This heartfelt and candid memoir invites reader on a deeply personal journey into the author's experience of living with depression. With honesty and vulnerability, a medical student and depression survivor shares the emotional highs and lows of her journey. Through her own silent battle, she confronts stigma, navigates struggles, and celebrates triumphs on her path to healing. Along the way, she offers valuable insights, candid reflections, and practical wisdom that resonate with readers facing similar challenges. Serenading Silence is more than a story of depression; it's an insightful exploration, expanding perspectives, and embracing life's moments with the ultimate goal of gaining valuable life lessons.
Preface
Chapter One: Where It Began
The Silent Battle
Not Normal
Study Leave I
Study Leave II
Letting God
Chapter Two: The Struggles
Imposter Syndrome
Ignorance
Foe or Friends
Physical Pain
Blood (TW)
Chapter 3: Managing Crises
I Never Fail
Coping Skills
Managing Expectations is Like a Seesaw
Medications: What Works for Me May Not Work for You
Functions of Friends
Chapter Four: The Beauty of Psychotherapy
A New Exploration
Quantifying Feelings
Positive Enforcement
Serenading Silences - Finding Solace in the Silent Battle of Depression
Mindfulness
Negative Thinking
“I Am a Failure”
Chapter Five: Stigma and De-stigmatising
Unveiling The Many Faces of Stigma
Shattered Trust and Hope
Bridging the Loosening of Knowledge
Mental Help-Seeking Attitude
Chapter Six: Spiritual Diary
The Usrah I Used to Love
The Weight of Spiritual Pain
From Experiences to Experiments
Religious Coping
Chapter Seven: Embracing Vulnerabilities
Fear of Judgement
Everyone is Different
Inexpressive Child
Chapter Eight: Discovering Insights for Inner Growth
Introverts and Depression
Introversion: Weakness or Strength?
‘Perfectionism is the Worst Kind of Self-Abuse’
Assertiveness is Not All About Saying ‘No’
The Blame Game: I’m Not Lazy, I’m Sick!
Chapter Nine: Respecting Diversity and Cultivating Empathy
I Suffer More Than You
Doctors are Not Angels
Finding Comfort in Humanity
A Friend with ADHD
Chapter Ten: The Future I Wish for
Anonymous
The Wisdom We Seek for
Living as Her
References
About the Author
About the Artist
Acknowledgement