Our bodies are like gardens to which our wills are gardeners – William Shakespeare.

In the tormenting times of the pandemic we have had lots of time, yet we fail to look after our mental and physical health. Although many people are aware about the need and benefits of a good physical health, a very mere amount of the Indian population is aware about mental/psychological fitness. According to the statistics of The World Health Organization(WHO) 2020, 7.5% Indians suffer from some mental disorder, 56 million suffer from depression and another 38 million suffer from anxiety disorders. WHO had predicted approximately 20% of the Indian population to suffer from some mental illness by the end of 2020.

Stress is one of the very basic reason that lays the foundation of most mental illnesses. This stress however is not always bad… Yes, there are two types of stress, “Eustress” and “Distress”. Eustress is the type of stress that usually lasts for a short period of time and it enables an individual to perform with his/her utmost capability however if this stress lasts long, long enough to harm the individual, it is called distress. This is the stage where anxiety, tension and other problems develop. Although this is natural to happen in today's busy and hectic lifestyle, one must learn to help themselves to keep the body and mind healthy.

Everyone has a few hobbies or activities they prefer to get engaged in which help them “destress”. Ranging from painting, reading, dancing, to chatting, sleeping and many more. Many people prefer the company of friends or other close ones while others find solace with music, phones or other gadgets. As refreshing as may feel to continue gaming on tablets or surfing the internet, one must keep in mind the time duration they spend on the gadgets. Overuse of gadgets can lead to impaired concentration which can deteriorate one's work performance and which could further affect one's mental health.

Talking about mental health is still considered a taboo in the Indian culture… From calling such people “pagal” or other unacceptable terms to not being included in the society, mental health is not given the concern that it needs. We need to take an initiative for ourselves incase we feel the need to ask for help. There is no shame or harm in visiting a psychologist if one identifies that he/she needs the kind of help that normally a friend cannot provide.

With this I would leave you to ponder over a simple question, “Would you ask your friend or family member to help you incase you find out that you are suffering from a chronic heart disease or would you seek the help of a professional cardiosurgion?”