Detangling Mental Knots

Have you ever thought of screaming to leave you alone or perhaps wanted a long vacation from being an automaton all these years? Then these are probable signs that your mind is asking for some breathing space from the treadmill it’s being made to run around the clock. Yes, it means that your mind is seeking aid, which can easily be healed with some love and care. Statistics say that around 14% of 15 - 24-year-olds in India, or 1 in 7, reported often feeling depressed or is dreary in doing things. Why do you think this anguish situation persists and how can we hold hands to eliminate this? Well, there are a few factors that revolve around which needs to be taken into consideration before addressing the scenario.

Firstly, how do you get to know if you or someone entails more care and concern? Do you see your kids or friends, feeling sad often or seeming confused with reduced concentration? Do they feel worried or guilty for no reason, have extreme mood swings and feel significantly tired with low beams of energy, and have problems sleeping? Then it means that they need a serious check on their mental health. Have you ever thought about what can be the probable impetuses for their depression or clumsy behavior? Well, it changes for each individual abiding their character and behavior. But let me spotlight the most common errors probably in their surroundings which could’ve brought them here. Let’s scrutinize them one by one.

Our first gods are our parents! Behind every self-confident child who believes in himself/herself is a parent who believed first. No one can break anyone emotionally when they have their parent saying “I’ll be there for you no matter what”. But sadly, not every child on earth is blessed with such lovable parents. Sometimes as a child, you may feel your parent dislikes you while you’re being rebuked or beaten up, but that wouldn’t be their intention, don’t complain about materialistic luxuries you weren’t given, those were probably all your parents had. But u can always demand unconditional, profuse love which they’ll love to give away.

But, are you parents who choose to be strict, thinking that your love might be taken for granted if showered upon, or feel your neighbour’s/relative’s/other child is better in many aspects, and you wish to choose the rough path in correcting them to make their future bright, then here’s to you! Instead of getting them to learn all sorts of crafts, start practicing mothercraft yourself because your kids require you most of all to love them for who they're! Not to spend your whole time correcting them. When your child can’t calm down, understand that she/he needs an iota more connection and comfort, not criticism and control.

Moreover, teaching your children to control themselves is far more effective than trying to control them yourselves. The best motivation is a parent’s company, appreciate even simple triumphs of your child, not in silence, but in front of him/her. Every parent realizing this can prevent numerous suicides that happen around the world with depression as its root cause.
Now, think! After parents, who’s the dearest? Friends right! They're the best relationships one can ever have, we all tend to get attached to our friends a lot more than our parents over time, we even share personals without any discomfort. If you’re lucky you’ll get awesome buddies who always keep you away from negativities, but if your choice of a friend was wrong it can lead to adversities in keeping the mind healthy.

Bullying is linked to psychological effects that include anxiety, depression, lack of self-esteem, confidence, and many more. So next time your child tells you that he/she’s being bullied, do pay attention to it. Well, the next commonly quoted problem is examination. The problem isn’t with exams but it’s with the consequences in case the child isn’t no.1. Let me enlighten the parents, wishing your child to be first always isn’t wrong, but forcing them to be or emotionally putting a lot of expectations and duties on their shoulders at a very young age can sometimes even stop your child from enjoying their childhood. So, help your child to learn efficiently when they struggle, this way we can prevent panic attacks and exam fears. Thus, having your child connect with you emotionally, helping them stay happy and safe.

So, for your child to be as fit as a fiddle, not only that u keep them physically fit but also work to keep their minds healthy. Above all, if u feel you need a break take it, spread positivity, pay attention to the present, be more social and understand that it's ok to be a little imperfect if you're being yourself!

By: Manju Priyaa.M.B.
Adarsh Vidya Kendra, Tamil Nadu