After 40 Years in the Shadows, Marc Neijts Sees Hope Again

European Wellness team member shares his deeply personal experience with bipolar II disorder and the treatment he believes has given him renewed confidence and emotional stability

KOTA KINABALU, Sabah (Aug 5, 2026) — For most of his life, Marc Neijts carried a struggle that few people around him could fully understand.

The Netherlands native, who has worked with European Wellness for approximately 16 years as part of its international sales team, began experiencing severe depression and unpredictable changes in mood when he was only 15.

What followed was a difficult 40-year search for answers.

Marc consulted psychiatrists, voluntarily admitted himself to psychiatric institutions, and underwent numerous forms of conventional treatment. He was initially diagnosed with borderline personality disorder before his condition was later identified as bipolar disorder and, eventually, bipolar II disorder.

Unlike bipolar I disorder, which typically involves more pronounced manic episodes, bipolar II is characterized by recurring depressive episodes and periods of hypomania. For Marc, the depressive periods could become overwhelming, leaving him withdrawn, unable to sleep properly and struggling to manage everyday life.

“I could think myself so far downwards until I hit rock bottom,” he recalled. “It was very hard to get back on my feet again.”

A Long Search for Lasting Relief

Marc said he willingly pursued almost every treatment recommended to him. These included psychiatric medications, repeated hospital care, and electroconvulsive therapy.

Although some of the treatments provided temporary support, he felt that none gave him the lasting improvement he had desperately sought.

“The medications only numbed my feelings,” he said. “They did not have the desired effect for me. It became a vicious circle because the depression always came back.”

Living with the condition affected his education, relationships, work, and confidence. Nevertheless, Marc continued seeking professional help rather than giving up on the possibility of feeling better.

“Living with mental illness has been one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced,” he said. “It tested my resilience, my hope, and my determination in ways I never imagined.”

An Opportunity from European Wellness

Approximately two months before the interview, Marc was offered what European Wellness describes as brain-targeted precursor stem cell therapy at the European Wellness Premier Centre.

The treatment was provided with the support of the company and its founders, including Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan and Michelle Wong. Marc regarded the opportunity as an extraordinary gesture after his many years with the organization.

“I knew that this treatment existed, but this was the first time I was given the opportunity to receive it,” he said. “I am immensely grateful because it has made a profound difference in my life.”

According to Marc, the treatment involved precursor cells selected for neurological targets associated with areas of the brain such as the hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex and frontal lobe. He said the cells were administered through an intramuscular injection in a procedure lasting only several minutes.

Marc admitted that he initially felt apprehensive. However, he described the procedure as brief and painless and said he personally experienced no noticeable side effects.

A Change He Began Noticing Within a Week

The first difference Marc noticed was not the complete disappearance of negative thoughts. It was his newfound ability to prevent those thoughts from controlling him.

“After about one week, I noticed that when negative thoughts came, I would not dwell on them for so long,” he said. “It became much easier to acknowledge them and let them go.”

For someone who had previously become trapped in prolonged depressive thinking, that change felt significant.

Marc also reported that the severe mood fluctuations that had affected him for decades had diminished considerably.

“My mood is very stable now, and that is a huge improvement,” he said. “For the first time in my life, I feel a great sense of relief.”

Although Marc said he was no longer taking psychiatric medication at the time of the interview, changes to medication should always be made under the supervision of a qualified mental-health professional. Bipolar disorder generally requires continuing medical assessment and an individualized care plan.

Renewed Confidence for the Future

The improvement has given Marc more than emotional relief. He believes it has restored his confidence in his ability to work, interact with others, and manage his daily responsibilities.

“I feel I will be stronger, and carrying out my daily tasks will not be so challenging,” he said.

His most powerful reflection concerned the hope he had rediscovered after four decades of uncertainty.

“I have been searching for a solution for 40 years,” Marc said. “Now, for the first time in many years, I truly feel there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Marc is careful not to present his experience as a universal outcome. He recognizes that bipolar disorder varies between individuals and that people may respond differently to any treatment.

“Everybody is different, and every condition is different,” he said. “Not every case of bipolar disorder is the same. I can only speak about the profound difference this treatment has made in my own life.”

His story is therefore not simply about one procedure. It is about continuing to seek help through years of uncertainty—and discovering a renewed sense of possibility when he had almost stopped expecting it.

For Marc, the change represents the beginning of a new chapter: one shaped by greater emotional stability, renewed confidence, and the belief that his future can be brighter than his past.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Marc Neijts (In his own words)

My struggles with mental health began when I was 15 years old. From that moment on, I experienced severe depression and unpredictable mood swings that repeatedly brought me to my lowest points. These episodes affected every aspect of my life, particularly my education, making my school years extremely difficult and often overwhelming.

Determined to get better, I sought professional help and voluntarily admitted myself to psychiatric institutions on several occasions. Throughout my treatment, I received several different diagnoses. Initially, I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Later, this diagnosis was revised to bipolar disorder and eventually to bipolar II disorder, as my symptoms were characterized primarily by recurring, severe depressive episodes rather than frequent periods of mania.

Over the years, I underwent many forms of treatment. I was prescribed a wide range of psychiatric medications and even received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Despite my willingness to try every recommended treatment, none provided lasting relief. Instead, the medications often left me feeling emotionally numb and caused significant side effects that greatly affected my quality of life.

Living with mental illness has been one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced. It has tested my resilience, hope, and determination in ways I never imagined.

Eventually, I was offered a different treatment: targeted, brain-specific precursor stem cell therapy. As part of this treatment, I was told I received precursor stem cells intended to target brain regions including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, frontal lobe, and hippocampus.

The procedure itself was short and painless, and in my experience, I did not experience any side effects.

The results have been life-changing for me. Although I still have occasional dark thoughts from time to time, I no longer become trapped in them. I am able to acknowledge them and let them pass. I also no longer experience the significant mood swings that once dominated my life.

Today, I am no longer taking psychiatric medication. While I know that every person’s journey is different and that no single treatment works for everyone, this treatment has made a profound difference in my own life. For the first time in many years, I truly feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel.