How mental health and friendships affect each other

Acts of kindness are a way of telling your friend that they're in your thoughts and not forgotten. This means just showing up and spreading the good vibes, says Wong. Photo: Freepik.

Have you put on weight? You look very tired! These are comments that Alexandra Wong has heard from well-meaning friends that, she reveals, cause her to feel "triggered".

This, the 48-year-old digital content creator says, means "experiencing strong emotional reactions - fear, shock, anger, or worry - to words said to you, people, or even topics".