How Are You Feeling Today?

“Are you crazy?”

“Oh! I’m anxious.”

“I think I am going into depression.”

“I am having a panic attack.”

“I am living in a trauma.”

“I think I have Alzheimer’s, I am becoming forgetful these days.”

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A friend of mine asked me the other day, Hey! How have you been lately? – to which I replied, “Nothing much, just have been in depression, because there’s so much going on these days.”

Ever noticed, that the common, but not-so-common psychological terminologies used these days, like depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, and panic attacks, have become an element of our daily lives? Ever noticed, that people nowadays complain a lot about feeling numb more often, or feeling lonely, or out of place?

Why do you think it is so?

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'Depression', which is now sort of replaced by an expression of ‘being sad’ in our local language, is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Being sad is an emotion, and remaining sad is a state, but labeling it as depression, is a bit rough in its most common sense. Persistent sadness is one of the symptoms of depression, therefore, being sad should not be labeled as being depressed. The most logical reason behind this simple idea is that for someone to have a clear diagnosis of having a mood disorder, needs a professional intervention by industry experts, not a casual trend to be followed on social media.

Similarly, trauma is a very big word. The dictionary meaning of Trauma is having a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. But you might have heard someone say very commonly, 'Oh, please! Don’t give me such trauma, ya,’ or ‘I met some toxic people recently, and now I’m traumatized.’

Anxiety disorder, for that matter, is a type of mental health condition where symptoms like feelings of fear, dread, and uneasiness occur. However, it can be generally observed that people casually label any slight discomfort as ‘Anxiety’, without realizing that these terminologies are not just some casual joking materials or some temporary trend running on social media, but everything related to our mental health is a serious matter and it needs to be taken seriously.

?The names we call each other these days, the tags, and labels we associate with our peers so easily, are not only detrimental to society at large, but this unfair practice also builds gaps between a person who’s willing to seek professional help and the expert who’s willing to provide required help. This practice is unfortunately making it difficult for everyone to deal with their issues.

Let’s understand this through a quick anecdote:

Dev could feel his head beating more intensely as the fluorescent lights hummed cruelly. Holding onto the scuffed armrests, he willed himself to vanish into the sea of matching chairs. Since the therapist's diagnosis of depression, shame has been a persistent companion, eating away at him. It seemed to be a red letter, labeling him as frail and helpless. He looked around, praying that the other patients wouldn't see the shake in his hand or hear the panicked murmurs going on in his head. But their masks were blank faces, and they were all fighting invisible monsters.

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Dev reminisced about his early years, the hushed jokes about his "moody" periods, and the condescending advice to "just snap out of it" from wise adults. At that point, the humiliation had become entrenched, a deadly vine that grew with each disparaging remark. He smothered a sob, detesting the vulnerability that was about to leak forth. However, a woman speaking across the room did so in a tremulous but clear voice. She discussed her shame, the paralyzing fear that kept her imprisoned, and her anxiousness. Dev felt a flicker of recognition in his chest as her words reverberated. The room changed as others opened out about their challenges. A shaky sensation of connection started to take the place of the humiliation. He came to the realization that he wasn't carrying the weight of the world by himself. Dev felt lighter after leaving the group that day—not because the humiliation had disappeared, but rather because he had recognized the group for what it was—a bully who took advantage of his loneliness.

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Though he was aware that the fight would not be simple, optimism had been sown. He would battle not only for himself but for all the voices that shame would silence. He would fight for a society in which mental health would no longer be hidden but instead, be embraced with compassion and understanding.

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It is important to understand that deep down, we are all a little broken inside, and all it takes is a little effort and kindness to fight our battles. By just being nice, humble, and considerate, we can live in harmony and provide a safe space for ourselves and those around us.

Labels look good on clothes, not people!