Mind mental health

Water and bananas play an imperative role in my home. For my mother, a glass of water and a few bananas are the magical remedies for all our problems. Whether it be headache, tiredness, sleeplessness, or even a broken leg, my mother appears with a glass of water and a bunch of bananas. It does work for me when I deal with sleeplessness or tiredness. But is it the ultimate remedy for all the problems, especially when it comes to mental health?

I learned about the significance of a “healthy mental state” in my late twenties. Subsequently, I attempted to decipher the root causes of my anxieties, traumas, and disorders, and by and by I started working on my emotional hygiene. I figured out that some of my anxieties resulted from certain bitter social experiences I had as a child. So, I picked up the shattered pieces of my life and set out to fix it. I strived to get over my issues peacefully and gracefully, and so during then, I was keeping myself away from all the unnecessary dramas and loud noises as far as I could. Gradually, I regained the confidence and courage to stand up for myself.

On one such fine day, my parents asked me to join them at the wedding of someone I barely knew. Upon hearing their request, I shared my inner voice with them and told them with lots of emotion, “Listen, I am 30 now, and I have decided not to go to places I am not comfortable being. You can’t force me to attend weddings and functions I don’t want to attend. I am afraid that it may disturb my inner peace, so please excuse me.”

I took a deep breath and felt happy that finally, I could communicate my deep emotional disagreements and stand up for myself. I was hoping that my parents would get emotional and say, “Oh dear, we are so sorry that you had to deal with these struggles all by yourself. Your peace of mind is important to us, so from now on we will never ask you to attend functions you don’t want to attend.” But, on the contrary, my mother told me, “What do you mean by you are 30 now? You have a glass of water and a banana and get ready. We are going to the wedding.”

The tranquillity I gained during my healing sessions dissipated into the air. Nevertheless, I understand that my parents and I belong to different generations, and hence our perceptions and attitudes are at times poles apart. Anyway, at the end of the day, I could successfully convince my parents that mental health is indispensable and unique for every individual and that a glass of water wouldn’t solve all the problems in the world.

Later in my life, some of my friends have also shared similar stories with me. It kept me thinking, why are we not educating everyone about the gravity of having good mental health? Unfortunately, mental health is still not a high priority in many Indian families. When we are busy trying and struggling to build a stable and comfortable life, we often comfortably forget the magnitude and virtue of having a healthy mental state.

We have learned that “health is wealth.” Is it only the physical health that matters? It is high time that we redefined the statement and realised that physical and mental health were equally crucial for a wealthy and wise life. The WHO has defined mental health as a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well, and work well. Mental health and the ability to handle a situation in life vary for every individual.

It depends on many factors, such as emotional ability, social and economic circumstances, environmental factors, resilience, supporting systems, genetics, and more. We live in a world where awareness of the momentousness of emotional first-aid is essential. Our state of mind affects our behaviour, thinking, emotions, and potential. It is okay to be not okay, and it is okay to feel sad or angry. But it is not okay to hurt ourselves or others due to weak and struggling mental health. Factors such as emotional or psychological traumas, childhood traumas, loneliness, psychological issues due to broken families, or broken relationships play pivotal roles in defining our character, behaviour, social skills, emotional resilience, and mental and physical health. Unfortunately, we are not done here. Researchers have shown that excessive use of social media might create post-traumatic stress disorder. The list is long. So, it is vital to work on mental troubles and find the best solution for the disturbing state of mind one has.

Accepting ourselves and prioritising our psychological health and mental health are essential for a happy and healthy version of ourselves. Trying to figure out what is disturbing us and what are the root causes of the mental struggles we have can give us a good start. Like the problems, solutions are also distinct for every individual. For some, venting out and sharing their emotions and experiences with loved ones or even a random stranger helps. Meditation, journaling, spirituality, mindfulness, music therapy, exercise, spending time in nature, socialising, or travelling work for some others. Seeking professional help might be necessary in some cases.

Always remember that the sum and substance of minding and mending our psychological health and mental health is rejuvenating ourselves and creating a content and confident version of each of us. You will always find a way out if you make every effort. Believe in yourself and soldier on. Trust me, you will love that new you. So, let’s normalize having healthy conversations about mental health and prioritizing our happiness. After all, happy minds create a happy society.

cheeraadas@gmail.com