She has accepted me as her friend on Facebook, and there is a great improvement in our relationship.
My husband and I have been married since 1995 and we have a daughter, 18, and a son, 11, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. For the past 10 years, I have been focused on my business and helping my son at the cost of neglecting my daughter and marriage. I even became abusive and violent towards my daughter.
In June 2014, I started to hear voices and see terrifying visions. A month later, my mother passed away in a freak car accident. As a result, I had a mental breakdown and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). I sought medical help in Singapore and began a course of medication. In early 2015, my elder brother strongly recommended my whole family to seek counseling at Focus on the Family Malaysia (FOFM).
Seeing the counselor gave me an opportunity to walk through my past and receive healing from God. She recommended a better psychiatrist who changed my medication, which helped me to function normally and slowly regain my health. She prayed for me at the end of every session and that helped to soothe the deep sorrow in my heart, giving me peace.
I brought my husband to see the same counselor because he was suffering from depression as well. We attended sessions together and tried to mend the brokenness in our marriage. We were encouraged to look to God for help and intervention. Since our counseling sessions with her, my husband and I have been able to talk to each other.
Months later, we persuaded our daughter to see the counselor too. She had become rebellious and violent, following years of living in an abusive environment. After a few sessions, I noticed she was less hostile towards the family and me. With the counselor’s help, I was able to forgive myself for the wrongs I had committed towards my daughter and accept her for who she is.
Today, two years after my counseling sessions, my psychiatrist says that I am doing very well and has reduced my medication in stages. I have peace, joy, and love in my heart. I have also returned to my Christian faith. My daughter is happier and friendlier towards me; she even tells me things that are happening in her life. She has accepted me as her friend on Facebook, and there is a great improvement in our relationship.
I encourage anyone who suffers from depression or deep hurts to find hope in God. I am forever grateful to the counselor and to FOFM for providing counseling to us and other families who are going through similar storms.
— SMC