On creative ways to hack our mental health
This is a contribution post by Anushree Saha
“Hormones and neurotransmitters,
This is entirely new terrain
Imbalances, synapses, major lapses,
The battleground is the brain.“
Mental health- a term so widely used nowadays but we still often miss the essence of it
According to WHO, depression and anxiety, the two most common mental health diseases cost the world economy US $1 trillion every year.
This isn’t just a statistic but lives of people.
We all must be knowing somebody who is suffering from mental health issues or we ourselves must be dealing with them. To learn more about it and make myself more aware, I recently read an extraordinary book called Chemical Khichdi by Aparna Piramal Raje.
This one is a comprehensive, informative yet touching and vulnerable narration of the author’s journey dealing with bipolarity. Divided into three parts, it not only talks about the experience and struggles but also provides seven therapies which can be emulated, to hack your mental health.
A holistic, raw and real storytelling
It involves the conventional medical therapies and not-so-conventional Love Therapy, Therapy of Empathy, Work Therapy, Self-therapy, Spiritual therapy and also, Lifestyle therapy which will give you hope and happiness, that it is possible to deal with and live normally with mental health issues as well.
The incorporation of doable lifestyle changes like adequate sleep, exercise and nutrition goes a long way in maintaining the rhythm of life.
The journal entry extracts encased within will connect you deeply with the author
The author has also penned beautiful poems interspersed within the book which will have a powerful impact on the reader. The journal entries bring out the vulnerabilities and thought process of someone who has gone through the pain. The language is easy to comprehend with a multitude of emotions and you can feel what the author went through, even if you haven’t experienced the same.
Importance of empathetic allies
Aparna also talks about the importance of empathetic allies and community to get through the lows.
If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community of allies to heal a mind.
She has also included a list of mental health resources for anyone looking for free therapy or counselling sessions with trained professionals, along with their contact details. This is a great addition and especially helpful for everyone who does not know how to go about it or whom to reach out to.
Here are a few resources for your easy reference:
Talk to Me Helpline- 8484929124
Mann Talks- 8686139139
Vandrevala Foundation- 9999666555
Support group Websites- Mindclan, Therapize India, Caregiver Saathi
After reading this one, you will definitely come out a better person, more empathetic and aware.
If you must take away one thing, take away that mental illness is not the end-all and one can lead a normal life, just like our author, with family, children and friends.
Go hack your mental health!
“So whichever train I decide to board,
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow,
It’s only if I can get it to be
Just that little bit gentler on me.”
Read more about the book in our feature article here.
Anushree Saha aka My Word Bubble (blog) is an avid reader, writer and knowledge-seeker from Mumbai, who believes herself to be a Philomath- a lover of learning. She is a freelancer, book blogger, poetry, art and journaling enthusiast. Her poems have been previously published in anthologies such as Carnations, Beyond Life, Anika and Little Love notes. Also, an Amazon Verified Influencer, you can explore her bookish world further on Instagram.
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