Love Heals: How I Turned My Life Around

By Pamela PS Lim

Love Heals is a personal true story of how Pamela overcame depression. It is her journey of ups and downs and the challenges that she went through in her life.

It is a bittersweet and moving tale of moving courage, perseverance and love. Duped by malicious parties, Pamela plunged into a deep spiral of financial tribulations that led to severe depression.

A stint in prostitution and several suicide attempts later, Pamela was rescued by the love of a patron. Her true story of life gone wildly astray and reclaimed against all odds, is a rare account that shines a light into the shadows of the Human Mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Faris Digital Solutions Pte Ltd
• Release date: Mar 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9789813179967

Book preview

1: THE CAR ACCIDENT

A violent jolt shook my world.

I was about to make a right turn when an overtaking trailer crashed into my little car, smashing the car beyond recognition. The windscreen broke into smithereens, littering fragments of glass on me and the seats. I sat in the car in a state of total shock for what seemed like eternity. I did not know how to react or what to do.

Realising that the door on my side had been mangled so badly it could no longer open, a stranger got me in my shocked stupor to leave from the passenger door. Still totally shaken, I slowly crawled out of my car and unsteadily made my way to a nearby bus stop.

The terrible accident had happened while I was working in my sales job. An urgent delivery had appeared out of nowhere and I had been tasked to handle it. It did not help that I had been down with fever that day, and unfamiliar with the delivery location. Having made a wrong turn, I had wanted to turn back to head to a friend’s house in the vicinity when the accident had happened. Fortunately, it did not take long for my friend to arrive at the accident scene to offer badly-needed company.

An ambulance arrived and I was soon on my way to a hospital. By then, I had developed a burning fever, compounding my pain and sense of shock. At the hospital, the attending doctor noted that I had minor cuts and bruises, but little else. Unable to find any major injury on me, he had me discharged but not before giving me a week’s rest.

This was my first experience with death.

I did not know it then, but my nightmare was just beginning. The impact of the accident seemed to have shaken me not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. I had trouble sleeping, thanks in part to the constant ringing of the phone. Friends and colleagues, genuinely concerned about my condition, began calling, but the incessant ringing made me jittery and jumpy. At times, I even developed hallucinations: I would hear my phone ring even when nobody was calling! I began turning off my phone, just to help me cope.

I was then studying for an Advanced Diploma in Mass Communication. The assignment for my final project was due but nowhere near completion. After days of panic, relief finally arrived in the form of a week’s extension for project submission. Fortunately, I had previously collated the necessary information for the project, so I was able to start work right away.

I had a problem, though: Public Relations was not the easiest subject for me and I found myself limping along as I tried to make sense of what was happening. With much struggle I finally completed my assignment, a week later than my peers, with my dad’s help.

I was still unwell so with my mum accompanying me I sought medical attention. We saw doctor after doctor but I did not get any better. I even admitted myself to a hospital but after extensive testing they could not find anything and I was sent home. Upon the advice of a traditional Chinese physician, who figured out the general part of the body where the problem lay, I returned to the hospital. This time round, I was admitted.

I found myself in an environment where professional medical care seemed to be within immediate reach, but things turned out to be a nightmare. For some reason — which they would not disclose — the doctors began collecting blood samples from me very frequently. They did not seem very experienced in performing this procedure, however, and I ended up with multiple bad bruises over my entire arm. A series of tests finally revealed that I was suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). I was made to extend my stay in the hospital and given antibiotics to help me cope with the infection.

Soon I was well enough to return home and then to work. I returned to the office to find the entire company preparing for the upcoming busy season. Wanting to continue with my work and more importantly, to overcome my fear of driving, I mustered up my courage and asked my dad permission to use his car.

Driving was tough initially. I frequently found myself slowing down on the road, and keeping great distances from heavy vehicles and trailers. It took me a long while to conquer my fear of driving.

Barely a month into work I fell ill again. I knew there was no way I could cope with work in the condition I was in, especially during the busy season, so I resigned just so that I could get sufficient rest and recovery. I badly needed to move on with my life.

Just when I was ready to get a job again, recession struck. Permanent jobs were hard to come by, so I found myself taking up various temporary and part-time jobs. I worked in several administrative positions for a time before landing survey jobs that paid very well given the short hours required.

LESSON

Life is so unpredictable. If I had died in that car accident, I would not be alive to tell my story today.

We have no idea what will happen next. We need to treasure every moment of our life so that we have no regrets.

Now I cherish each and every moment that I have. Being alive is indeed a blessing. We can use every moment of our life to do more and help more people.

I have a gift for you. Here is an article on The Power of Gratitude:

pamelapslim.com/Gratitude/uberoptin/subscribe/

Love Heals

2: BUSINESS VENTURE

A friend of mine introduced Irene to me. Irene was young, ambitious, and eager to go into business. The moment I was introduced to her, she wanted me to partner me. At the time I possessed no business experience and was hesitant about committing. Eventually, however, I succumbed to her persistence.

Irene told me that we could start a business with no money. That appealed greatly to me as I was then working in temporary jobs and I had no savings to speak of. We got off to a quick start: Irene’s brother had an office and he was kind enough to let us have a small space. We got a simple table and were on our way. All this while, Irene assured me we did not need to have much money to run a business.