Mental Health is just as important as Physical Health

Let me be frank here, I had no idea they were connected up until my tryst with Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness!

I was in awe when I started to feel the difference in my mental states, emotional states and how relaxed I felt when I started doing Yoga. It made me wonder, ‘Wait…all of these are connected!”

And moreover, I came to terms with the fact that unprocessed events, moments do cling onto us in our body physically as chronic pains and aches!

During my stint as an Outdoor Leader through treks in the Himalayas, helped me ascertain that though I am working out my body physically, there was also an element of mental exhaustion seeping in. Some moments, thoughts, feelings which were not addressed were showing up in my body as pain.

Getting back to Yoga and Meditation helped but what really helped me majorly was Counselling!

The highlights of Counselling for me were:

• I could process prior events to its entirety which I assumed I had processed earlier on
• It gave me a space to unabashedly talk my heart and mind out without holding myself back
• It provided me with insights and clarity
• Having taken the Listener role mostly in my relationships, this was the first time that I could speak without being interrupted, without being brushed off, without being judged, without having to stop myself short just because the other person didn’t have the time or intention to listen.
• I could gauge the areas that I needed to work on
• I also came to terms with my feelings and emotions which I had brushed off or not acknowledged. This helped me to share my feelings no matter what the other person thought.

And I also started to take notice of certain pain and aches that I had was either because of tension or some unprocessed emotion. Since then I have been consciously working on my physical health and mental health to understand myself better.

That gets me to the question of – ‘What is Mental Health?’

Mental Health is a psychological wellbeing , a state where one can function with purpose, resilience and have a qualitative outlook towards Life.

I think there are a few reasons why people don’t consider working on their mental health:

• Holding onto the Stigma – “One goes to a Counsellor or Therapist if one has severe mental health condition”
• Holding onto the Thought – “I can work through it myself, I have the resources, I don’t need any help”
• Holding onto Shame – “It is a weakness”
• Holding onto Ignorance – “I am fine! I don’t have to work out physically. I don’t need any mental heath advisory stuff”

Well theses are just a few reasons and strong ones which do create a barrier towards Mental Wellbeing.

What can you do?

• List down helplines, communities, groups that can help
• Build awareness among family, friends and also educate oneself on Mental Health
• Spread the word on importance of Mental Health
• Reach out to Counsellors / Therapists / Organisations offering Counselling / Therapy

Some helpline numbers out here in case of emergencies related to Self Harm / Suicide:

• Parivarthan Counselling Helpline Services – 7676602602 (1 pm to 10 pm, Monday to Friday)
• iCall (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) – 02225521111 (8 am to 10 pm, Monday to Saturday)
• Sneha Helpline – 04424640050 (10 am to 4 pm, All days)

It is only when you and I take the step towards change that we can create a better world.

Are you ready?