Bust Mental Health Taboo

Dixya Poudel

Often it feels like our emotions have a mind of their own especially when induced or even triggered by external events. As such, whenever emotions fluctuate, it might help to remind ourselves that ‘this too shall pass.’ Nothing stays stagnant forever. The nature of life is change. 

Even if we don’t do anything, time keeps moving forwards. The trees shed leaves, autumn gives way to winter and then to spring while the sun rises and sets each day as people carry on. 

It can be discouraging at times to find ourselves stagnant when others are moving forwards with their lives and that too with seeming grace. When in a rut of emotions, feelings or even anhedonia which is a lack of positive feelings, it can be difficult to see beyond the haze of despair. Emotions are really complex and it might be worthwhile to gauge why we are feeling a particular and unhelpful emotion at a given time. Could it be induced by external triggers or could it just be our own faulty perception of an event or situation? Where are these emotions coming from? 

Triggers are psychological inducers which provoke sudden, negative and unhelpful feelings such as that of unhappiness, anger, frustration or even low self-esteem. 

One may feel short of self-worth with emotions of sadness and melancholia. Such feelings leave a psychological scar that may or may not go on its own. It might be necessary to evaluate these feelings, while addressing them with kindness. When feeling sad, we can acknowledge it. If instead one is feeling anhedonic, one can acknowledge it too. 

The fact is moods fluctuate according to one’s reaction to the environment, sensory perceptions and external stimulants. But they are regulated within our own psyche. By mastering our emotions, we can really gain control over the external circumstances. Many spiritual masters propound it. So do psychologists. But it is easier said than done.  The truth is the world is filled with contrary events. There is happiness but there is sadness too. 

There is wealth and affluence but there is also poverty. There are self-less people but there are also corrupted ones. In a world that we live in, we might have to make conciliations or even adjustments. 

Apart from the external world, we also have an inner world within ourselves filled with thoughts, emotions, feelings, memories, and so on. And while our eyes see outwards, our minds see inwards. 

Our sensory perceptions are forever tying us to the external world while our interpretations of the sensory perceptions are creating a mental image or observation within ourselves. What can we then do during triggering circumstances? Trauma can really be debilitating to live with as it recreates feelings of nerve-wracking events over and over again in our minds. 

However, such feelings can be tackled with tools such as mindfulness, meditation and self-affirmations. 

As John Milton said, our minds can be hell or heaven in itself. Further, it might be helpful to find a balance between the external and internal world. Thankfully today, mental health is a topic of frank and open discussion. People especially the youth are involved in mental health awareness as more and more health professionals such as psychologists and counsellors are collaborating to remove the taboo associated with mental health.