Hey guys, I am so sorry I have been a bit MIA! I was feeling a bit unwell the past couple of days and really just needed to take a step back. While I was taking this break, I was thinking about something that I feel needs to be addressed and discussed further among the south asian community. Mental health and mental wellbeing is something that is considered a taboo in our culture. We tend to focus on our physical wellbeing but we don’t realize that our brain is an organ as well and needs to be taken care of the same way.
You know, for the longest time, I did not actually understand why it was considered such a taboo, especially since we have plenty of those with south asian backgrounds in the medical field. I actually took the time to sit here and reflect and questioned my own self as to why. Why is it such a taboo? Why does no one ever take it seriously ? Can prayer alone “fix” it? It may be the notion that we cannot see it as a physical wound which may be the lack of attention it gets.
However, I think we need to bring awareness to it and get rid of the taboo behind it! Like any other disease, it needs treatment and attention. Not all diseases can be seen physically but can cause harm within the inside, we don’t physically see that damage yet we still go to the doctor and get it taken care of. During these odd times especially, we need to take care of ourselves and others around us. I had Quarantined Hard core for about 2 months from mid March to mid May. It was super hard staying home for that long but it was even harder leaving my house. I was super cautious and always anxious because my parents and brother were considered essential workers.I was more worried about them than I was about myself. Being stuck at home for almost two months is not healthy at all- we aren’t made to just sit on one area the entire time. For me especially, I was never home before the pandemic, always at work or school. It got to the point where I wouldn’t even go out to throw trash out without being scared or running back inside. That is how bad my anxiety got. Obviously that isn’t a healthy thing to do.
I am sure a lot of people might have felt that way I felt or could relate to that in some sort of way. It is OKAY! My parents thought I was crazy and that I had gone nuts. I don’t think they understood why I was feeling that way because they were going out for work and stuff so they weren’t as stuck at home like I was. I think the most important thing always is to take care of yourself and do mental checks with your loved ones as well because you never know what someone is going through. I have listed some sources below if anyone is in need of them!
Mental Health sources:
Call your states mental health hotline
Kainaat&CO 