It is okay to not be okay

Nuzhat Nuery Hossain & Maisha Tasnim

As a result of the world coming to an unexpected halt, counselors, mental health advisers, and alike have mentioned that an alarming rise in the number of cases involving mental health deterioration has been pointed out as social activities and interaction ceases to be. Over the years, studies have shed some light by claiming that interaction, activities, outings, interaction with pets, etc. have alleviated symptoms of mental health issues regarding depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.

Reasons as to why people suffer from various mental health problems consist of numerous reasons, the main being divided into three major factors: Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences, such as trauma or abuse, family history of mental health problems and many more. The importance of achieving a balanced mental state is greatly felt through one's life, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood.

It is due to the fact that our mental state directly affects how we handle stress, relate to others, make choices, our thinking, mood, and behavior. For instance, people who suffer from depression and anxiety tend to fall into this dark hole regardless of time, external events, and social attitude. Patients with severe OCD are estimated to spend approximately 70 percent of their time performing regular activities, which is far more than how long a person without OCD takes.

Similarly, addiction to drugs, alcohol, or likewise may lead to a vicious cycle of unpleasant memories, emotions, aggression, loss of valuable time and potential skills, and hence depression and anxiety. All of these combined, and usually mental health problems may prove to be an irremovable obstacle in our path to achieving success. Therefore, it is essential that we detect and evaluate to understand the probable mental health problem we are suffering from, recognizing and learning about them properly, and seeking help and remedy.

Signs and symptoms can vary depending on the disorder, circumstances, and other factors, such as affecting emotions, thoughts, and behavior. The person suffering might be feeling down, ability to concentrate and function properly may weaken. They may be suffocating themselves with the burden of unnecessary guilt, fear, and anger. Besides going through mood swings, they may gradually detach themselves from social life and reality, hence forcibly welcoming paranoia and even hallucinations in some cases.

It is then when the sufferer has the urge to sort to alcohol and drugs in order to get peace, a peace that is only short-lived but pushes the person down a vicious cycle of pain and suffering. Moreover, the constant anxiety attack and mental breakdown lead to the deterioration of the ability to cope with day-to-day problems. Along with this, the development of an unhealthy lifestyle such as irregular eating habits may result in great damage to physical health through headache, stomach pain, back pain, etc. alongside mental trauma. This often drags the patient down a dark hole which often comprises suicidal thoughts and discouraging whispers.

If we are to ask what usually causes these mental health problems, we would need to discuss them properly for the list keeps adding. It has been interpreted that it is caused by many genetic and environmental factors. Some claim that it is caused to genetic inheritance or brain chemistry, whereas others claim that environmental factors and surroundings before and since birth are to be blamed. It is also often considered that climate change has a lot to do here, and as the years pass, people will tend to increasingly suffer from more mental health problems.

Living under inflammatory conditions or having toxins impair the neutral network carrying these chemicals, hence changing the function of nerve receptors and system, plays a major role I'm fueling this disorder or even cause other mental health problems. Mental health is expected to reflect one's capability and worthiness. If it is not stable it gives life to many other complications including unhappiness, disability to work, negligence in work, poverty, even weaken the immune system. Other than this, the spiritless soul, later on, implies a carefree indifference marked by half-hearted effort in relationships. It has been identified as one of the many key reasons behind a family conflict. Lastly, all these force a person to start questioning their worth and start believing that they are indeed incapable. The thought of being a burden on their family dawns upon and that is when a person considers taking their own life. It is at this point that the thoughts succeed in pushing them over the edge to a pit ending with suicide.

We must sort to cure ourselves, or at least achieve a reasonable point where the effect of such mental health problems and their effect no longer seems to be a prominent part of our daily lives. To do so, we must resort to professional help if needed. Professional guidance through consultation and counseling might provide adequate relief after recognizing the issue and having discussed possible remedies.

Being connected to people and being social leads to distraction from many symptoms. Interaction with people and pets may blur the symptoms for a while and ensure the person that they are not suffering alone. This is also when the patient reaches out for help, the professional adviser may assure them that they are not the only individuals who suffer from mental health problems, and given that the pandemic has dawned upon us and darkened everything related to social activities, outing and interaction, opportunity to get distracted from symptoms have ceased to be.

Another major point to be included is that it is vital that people take into account and appreciate themselves for the positive traits they have and help to spread out similar attitude to people around. It is believed that positivity may change how we look at things drastically. Positive vibes are given by people, plants, music, art, writing, singing, dancing and the list goes on. People also sort to meditation and yoga when it comes to searching for themselves, their aim in life, and to simply be, which provides a tremendous amount of relief from stress and strengthens our mind to approach and deal with challenges.

Along with boosting our social lives, staying physically active is equally necessary. Going to bed early, waking up early given that eight hours of sleep is expected a day and a healthy lifestyle might be the missing piece of the puzzle. It is to be remembered that our physical health influences our mental health as much as our mental health influences our physical health. A schedule that includes walking or jogging every day, spending time behind yoga, exercising, sports, etc. leads to sweating and so relieves stress. It is claimed that people who walk every day tend to have lower anxiety levels.

Taking these steps should assist to at least reduce the ordeal people face due to mental health problems. A joyous life and vibrant every day should be easily achievable. But rejoicing, being happy at all times, and mainly, attaining mental peace is something not everyone gets, regardless of any personal factors. It is extremely difficult to travel via a darker road, relatively backbreaking than others', where mental health problems try to pull one down and farther away from the motive.

It is not easy to deal with stressful events in life when the mental health issues turn severe at those times. And the fact that one has to walk the road of life along with their enemy is undesirable, yet some have to accept it. Therefore, each individual should be appreciated for their hardships and encourage towards a brighter side of life. It should, hence, be kept in mind, that no one is flawless and life is all about accepting ourselves as we are, collect broken parts, and bravely walk the path of life.