‘You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do, or what you have done, but simply because you are.’ Max Lucado
Each of us is an important part of the human chain.
We play our roles in the communities and the societies we weave and the lives we touch.
We may be different from each other in more ways than one but that is the nature of human life.
No two people are the same, diversity is the beauty of the race and also the power behind it!
The more we accept and recognize this truth, the more can we respect our race and make this world a beautiful playground for all!
Let us remember, there is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet.
Mental Health awareness is to enlighten people about the fact that often because of misconceptions about mental health, people suffer in silence and their conditions go untreated. This effort is to reduce the stigma around mental illness by educating everyone and by sharing each other’s experiences.
Like physical health challenges, it is natural to have Mental health concerns. The brain is an important part of the body and it also has its right to challenge us like the other body organs, to put it in a humorous vein!
Hence this awareness campaign is to remind everyone that our well-being depends on our physical and mental health. Sometimes one gives rise to the other, as they are sometimes closely related. Fascinatingly confusing, but true! Gastrointestinal problems could very well be related to Mental health anxieties and vice versa. Therefore, a holistic approach to maintaining our well-being and health is important!
This is a clarion call to all!!!!
Wake up and be aware of the importance of Mental Health, nurture it, and understand that there is help available when necessary and no stigma attached to asking for it. There is no age bar for mental health issues as much as there is none for physical health. Anybody, anytime, can be a victim of the same. Anxiety, depression, insecurity, and panic attacks are very common today amongst the younger generation, given their stress in the universities and employment places. Thankfully, in a way, COVID has brought out this mental health issue discussion more openly than before!
This year the theme of Mental Health Awareness Month is Movement.
Movement of the body and the mind! Being Active!
Movement refreshes the mind and activates a cluster of feel-good hormones like dopamine and endorphins, and low-stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Therefore even a few minutes of movement boosts our mood and has psychological benefits!
So let’s move it!!!!
Taking care of and nurturing mental health is important, for prevention is always easier than cure!! Hence all physical activities that can be added to our daily lives naturally, are good. A walk in the park, a dancing lesson, a yoga session, boxing or kickboxing, visiting the Gym, joining a theatre group, whatever gives us happiness along with some movement!!!
The more we immerse ourselves in activities the more the mind gets refreshed and energised. This distracts the mind from overthinking and anxiety. Even brain fogs clear up and the rumination of depressing thoughts is reduced.
So here we are… let’s all keep our brains and limbs active, alert, and joyful! And let us encourage each of us to share our woes, our troubles and our fears with freedom and faith. Our mind is a full room of thoughts, words, and experiences. They either empower us or cripple us. Sharing and having dialogues with people empowers and grows our minds!!! No stigma in having a mental health issue.
Time for Action…. Each one reaches one….reach out and cry aloud …we are all in it together. We can help, we can walk the miles together with all our diversity, drawing strength from our unity!!
Talk to us if you have any questions or if you are looking for help!
You don’t have to control your thoughts. You have to stop letting the thoughts control you.
About the author
Mandy Gupta Vasudev
Member of Women in the Hood Mental Health Awareness
and Goodwill Ambassador.
