disorder. I posted about it here. Thank God that the article has helped some of my readers.

Thank God that I was interviewed again by Straits Times Singapore in March 2011 this year regarding this report on the approval of the usage of Medisave for the outpatients treatment of bipolar disorder when MOH first announced that Medisave has been approved for use in treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Singapore. I posted about it here. Through the interview I have the opportunity to share some of my concerns regarding bipolar disorder in Singapore. It is sad that there is still a lot of ignorance, misunderstanding and terrible stigma associated with bipolar disorder and depression in Singapore. Like others with this neurological condition, I too feel that much can be done to raise awareness of this condition so that more compassion and understanding can be extended to us. I suggested in the interview that employers could be urged not to discriminate against mental patients. I also suggested that employers be offered financial perks if they allow extended time off, or shorter and flexible working hours for employees with mental illnesses.

Hopefully in future, there will be more acceptance and help for this condition and other mental health condition in Singapore.

How time flies! Tomorrow is November 1. Here is a simple homemade November 2011 Calendars that I made. Making homemade gifts are therapeutic hobbies for me in coping with bipolar disorder.

Do feel free to download and make this homemade 2011 November Calendars for yourself or your family and friends.

To download this Free Printable November 2011 Calendar, place cursor on the picture, click at the picture for a bigger image, right click mouse and choose “save image as”.

For more free homemade Calendars 2011 and 2012, visit :

1. Printable Calendars 2011 / 2012 : http://printablecalendars.resources2u.com/
3. Free Bookmarks, Cards and Calendars :  http://handicrafts.resources2u.com/

For information on Bipolar Disorder and Depression:

1. Contact of medical helps in Singapore for Psychiatrist for Bipolar Disorder and Depression
2. Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder
3. Family and Friends' Guide to helping someone with Bipolar Disorder and Depression
4. Myths and Facts on mental illness
5. Recovery steps
6. Christian and Depression
7. Finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder  

Resting in God's love and promises....We know that all things work together for good

Dear Friends and Readers,

Thanks for stopping by.  It's so good to be back again and count my blessings with all of you!

♥  Thank God for giving me much grace and strength in these recent weeks when I am busy with work, family and serving in church. Thank God for giving me simple peace and joy in Him daily.

♥  Thank God that my brother was able to come for a short holiday for the last 2 days and we had a good family get together :)

♥  Thank God that He is with us and works all things for His glory and our good. Recently, I went through some very difficult challenges. Thank God that He is with me and graciously works His ways for me. This gives me much encouragement. I am reminded of Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God."

We know that all things work together for good
to them that love God.
Romans 8:28

♥  Thank God for giving me joys in some creative and therapeutic hobbies. I love to spend time in nature as it reminds me of what a great God we serve and that He loves us very much. As He takes care of the birds and flowers, He takes even better care of us. I love to take pictures of flowers and nature, and create homemade calendars, bookmarks and cards with these pictures.

Here are some Free Printable Homemade Christian Calendars 2011 September which I have created using some pictures I took myself. Do feel free to download these printable Christian Calendars with Bible verses for yourself or your family. You can also make these simple Christian September 2011 Calendar for your friends as a gift. Making these simple homemade 2011 Calendar are very therapeutic hobbies for me and I hope you enjoy it too!

To download the Free 2011 Calendar September monthly template, place cursor on the picture, click at picture for big size, right click mouse and choose “save image as”.

Resources for Calendars and Blank Calendars Planners: for 2011 Calendars

Printable Calendars with encouraging quotes: for 2011 Calendars

Children's Calendars Kids Crafts: for 2011 Calendars

Other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

• Free printable Bookmarks
• Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
• Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
• Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
• Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
• Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
• Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Thanks for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

Therapeutic hobbies ... Making Free Christian Calendar August 2011 with Bible verse

Dear Friends,

How are you? Sorry that I have not been able to post or visit blogs recently. I have been extremely occupied with work, family situations and church work. How time flies! It's been more than one month since I last posted! And August is coming soon :)

I thank God for keeping me well though busy and tired. I am trying to pace myself carefully, by His grace, and so I have to consciously cut down on the things I used to do. But some unexpected things do cropped up every now and then. Thank God for giving me grace, strength and joy in Him daily.

Thank God that with Him all things are possible. There have been many difficult challenges in the recent weeks, and thank God for working things out for me in His many wonderful ways. Something went wrong with some work I was doing and I had to re-do them. My Mom's health has not been very good but thank God that she is feeling better now. One of the elderly lady who comes to my church and I have been visiting and reaching out to had heart failure and was hospitalised. She is 84 years old and I taught our Lord might take her home but in His providence, He restored her! Wow, these and so many other things happened but our Lord gave me strength and grace, and see me safely through each one. Truly with our God nothing is impossible!

Here's a simple Christian Calendar for August 2011 which I created using a picture of a yellow rose flower that I took. Feel free to download this Free Homemade Christian Calendar August 2011 with Bible verse. You can make this Christian Calendar with encouraging Bible quotes for yourself, your family and friends.

This Bible verse is one of my favourite and it is very encouraging as it reminds me that:

With God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26

To download this Free 2011 Calendar August monthly template, place cursor on the picture, click at picture for big size, right click mouse and choose “save image as”.

Making homemade Bookmarks, Cards and Calendars 2011/2012 are some of my therapeutic hobbies. Photography is also one of my therapeutic hobbies. And using the photos I took to make Bookmarks, Cards and Calendars 2011/2012 are most fulfilling! These are helpful therapeutic hobbies for people who are suffering from bipolar disorder and depression, for us to express our feelings and put our creativity to good use. Thank God for the beauties of His creations!

Other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

• Free printable Bookmarks
• Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
• Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
• Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
• Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
• Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
• Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Take care and have a blessed weekend!

Warm regards,
Nancie

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength...

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. I am so thankful to God for His many mercies, and I can't wait to share them with you.

♥  Firstly, I want to thank God for a new friend that I have just gotten to know. She is M. Caron and she too is a Christian who is learning to manage bipolar disorder and to live for the glory of God. Her blog The Bipolar Christian is at http://thebipolarchristian.blogspot.com/. She writes with faith and hope in God as she shares her ups and downs in life. Do visit her, if you can, and be encourage by her faith and hope in God in her struggles.

♥  I thank God for a very blessed time of worship, fellowship and serving our Lord in church on the Lord's day. I heard a very encouraging message "As an Eagle... so the Lord"  from Deuteronomy 32:11-12. The preacher spoke about how as the eagle stirreth up her nest in order to enable the young eaglets to learn to fly and live, our Lord at times allow us to go through severe trials and difficulties in life in order for us to grow in Him and strengthened in our faith. He is with us in all our troubles and difficulties and He will see us safely through. He works all things for His glory and our good through them, and we become a more strengthened Christian.

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. Deuteronomy 32 : 11-12

I thank God for preserving me through all the difficult struggles in life in my learning to manage bipolar disorder and also other challenges in my life. The Lord is the One sustaining me and delivering me, time and again. Through them all, I am experiencing more and more of God's love and mercies, knowing God in a more real and personal way, and finding increasing peace and joy in Him. Praise Him! May this be our experience always through all the changing scenes in life and we can give all praise and glory to God!

♥ Thank God for answering my prayers in bringing an elderly lady Madam Wah to my church morning service. Madam Wah is 77 years old and collects card boxes to sell in order to make a living. She suffered a fall a year ago and so walks with much pain at times, yet having to collect card boxes to make a living daily. Her children are not able to support her much and so she has to rely upon God and work hard herself. Thank God that she has heard the Gospel and professed to trust in our Lord. Do pray with me for her that she will continue to come and worship with us, be able to know God's love and mercies in very real and personal ways, and find peace, hope and help in Him.

Thanks again for stopping by. Take care and have a very blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. Thank you very much for your prayers for me. Thank God for His continuing mercies daily.

I just saw my psychiatrist today for a review on my bipolar condition. Thank God for improvements thus far, by the grace of God. It's been a year since I last experienced a relapse of bipoar depression. The medicine is working for me, by God's mercies, and our Lord is daily teaching me to pace myself better and to depend more and more upon Him. I am very thankful to our Lord for keeping me and dealing so graciously with me. Each morning that He enables me to wake up without feeling dreading to face the day, is a cause of thanksgiving to me. It is of the LORD's mercies that I am not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is His faithfulness!

I would like to share the following excerpt from John Flavel's Book "The Mystery of Providence" with you which encourages me that God is sovereignly in control of all things in my life, and He is working all things for His glory and my good, and that of His beloved people. Thank God for sustaining me and delivering me time and again from some 15 episodes of prolonged bipolar clinical depression over the last 21 years. I may not always understand God's dealings with me, in all his mysterious Providences, but I have no doubt at all of His love and His Power. He performeth all things for me. May that be our encouragement through all the changing scenes in life. To God be the glory.

The Mystery of Providence
Excerpt taken from John Flavel's "The Mystery of Providence", The Banner of Truth Trust, 1995, 1st Published 1678, pages 15 to 20.
 
"I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me" (Psalm 57. 2)

The greatness of God is a glorious and unsearchable mystery. “For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great king over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2).  The condescension of the most high God to men is also a profound mystery. “Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly” (Psalm 138:6). But when both these meet together, as they do in this Scripture, they make up a matchless mystery. Here we find the most high God performing all things for a poor distressed creature.

It is the great support and solace of the saints in all the distresses that befall them here, that there is a wise Spirit sitting in all the wheels of motion, and governing the most eccentric creatures and their most pernicious designs to blessed and happy issues.  And, indeed, it were not worth while to live in a world devoid of God and Providence.

For it cannot but be a great encouragement to his faith, that God had transacted all things, or performed all things for him. This Providence that never failed him in any of the straits that ever he met with (and his life was a life of many straits) he might well hope would not fail him now, though this were an extraordinary and matchless one.

Providence not only undertakes but perfects what concerns us. It goes through with its designs, and accomplishes what it begins. No difficulty so clogs it, no cross accident falls in its way, but it carries its design through it.  Its motions are irresistible and uncontrollable; He performs it for us.

And (which is sweet to consider) all its products and issues are exceedingly beneficial to the saints. It performs all things for them. ‘Tis true we often prejudge its works, and unjustly censure its designs, and in many of our straits and troubles we say: ‘All these things are against us’; but indeed Providence neither does nor can do any thing that is really against the true interest and good of the saints.  For what are the works of Providence but the execution of God’s decree and the fulfilling of His Word? And there can be no more in Providence than is in them. Now there is nothing but good to the saints in God’s purposes and promises; and, therefore, whatever Providence does concerning them, it must be (as the text speaks) ‘performance of all things for them.’
 
And if so, how cheering, supporting and encouraging must the consideration of these things be in a day of distress and trouble! What life and hope will it inspire our hearts and prayers when great pressures lie upon us! It had such a cheering influence upon the Psalmist at this time, when the state of his affairs was, to the eye of sense and reason, forlorn and desperate; there was now but a hair’s breadth (as we say) between him and ruin.

This Psalm 57 was composed by David when he hid himself from Saul in the cave. This cave was in the wilderness of Engedi among the broken rocks where the wild goats lived, an obscure and desolate hole; yet even there the envy of Saul pursued him (1 Sam. 24. 1, 2). And now he that had been so long hunted as a partridge upon the mountains seems to be enclosed in the net. His enemies were outside the cave, from which there was no other outlet. Then Saul himself entered the mouth of this cave, in the sides and creeks of which David and his men lay hidden, and they actually saw him. Judge to how great an extremity and to what a desperate state things were now brought. Well might he say: ‘My soul is among lions, and I lie even among them that are set on fire’ (verse 4). What hope now remained? What but immediate destruction could be expected?

Yet now, while his soul is among lions, while he lies in a cranny of the rock, expecting every moment to be drawn out to death, the reflections he had upon the gracious performances of the Most High for him, from the beginning to that moment, support his soul and inspire hope and life into his prayers: “I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me.”

The encouragements to this resolution are taken from the sovereignty of God: ‘I will cry unto God most high.’ Upon this he acts his faith in extremity of danger. Saul is high, but God is the most high, and without His permission he is assured Saul cannot touch him. He had none to help, and if he had, he knew God must first help the helpers or they cannot help him. He had no means of defense or escape before him, but the Most High is not limited by means. This is a singular prop to faith (Ps. 59. 9).

To read this book online : visit http://www.reformedliterature.com/flavel-the-mystery-of-providence-intro.php

Take care and have a very blessed week!

All by His grace alone,
Nancie

This photo is taken by my sister-in-Christ, SE, in Norway

Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorder: http://bipolardepression.resources2u.com/

Other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

• Free printable Bookmarks
• Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
• Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
• Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
• Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
• Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
• Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Use of Singapore CPF Medisave for treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Singapore (The Straits Times, ST)

Medisave Singapore - Bipolar Disorder

Use of Medisave for treatment of bipolar disorder in Singapore

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

I have been very busy lately and not able to post or visit much. It's so good to be back again and count my blessings with all of you!

♥  Thank God for giving me much grace and strength in these recent weeks when I am busy with work, family and serving in church. Thank God for giving me simple peace and joy in Him daily.

♥ Thank God that Medisave has been approved for use in treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Singapore! This was reported recently in The Straits Times (ST) Singapore newspaper, 18 March 2011. This is indeed helpful to some patients as treatment for bipolar disorder is long term.

Here is a copy of the newspaper article (Click at the image to see a larger version). It is also available online here.

Medisave (Chinese: 保健储蓄) is a national medical savings account system for Singaporeans. The system allows Singaporeans to put aside part of their income into a Medisave account to meet future personal or immediate family's hospitalization, day surgery and for certain outpatient expenses. This Medisave is part of every employee's contribution to the Singapore Central Provident Fund (CPF) every month.

Thank God that now Medisave can be used to pay part of the outpatient treatment of bipolar disorder patients. It was reported that more people are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, affirming the recent move by the Health Ministry (MOH) to free up Medisave funds to cover their outpatient treatment bills.

♥ Thank God that I can serve the Lord through this bipolar disorder blog and help to contribute a little bit towards the awareness of bipolar disorder in Singapore, and share some resources available on treatment of bipolar disorder.

Thank God that through this blog, the reporter from The Straits Times (ST) Singapore, Miss Poon Chian Hui kindly approached me for an interview regarding this report on the approval of the usage of Medisave for the outpatients treatment of bipolar disorder. 

Thank God that through the interview I have the opportunity to share some of my concerns regarding bipolar disorder in Singapore. It is sad that there is still a lot of ignorance, misunderstanding and terrible stigma associated with bipolar disorder and depression in Singapore. Like others with this neurological condition, I too feel that much can be done to raise awareness of this condition so that more compassion and understanding can be extended to us. I suggested in the interview that employers could be urged not to discriminate against mental patients. I also suggested that employers be offered financial perks if they allow extended time off, or shorter and flexible working hours for employees with mental illnesses. Hopefully in future, there will be more acceptance and help for this condition and other mental health condition in Singapore.

♥ Previously I was also interviewed by Straits Times Singapore regarding Bipolar Blog in Singapore on how blogging helped me to cope with Bipolar Disorder. I posted about it here. Thank God that the article has helped some of my readers.

♥ I thank God for all of you, for your prayers and encouragements. Thanks for stopping by!

Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

My brother took this lovely picture in New Zealand.

GOD, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.

Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorder: http://bipolardepression.resources2u.com/

Resources for Homemade Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Bookmarks : http://homemadebookmarks.resources2u.com/
Calendars : http://printablecalendars.resources2u.com/
Cards : http://printablecards.resources2u.com/
Children Kids Arts and Crafts : http://kidscrafts.resources2u.com/
Cross-stitch : http://cross-stitch.resources2u.com/
Handicrafts : http://handicrafts.resources2u.com/
Origami : http://origami.resources2u.com/