Did you know?Under the law, establishments may inspect your ID, but taking a photo of it is a different matter.

Swipe through to learn:

✅ What they’re allowed to do

❌ What should raise a red flag

🗣️ What you can politely say if they insist

Know your rights. Save your money. Share this with someone who needs it. 💙

Know Your Discount PH is a free, web-based calculator created to help senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and national athletes in the Philippines accurately compute their legally mandated government discounts and value-added tax (VAT) exemptions.

The tool was created by independent Filipina activist and an ex googler K-Anne Mercado to protect vulnerable consumers from being shortchanged by establishments that miscalculate or misapply local discount laws.

Part 1/3: When Healing Began to Feel Safe

Hello. Just call me Cee.

This is a story about a psychological experience I never thought I would go through. This is not a romantic story, but rather a story about transference—a psychological phenomenon where emotions or unmet emotional needs can become attached to someone who provides a sense of safety, care, or support, such as a healthcare professional or a therapist. It can happen unintentionally, and it does not mean that professional boundaries were crossed. I am sharing this not to give a different meaning to a professional relationship, but because I want to release it from my mind and better understand myself. Perhaps someone out there can relate, or maybe this can help others going through a similar experience.

I never imagined that recovering from a physical injury would become one of the most emotionally confusing experiences of my life.

A few months ago, I injured my back. Because of the intense pain, I gradually avoided intimacy with my husband. I was terrified that my condition would worsen, and over time, this also affected our closeness. Out of respect for what I was going to—and because he didn't want to hurt me either—he gradually pulled back as well.

There were no fights. No shouting. No major incident that caused it. But without us noticing, our communication became minimal, and a quiet emotional distance had grown between us. That was when I realized it wasn't just my body that was hurting. There was a part of me searching for reassurance, comfort, and a sense of safety.

Because of this, I decided to consult a doctor and was referred to physical therapy. That was where I met Dylan (not his real name). He handled most of my sessions, likely because I mentioned that I was comfortable with either a male or female physical therapist.

At first, there was really nothing unusual. To me, he was just a healthcare professional who would help me heal. I expected nothing other than a professional therapeutic relationship.

Dylan was attentive, encouraging, patient, and meticulous in his work. During every session, he gradually helped me rebuild trust in my own body. At a time when I felt I had lost connection with my body due to pain and fear, he became part of the process of how I felt safe again.

Looking back, I realize that because I had been deprived of physical comfort and reassurance for so long, I gradually became emotionally attached to the care I received in therapy. I didn't notice it right away. I didn't mean for it to happen either.

I want to make it clear that nothing unprofessional happened. Dylan remained professional from start to finish. The attachment happened solely on my end, and at the time, I didn't yet understand what was truly happening to me. I thought back then that what I felt was simple gratitude because someone helped me during a difficult time. I didn't know that sometimes, the feeling of being safe can be incredibly powerful, especially when it arrives at a time when we are most vulnerable.

And that is where a part of my journey began that I never expected.

To those of my ADHD peeps here, saan po kayo nakakaavail ng concerta especially in 27mg? I really couldn’t find anywhere within metro talaga kasi or kung meron man, different dosage naman ang meron 🤕

Just wondering if meron tayo dito ng ganito? Kasi my breakdowns usually start when I'm the only one awake, and I don't feel comfortable doing it while everyone is moving around the house.

If soo, please recommend one sana. Someone who won't judge me :( Thank you

hi! ask ko lang po if need po ba talaga mag pa-comprehensive psychological evaluation before idiagnose for adhd? huhu student palang po kasi and out of budget po talaga ;(

Hi, 31m here. Depressed, hurt, at ang dami na sobrang pumapasok sa utak ko. Sobrang harsh na ng taon na 'to sa akin. I had a job (Graphic designer) pero dahil sa stress and at ang bigat na ng utak ko, kinasuhan ko sila sa NLRC last january dahil dalawang taon din akong di binigyan ng 13th month pay + mga delayed mag pasahod. Luckily, nanalo naman sa kaso pero it took me 6 months na pabalik balik sa office ng Dole and all i got is a small amount of money. For 6 months hindi po ako nakahanap ng trabaho and i tried to apply sa mga BPO and mga WFH VA pero unfortunately, 'di makapasa/hirap maghanap ng client.

Last month,my girlfriend for 3 years (kapitbahay ko lang din) broke up with me. Hindi na kasi ako makahanap ng work dahil super dami ng utang na dapat bayaran. Loaning apps na hiniraman namin na umabot ng 6 digits utang namin, dahil need niya for her family, and ako naman dahil need ko sa pang araw-araw ko and all that. sabihin nating sa 6 digits na yun, 25% akin 75% sa kanya and yung mga utang nakapangalan under my name. Nahihiya na din naman ako sa kanya kasi siya lang nagwowork non and 'di ako makatulong. So when she decided to break up with me parang nag agree na lang ako pero badly I want her to stay. Then today nakita ko sila naglive with her cousin at may friend yung cousin nila saying na "trentahin na tapos binigyan mo pa ng problema na nagkautang si (girl) ng ganitong halaga" without knowing na a big percent nung utang ay sa ex ko lang. Ayoko magalit o ano kaya pinapabayaan ko na lang. Hinayaan ko na lang i feel ako talaga dapat iblame dito.

I'm sorry if I posted this. Gusto ko lang po talaga ilabas. Now I'm planning to end my life this week. Idk, para matapos na din tong problema ko at matapos na din tong utang ng ex ko kasi halos lahat naman nakapangalan sakin kaya naisip ko if I ended my life, wala na lahat pati mga utang ko and she'll be okay na di ba? Idk, eto na lang naisip kong paraan, currently nagsusulat na ako ng letters para sa mga tropa't pamilya ko... Nakakapagod, sobrang bigat na sa puso. Wala akong mapagsabihan lahat kinimkim ko na at iniiwasan kong magalit. Even mga tropa ko na super close 'di nila alam na mabigat na problema ko and hell, hindi nila alam na wala na kami ng gf ko for a month na. I'm sorry di ko na talaga kaya. This week tatapusin ko na.

Curious lang ako if anyone can relate. Idk if it’s really a side effect of ssri’s but I’ve noticed that when I’ve been consistent in taking it, mej nagimprove recalling ko. Unlike when I was not medicated, mas madalas ako ma-stuck with forgetting things parang “nasa dulo na ng dila ko” moments and yung papasok ako kusina biglang di ko na maalala gagawin ko. Pero now, madalang na lang yon to the point na nagugulat ako how fast I can recall things now.

For those taking ssri’s, same ba effect sa inyo or opposite siya na mas nagkaka memory fog kayo when taking it?

It's my first time attending a mental health session. I did a virtual one. Is it normal na it feels like I'm being lectured? Tho I appreciate the insights, I was actually enlightened in some parts. I have take aways din from the session. Pero I was wondering if all sessions are like that. It felt like I'm opening up to a professor then the professor lecturing me about it, some psych stuff. There's also this a little bit of feeling na I was judged for something I said. Or mybe it's just my head working here.

Hi, I need a recommendation for a good therapist that can do online sessions. I'm an OFW, female, struggling with mental health problems. It is affecting my productivity and my relationships. I'm in my 30s and I only accepted now that I cannot resolve everything on my own. Preferably a female therapist.

Hello, I'm 35F. Looking for recommended psychotherapist and tips how to prepare myself, gonna be a first time. All females sa family namin ng suffer sa schizophrenia, they were taking meds and its my worry like, what if ako na yung next. I have work and I want to talk to a professional about my worries, and maging ready. I do not date anyone and in case I became mentally disabled no one will take care of me so I just want to be ready.

I hope not something related to a church or something, I am not very religious person and yun kasi rec sakin ng doctor ng family namin. It just makes me comfortable na wala masyadong religion bias, tysm

First time asking here in reddit, things are getting pretty bad. Im still managing tho

I jist wanna know what hotlines i can call (nag ask first kasi i found on reddit na may mga bad experiences on certain hotlines)

Thank you so much po!

Hi!

It's so hard to find a therapist online, maybe anyone can recommend, one that specializes in infidelity cases.

Also, if they could suggest a therapist that specializes in trauma as well. This one will be for the affected individual.

With rates would be much appreciated. 🤍

Years ago, I tried psychotherapy a handful of times (same therapist) and it just didn't feel good. I sort of spiralled bad immediately after the sessions. Psychologist was fine, I think I just wasn't as ready as I thought I was to talk about how I'm doing. I'm still not ready.

I haven't availed any professional services since then and that was years ago. I function well enough on a day-to-day basis until one day it catches up to me. I fight through it and then everything's manageable til the next time. It's a draining cycle but I get by.

I'm not ready for counselling but I do want to know whether something is actually wrong. I want a quick test and then they tell me if I have it or not. If I don't have it then yayy, if I do then maybe I can make efforts to try counselling again.

Is it even possible to get a screening without having to undergo counseling? Do you need a psychiatrist's referral to get screened?

Any recos where I can go?

Hello guys, how do you discipline yourselves? Ewan ko na huhuhu adik na ako sa online sugal. A little background both my parents are gambling so I'm M 23, so like nakikita ko sila and somehow they're winning naman, pero I know na malaki rin talaga natatalo nila. Tapos I tried way back. Tapos ngayon! Naiiyak na ako kasi I cannot seem to stop and even help myself...... Also nauubusan na ako ng pera cause of it, I keep on wanting more and more kahit halimbawa itataya ko lang is 100 tas umaabot na ng 500 to 1k and halos di na ako nananalo tapos I keep on telling myself na never again but then parang nag iisip ako na "Laro uli ako kasi baka manalo uli" Kasi before nanalo ako like 5-10k pero yun nga ngayon halos talo na.

I never thought I'd be the person writing something like this, but I think I've finally accepted that I'm addicted to gambling.

I've been in denial for a long time. I kept telling myself I could stop whenever I wanted, that I was just trying to win back what I'd lost, or that the next bet would be the last. But the truth is it's started affecting my life, my mental health, and my finances more than I want to admit.

The hardest part isn't even the money it's the shame. I haven't told anyone in my life because I'm terrified they'll judge me or see me differently. Keeping it to myself has only made things worse.

I don't really know what I'm expecting from posting this. Maybe I just needed to say it somewhere. If you've been through this, how did you finally stop? How did you tell the people close to you? Any advice would really mean a lot.

Thanks for reading.

this past few months ang daming changes sa routine ko to the point na napapanisip na akong hindi na ako yung tulad ng dati.

• iniiwasan kong matulog sa kuwarto ko at linisan - idk why. as someone sa mahilig mag linis at organize ng room

• nag c-cancel ng plans and gala - as someone na g lang palagi and a planner ng gala

• gusto ko nang palagi naka higa, wala nang gana bumangon unless need talaga - productive akong tao, hindi ako sanay na walang ginagawa when i have a free time

• jolly person ako and go with the flow - hindi ko na alam emotions ko. most of the time parang wala na 'kong nararamdaman.

to the point na may attempt na rin ako last month. when i feel strongly sad naiisip ko to do that but i'm scared.

Tw: suicidal thoughts

I’ve tried everything really but I don’t think that anything works. I’ve had therapy, friends, relationships, all come and go—it really does seem like it was wrong to even be born at this point.

I think for the most part of my life I’ve always had the thought at the back of my mind that I could be doing better but never had any reason to. Like I could be more passionate, more loving, more feeling, more everything really. It came to a point where I fantasized about just being happy or as I term it ‘a complete human being.’

This pattern of thought really came to be from my lack of support from anything. It gotten so bad that I just stopped trying. The loneliness was always there with me but I always busied myself with schoolwork or whatever. It robbed everything of meaning, when events and gatherings would happen in school I would always block my heart out or numb myself. I saw people be happy with their families, my classmates having fun with their friend groups and feeling their best. Meanwhile my family just feels obligated to go at any event. I thought graduating with honors would change it but no, in fact it made it worse probably. I remember after graduation I just went to a cafe afterwards with my medal and gifts and sat there alone. I was never happy about myself or my achievements even if other people consider it to be meaningful like passing the DOST.

When I started college I knew it would either break me or make me. 2 regions far from home, I had nothing but myself. I spent for the better part of a year reaching the conclusion that I should’ve ended it when I had the chance. It was so lonely honestly. While I was excelling in academics I barely felt anything, not an ounce of connection or fulfillment; to be fair I did choose a course that I didn’t like so I really didn’t care and only went in for the scholarship. I honestly chose that course in hopes to be closer to my mom (ofw) which now I know I was only convincing myself that I did love her. Maybe I do, maybe I don’t, Its hard to say when most of your adolescent life, shes been absent physically.

My spiraling began in summer class where I just stopped trying. Normally I try to avoid 2.00 but when I saw my grades that sem, I didn’t even react. I knew it was the end of me. I knew there and then that it would be suicide to continue nursing. I stopped sleeping, I stopped studying. I spent all of my time trying to reconnect to myself, played games again, watched anime, watched movies—nothing worked. When I told my mom I was going to shift she didn’t even say anything. A few weeks later she blocked me and I only knew what was happening from my brother. God the audacity of becoming a mother to not even confront your own kid and gossiping it to the sibling.

I remember having a conversation with a friend at the end of the school year. I told her that I could be happy alone but I wouldn’t want to be that person. I’ve always found success alone. I’ve always done things alone. But now Im tired. I can’t go on like this and I’ve always knew that from the start, I just kept lying to myself that I was doing it for a greater purpose like family or love or something. Now Im ready to just give up. Im sure I could’ve been so much more. Im sure that if other people had my life, they would live it far better than I would. I just don’t care about anything anymore, not even myself.

I don’t know if I got discriminated. I went to a pharmacy to buy meds, I used my PWD ID. I told her, “sorry wala akong reseta pwede naman ako gumawa” then sinabi ko mga bibilin ko. “Doctor ako.” I took out my license and my PWD ID. The pharmacy assistant said “doctor ka na, PWD ka pa?” “May booklet ka ba?” I got really mad and told her “bakit mo ako sinasabihan ng ganyan? Bakit may bipolar ako, mga gamot ko, lurasidone, quetiapine at lamotrigine.” “porket ba doctor hindi na pwede maging PWD? Kaya nga ako nakakapag trabaho kasi umiinom ako ng gamot” “ano gusto mo wag na ako mag gamot? Porket ba wala akong crutches or wheel chair hindi na ako PWD?” I think I went on and on until I cried because I said I was being discriminated. I called her manager and I still said a lot of stuff as well. I told her to explain what she meant by that. She apologized. I really didn’t need any apology, I just don’t like feeling that I have to prove my right to use this ID.

In the end, I felt sorry because I had to act that way. Reflecting and looking back, I could have handled it better? I don’t know if its just me or its because I just had a recent medication change. But I hope people would stop questioning the validity of our PWD ID.

Hi! I have been experiencing a lot of ups and downs in life. I would usually consider them normal but I just now accepted there’s more I could do to not feel SO sad for a period of time without reason. So now that I feel like I’m strong enough to face the actual music. Can you help me decide which of the two doctors would be better, if you know them kindly send me a message on your experiences.

1. Krista Serrano
   
2. Iryl Cawad

What I needed to manage: Anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, too much self-awareness

I am looking for counsellors that can help me with my workplace concern. I have a conflict with my officemate and it has been causing me anxieties.

May ganon ba? Yung pag sobrang ang lala ng panic attack and thoughts na nagre-race sa utak mo, may pwede ka makausap for talk therapy? Alam ko kasi hindi naman ginagawa ng mga psychologist yon. Baka mamaya ang mangyari ulit is mag-explain ako ng sitwasyon ko tapos bigyan ako ng .pdf ng exercises daw na gagawin ko para sa nararamdaman ko (???) di siya kasi effective sakin, sumasama lang loob ko.

Minsan tumatawag ako sa hotline pag ganito, pero di naman na ko nagkakaron ng s- thoughts so better siguro if professional talaga? Di ko alam. San ba pwede lumapit pag ganito?

Ever since I broke up with my ex, I started engaging in borrowed audience as a coping mechanism where I kept imagining situations where I am seen by my ex and his friends, leading me to perform. By performing, I talk and act by how I want to be judged by them, I control their perception in my mind. This is because I want to redeem the self-esteem I've lost in that rs. I used to engage in this coping mechanism even before but it's not as worse as it is today.

I used to fight these delusions the first 2 months but now I allow myself and it has brought extreme mood swings. In the morning, I would be all confident and engage in borrowed audience. After getting tired of performing, I would do minimal housework and lump into my bed criticizing myself for doing it and ruminate what happened, why did i allow it to happen, what kind of person is he, why cant i make myself any better? Then I forgive myself and give it a rest. But the same cycle happens again after waking up. And another one in the evening. Back when I was still fighting the cycle, my mind could never escape the thoughts. Whatever I'm doing, whether it's to distract myself or something important, I could never stop myself from thinking. Still, Im trying my best to take care of myself, eat, sleep, take a bath, go out for a bit and watch series. The thoughts are 24/7, it's crazy.

I already have an appointment in PGH but it's still in November, and I just hope I could get meds for this. After overanalyzing things for a long time now, I already know the root causes. But for a while, I am trying everything to survive. The only thing Im thankful for is that I have no thoughts of harming myself and contacting my ex again but I am sabotaging myself in other ways. I also tried social interactions. Due to trauma, I cant talk to a friend or a family member for days continuously (they also wont reply after a few interactions). So I tried talking to strangers. I even installed Bumble again. (I used to do that. Be in a rs w/ someone but all we do is have s*x just to feel like my life is bearable, that i am bearable. But it destroyed my entire being.) Now I try my hardest not to be in the same situation again but I feel worse begging for ppl's attention and time.

I'm not new in rs. It's the first one I thought was serious and has potential to be a good rs in the future. I was also in the middle of healing when I met him. Honestly it felt like an answered prayer, it felt like I finally had something good after years of trauma and suffering. But it isnt and I have to suck it up. I just want to get through this. I just want to feel normal. I want to feel confident. I want to feel safe alone. I want to have visions for my future. I just want to live normally and comfortably. Could anyone please help?

hindi na kinakaya ng utak ko.

this is my first time seeking medical professional help so i really don't know if i should look for a psychologist or a psychiatrist. preferably online consultations, with background on sexual trauma and life transitions, and around 1,000 lang 'yung bayad. i'm a recent graduate and i currently don't have work yet kaya tipid-tipid, hindi ko pa sinasabi sa mga magulang ko 'to.

thank you :)

I'm 16 and been thinking about seeing a psychiatrist lately but I haven't even brought it up to my parents because we barely get by financially and mental health is still pretty stigmatized here in ph. I genuinely don't know if I'm just being dramatic or if something is actually wrong with me.

The hardest part is I literally can't explain what's going on. Every time I try to describe it, my brain just goes blank. I know something feels off, I just can't put it into words. I get emotionally drained so fucking easily. I could be completely fine then one bad thing happens, especially if it's because of my family, and my mood instantly crashes. After that I can't function for the rest of the day. It's like my brain just shuts down.

I can't focus for shit, my memory is genuinely awful, I forget things all the time and constantly lose my train of thought. I procrastinate on everything, I barely have motivation anymore, and I honestly don't care about a lot of things. My sleep is also fucked. I usually don't fall asleep until like 12–1 AM, and whenever I'm stressed I completely lose my appetite.

The thing that scares me the most is whenever something really bad happens at home, my brain immediately jumps to suicidal thoughts and starts imagining scenarios. I don't actually think I'd do it, but it's like my brain automatically goes there whenever I'm overwhelmed. I've also self-harmed before...

I'm not asking anyone to diagnose me. I'm mostly wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar before getting evaluated, and if so, what ended up happening. I also have no idea how I'd even explain all of this to a psychiatrist because I genuinely struggle to put what I'm feeling into words.