Mental health and the stigma: Let loose the demons of your head

A million thoughts in my mind,

The world seems so heavy, the nights last very long,

Emptiness engulfs everywhere I go,

All the Artifacts of the world and possessions, don’t seem to make a difference!

Life feels burden, smile seems distant! 

Yet I force myself to fit in the normalcy mould of the world, always slowly flickering and fading , wishing to just vanish!

Away to the place where being me doesn’t hurt me anymore, where happiness doesn’t seem expensive , where I can afford may be a smile and where , may be for once I can breathe without the guilt, sadness and this vast emptiness encompassing me! 

These are some of the thoughts that goes through in the mind of a person battling depression. I have been there, fought my demons and got over them. Alas! not everyone is that lucky. 

The demons in the head are dangerous, nothing in this world can make them go away. The struggle to get up , dress up, show up, eat up is very very real and yet it is judged on and joked upon. People don’t come out and speak up because most of the times, they feel more judged than heard. 

Depression is being colorblind and constantly told how colorful the world is- Atticus

I know, I have lived the nightmare. The first time I discussed with a friend, after I felt like "Me" again, her face expressions changed and I felt a sudden surge of judgement coming my way. For a second I felt, may be I should not have said anything, but then, I realized, it’s my story and I want to tell. 

Social media has bridged the gap geographically, but it has created a much bigger form of loneliness. We are always surrounded by people and yet we most of the times feel alone. We don’t call and talk anymore, we don’t meet up just for a cup of coffee and just talk to our friends, we alienate family because they don’t seem to understand us. We see and let people who matter to us drift away. But that’s where things get wrong most of the times. 

I want to put it out there, that these Demons in your head, that feed on you, they can be defeated. You can be "You" again. These burdens on your soul you feel, can be lifted, all you got to do is reach out. You don’t have to do it all on your own! 

Don’t let friends who care about you and matter to you drift away, pick up that phone frequently and call. If you feel a friend isn’t behaving like them or feeling themselves, do not just let it be, instead be there for them. It makes all the difference. Talking, not just saying "I’m fine!"

Do not let the stigma around therapy/ professional help stop you from your journey of getting better. Healthy doesn’t only mean sound body, sound mind is also part of it, and it is high time we talk about it. The pressures of this world, the idea of perfection takes a lot away from you. 

And families need to cherish, love and accept one another, without judgement. Create open space for sharing and talking. Just asking how did your day go is very powerful. Create a dialogue, don’t loose each other in the cacophony of empty promises and seasonal friends. Hold on to each other and create a compassionate environment where talking about everything, including your failures (personal, professional or any kind) is OK. 

Peace of mind isn’t easy to find 

People who have survived it, need to speak up to give strength to people who are slowly fighting a war within daily. Tell your stories, share them out to the world to end the stigma and judgement surrounding depression! 

Friends and family are very important, always surround yourself with people who care about you, and will stand with you no matter what. Life is precious, do not struggle through it and wait for the end, live it each day. So let's talk!