Dr. Reshma Stanislaus

13/11/2025

Walk With A Doc, Semenyih is on as usual this Sunday, at 7 am. Since it's "Movember", this time, we'll be talking about prostate and testicular cancer screening.

04/11/2025

This truly resonates!

I went from working full-time as a medical doctor, for the Ministry of Health, to working part-time in private practice as a GP, to being a full-time mom, to deciding that I wanted to change the way I practice medicine (hence, doing the board certification in Lifestyle Medicine), figuring out that I prefer "controlled chaos" (being in the niche field of Mental Healthcare) as opposed to the "chaotic chaos" that is Family Medicine and then deciding to obtain more training in the various modalities of psychotherapy.

When I was in the MOH, I loved Medicine and Paediatrics. I enjoyed those branches of Medicine, the team work and the really good teams I had the privilege of working with. However, I knew for sure that hospital medicine was not for me as I wanted to have more time for my family and other pursuits.

Although I love the academic aspects of Psychiatry, I prefer a more holistic approach when it comes to practice, which is why I was drawn to Lifestyle Medicine in the first place. It has been quite a journey and I'm still a living and learning Work In Progress.

17/10/2025

~Overstimulated Minds: Helping Kids Regulate in a Hyperconnected World~

Our Brains Aren't Built for This Much Stimulation

Humans; adults and children alike are not designed to process constant streams of input. Our brains need downtime to rest, integrate, and recover. The glymphatic system (our brain's waste-clearing network) works primarily during rest and sleep. When we overload it with continuous sensory and emotional input, we disrupt that natural maintenance process.

The Core Skill: Emotional Regulation

Beyond phone bans or social media restrictions, the foundation for mental resilience lies in emotional regulation, the ability to experience difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed. Even positive social media posts can be emotionally triggering. Imagine a child seeing friends at a party they weren’t invited to. That image lingers, amplifying feelings of exclusion, disappointment, or loneliness. For children with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), such moments can be deeply painful and confusing.

What Parents and Educators Can Do

1) Teach Media Literacy Early

Help kids understand that what they see online is curated, filtered, and often staged. Not everything represents reality.

2) Coach Emotional Awareness

Kid should know that feelings are temporary and transitory. Teach them grounding and breathing techniques for times when they do feel overwhelmed. Encourage journaling or speaking to a trusted person.

3) Focus on Screen Purpose, Not Just Time

The context matters more than the clock. For example, ther**eutic games like EndeavorRx (used for ADHD) or structured digital learning may be beneficial. Overly rigid rules can backfire.

4) Rebuild Offline Connections

Encourage real-world engagement: nature walks, unstructured play, family conversations, volunteering, or creative hobbies. These strengthen emotional health and belonging.

What is Everyone Searching For?

Ultimately, whether scrolling, watching, or chatting, most people are seeking connection: to others, to ideas, to a sense of meaning. When children (and adults) feel genuinely connected in real life, the digital world loses its grip.

Key Takeaway

1) Digital safety starts with emotional safety.
2) Regulated, connected children become balanced, compassionate adults.
3) Screens are not the enemy, disconnection is.

17/10/2025

~The Importance of Leaders with high EQ~

In light of recent events in schools in Malaysia and considerable backlash from the public regarding how the MOE is handling the situation, the importance of leaders with high EQ cannot be over-stated.

Such leaders are aware of the heart of the issue:

1) Will my child be safe in school?

2) What are the measures taken to ensure their safety?

Being keenly perceptive of what is foremost on the minds of parents and addressing that would allow them to feel seen and heard. This is important as it increases trust and credibility.

In the cases that occurred (violence towards women and girls), no one is interested to find out about the future of the alleged perpetrators. That would be the furthest thing on their minds.

Regardless of the actual details of the case (it is statutory r**e because of the ages of those involved), how much information the people in charge are privy to, and the final verdict, it is not necessary to share if the alleged perpetrators will be allowed to sit for the SPM examination or not. Being sensitive regarding what to say or not say and being silent at times would go a long way in this respect.

No doubt, the information was also reported in such a way that made it seem as if allowing them to sit for the exam was the main priority of the MOE. It's very challenging to alter an impression once made.

10/10/2025

~Mind The Mental Health Gap~

This World Mental Health Day, I want to talk about the GAP between the clinical side of things (tertiary care) and the public health and/or preventive healthcare side of things. I've heard this conversation umpteen times in mental health conferences and workshops.

There is a big GAP between:

1) Care for individuals with early signs of mental health issues/illness and those who present to the hospital system.

2) Affordability of care between the public and private medical system when it comes to mental health care.

3) Knowledge regarding what is thought of as a normal, human experience (to be borne alone) and what is serious enough to warrant help-seeking behaviour.

This GAP, along with STIGMA, is what prevents individuals from seeking help when they need it most. Help is usually sought when the individual is no longer able to cope in many domains of their life and there is a breakdown.

GPs who are Mental Health Practitioners, offering mental health care at a primary care level, is one way we can bridge this GAP. Niche mental health GPs increase accessibility to mental health care and act as the first point of contact for patients who are struggling with emotional distress, anxiety, depression, burnout, sleep problems, grief, or life transitions. Niche mental health GPs have been trained to screen, diagnose, and manage common mental health conditions using evidence-based guidelines.

Isn't it time we start utilizing our expansive primary care system to reduce the burden of care faced by hospitals?

Food for thought.

Happy World Mental Health Day!

07/09/2025

Our next walk is on the 21st of September 2025 from 7 am to around 8.30 am. This time we'll be discussing Su***de Awareness and Prevention.

31/08/2025

~The Importance of Representation~

My daughter spotted this set and pointed out the figurine with vitiligo to me. Guess what? She's a doctor too! Plus, the set included a wheel of emotions, which is just up my alley, as a GP Mental Health Practitioner. I had a little thrill of happiness and felt seen. Just imagine what this does for kids! Well done, Lego!

21/08/2025

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) by the Malaysia Chapter of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

15/08/2025

13/08/2025

07/08/2025

Kepada warga Semenyih yang berminat, program "Walk With A Doc" (Doktor) kami diadakan setiap bulan, hari Ahad (minggu ketiga) dari pukul 7 am di Eco Majestic City Park. Program ini bermula dengan ceramah kesihatan yang singkat (lebih kurang 5-10 minit) dan diikuti dengan brisk walking selama sejam. Program ini dimulakan untuk membawa kesedaran tentang isu-isu kesihatan sementara meningkatkan senaman di kalangan masyarakat.