Kalyani

One of the most important things I’ve learnt recently is that it’s important to speak up about mental health. Especially since psychology has been my course of interest as well as education. What I have learnt is that in the process of speaking up, its important to let people know that clinical depression, is something that I have and am going through with the help of an amazing support system, and its okay.
And that’s why; my mother rightly calls me a ‘WARRIOR’ as I fight a battle where the scars are internal. A battle that most people don’t see as an illness but more as ‘feeling sad.’ What they don’t understand is that it’s a feeling of emptiness, a feeling of nothing, where you want to be ‘home’ even when you are. Because that home is the old you who doesn’t sleep all day and night and binge eat at odd hours and cries all the time.
According to the WHO, India is the most depressed country in the world with the highest rates of depression and suicide. Despite this, there continues to be a sense of embarrassment and stigma attached to mental health and talking about it. People look down upon those who speak about it or experience it, in a way that is different from their outlook towards anything to do with physical health.
For those who experience any such thing or know anyone who does, don’t tell them that ‘its just a phase’ and ‘try to distract yourself.’ What you need to tell them is to ‘get help’. Talking to a counselor, a psychiatrist and building a strong support group is what they need. Talk about how you feel and what’s going on inside, don’t bottle things up until you want to explode one day. #DontBeAPressureCooker . It is because of this learning and amazing support system that I have, that enables me to continue fighting even when I don’t feel like it.
Depression is a battle that many people fight, what they need to be told is to not give up because life is a roller coaster ride where you aren’t in control of the speed or the curves and drops. There will be days where you will fall sick, lose some friends, get rejected for job applications but what it all comes down to is giving yourself time because you will be okay. #NotAshamed