Because Feelings Matter #28: “I Was A High Achiever, But I Felt No Joy”

Anita Abu Bakar had always been a high achiever. But throughout childhood, and her early career as an investment banker, she describes feeling an emotional void. Instead, she would frequently experience anxiety, panic and loneliness. It was only a matter of time before she reached breaking point. On this episode of ‘Because Feelings Matter’, Anita Abu Bakar describes the excruciating pain that came with hitting rock bottom, and how she clawed her way back up to eventually set up a mental health NGO, the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association of Malaysia (MIASA Malaysia).

Every mental health struggle has a story behind it. ‘Because Feelings Matter’ is a series that brings you the stories of people and their mental health issues. This series is produced in collaboration with Thrive Well.

This segment talks about self-harm and suicide, and may be a difficult topic for some listeners. If you need to talk about your mental health problems, look for local support within your community, or call helplines like: Talian HEAL at 15555, MIASA's 24-hour helpline at 1-800-1800-66, or Befrienders KL at 03-7627 2929.