Mental Health

On world mental health day, I am writing for you to understand the importance of mental health. This is not only for the people who suffer but also their loved ones.

 To live, to be with a person who has depression not only requires courage but also understanding and patience. To be the support one has to be strong enough to endure what is coming towards them. So on this day, I will acknowledge those loved ones as well who have been a tremendous support to the people who have had any mental illness or are currently suffering from it.

If you at any given point recognize the signs and symptoms of depression or any other mental illness please don’t ignore them. If you cannot get professional help don’t feel shy to talk to a loved one or a person you trust.

Few things I know that have helped me when I have been depressed are

1. Diversion. Be it in any positive form, listening to music, reading a book or watching Hallmark movies. It helps a lot.
2. Talk. Vent it out. Don’t hold it all in yourself. Cry if you want to. There is no shame. But don’t rely on it. Once you have cried your heart out, pick yourself up and start working on yourself.
3. Work out. It helps
4. Meditate, in any form you like. It surrounds you with positive energy
5. Travel if you can, even within the city explore any place you have never been to.
6. Have a hobby. Something that you like to do. Anything constructive, anything random, it is totally up to you.
7. Eat well. Don’t overindulge on junk. Eating fresh and healthy makes you feel good within few days
8. Wear bright colors, lipstick or perfume. It’s a small step but again it helps
9. Do mindful sessions (Search on YouTube for videos)
10. Don’t forget to sleep. 8 hours. Get up and take a nice shower
11. Never stalk anyone on social media and compare your life with theirs. You don’t know what their story is.
12. Spend some time with nature (Animals or Plants). It soothes your soul
13. Dance. With friends or alone doesn’t matter. Turn the music up and dance

If you are having mild depression these things might help you. These might not be suitable for clinically depressed people or people with any other chronic mental illness.

Parents, please educate yourself if your child is showing any unusual behavior. Friends, please start noticing your loved ones. It’s not necessary that if you have gone through a trauma you will be depressed or will have any other mental illness. Everything in one’s life can be perfectly fine yet one can be suffering through it.

If one can’t see mental illness it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. It is not a joke. It is not something to be taken light-heartedly. Educate yourself, acknowledge its existence and help yourself and others around you.

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