We all experience both good and bad days, and then there are some days when we feel that something is not right and things are not falling into place. We have got something constantly going in our minds and everything just feels too much. It is difficult to formulate words and even talk about our internal silent battles, which we are constantly fighting on our own because nobody taught us to talk about and appreciate our mental health.
I did not realize the importance of mental health until I found myself taking therapy. Honestly, it was not an easy step. Despite my background in the mental health field, I've found it challenging to discuss my decision to attend therapy with my family. While I recognize the importance of normalizing conversations around seeking help for mental health, expressing this aspect of my life has proven to be a complex task. Before I took therapy, I was just one in the crowd who normalized keeping everything inside me and wanting to be one of the tough ones who don’t get affected by their emotions. Therapy changed my view on this common belief that toughness means hiding feelings. It showed me that it's okay to express emotions and that being open about what I feel actually makes me stronger.Top of Form In overcoming various hurdles that hindered my willingness to seek help—such as societal stigma, personal pride, and misconceptions about vulnerability—the pivotal initial step involved acknowledging and accepting that I needed professional help. It has become a truly life-changing experience, guiding me to understand and navigate my emotions in ways I hadn't before. Through therapy, I've discovered the profound ability to embrace both my rational and emotional sides as integral parts of who I am. This newfound self-awareness and acceptance have been instrumental in reshaping my perspective and enhancing my overall well-being.
Only when we allow ourselves to improve, will things begin to improve. I feel that ignorance has been the biggest barrier for seeking help for my mental health. Living in a collectivist society I realized that there are many young individuals like me who feel nervous and unsure about getting help for multiple reason. Maybe they don’t feel comfortable talking about their thoughts and feelings or maybe they think that the situation isn’t bad enough and they do not want to burden others. In our Indian society people are religiously and culturally bounded and they have formed a perception that people seeking help for mental health are merely wasting their money or they are faking their problems to seek attention. Individuals often question will people ever understand that they are going through something.
This hesitancy is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of our Indian society. Reflecting on my own experiences growing up, I recognize the impact of cultural teachings on our perception of seeking help. As children we have always been taught that help is always at home and we should not discuss our problems outside our home and if we do then it is not appreciated. Even if we try discussing our thoughts and express our actual self-there will be no acceptance to our problem and it would be solved just by saying that it is all in our head and we should be focusing on studies. Furthermore, the strong tradition of reliance within Indian families discourages individuals from seeking counselling. Even into adulthood, parents and elder family members are usually regarded as guides and counsellors to their children and other young family members in Indian society. Seeking help outside the family is frequently interpreted as a sign of parental inadequacies or insecurity.
Amidst the challenges of seeking mental health support in our collectivist society, another layer surfaces in certain parts of India where individuals grappling with mental health issues are often perceived through a lens of possession or demonic influence. This unique perspective leads many to turn to spiritual counselors, folk doctors, or family elders instead of seeking appropriate medical help. In this context, religion plays a significant role, as deeply held beliefs contribute to the stigma surrounding mental health. The lack of knowledge and research about mental illness further compounds the issue, dissuading individuals from pursuing psychological treatment or therapy. This multifaceted landscape underscores the complexities that individuals face when navigating cultural beliefs and seeking essential mental health care.
Another significant hurdle in seeking mental health support is the pervasive barrier of stigma. People stigmatizing other people, themselves don’t know that it is a stigma that they are spreading because they are not aware and they don’t realize when they say something inappropriate. It seems that in India everyone is a self-proclaimed counselor as they are always ready to give advice to people. In my experience there was a huge difference in forming my opinion before and after taking therapy. Therapy gave a new perspective to my thinking and helped me look into my problems through a different lens. I have heard people saying that you look normal and it doesn’t seem that you have any disorder. There is a lack of awareness that therapy is only for people who have severe mental disorders. Anyone and everyone can go to a counselor and seek help for their mental health.
In the realm of mental health, it's not uncommon to encounter various roadblocks that hinder us from seeking the support we require. Surprisingly, rather than tackling these hurdles head-on, we often find ourselves embracing them. I belong to a generation that talks a lot about the importance of mental health. But, it's worth asking ourselves: Are we really open to seeking professional help? The big question is whether young people in our country feel comfortable reaching out to mental health professionals. Only if the answer is yes, can we hope to make talking about mental health a normal and regular thing in our society. Let's think about how committed we really are to making mental well-being a priority for everyone.
