Darshatha- the visible voice : social

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Saturday, 10 October 2020

Chasing Happiness by Juhi Meshram

We often say, “I am anxious”, “I am stressing out”, “ I am so depressed” and what we hear in return, “You will be fine” , “you are worrying too much”, “you are overreacting” etc. We often are considered “dramatic” or “making excuses” to gain attention, sympathy or simply to avoid working. In the past I have been no different than society in thinking this way about mental health. If I am not happy that means I am expecting too much, If I am not focusing then I am clearly making excuses because I actually cannot do it, if I am stressed or anxious then I am overreacting or If I am depressed then I am seeking attention. It doesn’t change until we experience the extremes, let me tell you all about it.

One day I woke up and felt immense pain in my chest, like I was sinking and floating at the same time but not swimming. Something really bad had happened and the event was too much for me to take alone. I waited for two days, I thought it to be a mere sickness or an after effect of crying all night. I wasn’t sleeping. I decided to meet a doc and he asked me how I was feeling and I started crying. I cried so much I had to step out of his cabin to calm myself to normalcy. Looking at my condition I was advised to see a psychiatrist where I was diagnosed with Anxiety disorder.

No matter how much I had claimed of struggling in my life, those were the most dreadful days. There was immense pain in my chest, I used to experience panic attacks when I felt palpitations, deep chest pain and a shrinking void heart. I used to find it difficult to get out of bed, yet sleeplessness was constant. I used to feel restless all day long and my emotions were always hyped. I wasn’t able to focus on a single emotion, a single thought process or a single activity at a time. Nothing was pleasing me and everything was bothering me. I was on medication, slowly I started working out and meditating but with this I was also gaining weight. I was eating good but the grief was too much to make me look good, I had breakouts all over my face and the stress level was so high I just wasn’t keeping it inside. I experienced breaking down before my friends and family, So I started giving more time to art and literature as distractions but these same things which used to make me alive earlier started making me insecure, I lost interest in my job and soon resigned.

Today, It has been 11 months that I am seeking professional help and now I know how serious mental health is. I am not as vulnerable as I was in the beginning of my treatment. I carry myself quite well now. But it has changed me a lot. During covid-19 I have completely taken a break from professional work and pursuing writing and other interests. But I have no regrets because I am doing better. I started educating myself on mental health and mental illness. I started taking every moment seriously. I am more aware about myself than I ever was and I am settled with my priorities being happiness and peace before money and recognition. But it hasn’t changed the people around me. When I say I am feeling pain I am told to sleep and not think about it, If I open up about my condition people label me as attention-seeker and If I say I am doing better but the pain is constant I hear how I am adapting this lazy nature and don’t want to get better. My own mother called me weak-hearted, my friends complained of my changed behaviour and involvement in their lives and my brother called me mad. It doesn’t mean they aren’t caring for me or not supporting me, it just means they are not ready to change their mindset towards mental illness.

Let me give you a bit of what I have understood with my experience so far,

-If you think you aren’t happy just stop! Take a break and ask yourself why.

-If you see any behavioural, emotional, actional changes in yourself or in your people take it seriously.

-Listen to people in such conditions and be supportive.

-You aren’t crazy if you are seeking professional help, you are just ill and you are going to be better.

-Medical help is not everything, personal and social positivity affects the treatment a lot.

- No matter how much you educate yourself about mental illness, there are always people who think you are weak and making excuses.

-It’s not your job to educate them, just say yes and move forward.

-There are so many other types of mental illness than anxiety like Clinical Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Dementia,ADHD, Schizophrenia, OCD, Autism, PTSD and every one of them needs equal attention.

-Feeling down, unfocused, excessively emotional, tired,detached, short tempered, delusional, sleepless, irregul in eating, chnaged sex drive, violent, angry or suicidal is very normal if you are mentally ill.

-Start normalising people having mental illness because others aren’t going to do it for you.

I have shared my experience to reach a person who is suffering the same and letting him/her know that you aren’t alone and you aren’t weak. I have been on that edge and am coming out stronger and so you will. If you think of someone who needs to hear this please share this story.

Juhi Meshram

Darshatha

Saturday, 28 July 2018

wardrobe

Earth Overshoot Day by Shristi Nangalia

wearedarshatha 21:15

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international think tank that coordinates research, develops methodological standards and provides decision-makers with a menu of tools to help the human economy operate within Earth’s ecological limits.

To determine the date of Earth Overshoot Day for each year, Global Footprint Network calculates the number of days of that year that Earth’s biocapacity suffices to provide for humanity’s Ecological Footprint. The remainder of the year corresponds to global overshoot. Earth Overshoot Day is computed by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological resources Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s demand for that year), and multiplying by 365, the number of days in a year.

Earth Overshoot Day has moved from late September in 2000 to August 1 in 2018.

Calculate your personal Overshoot day:

http://www.footprintcalculator.org/

What can you do to #MoveTheDate?

Travel sensibly

When we bring an eco-attitude to the places we visit, and take action to limit the impacts of your trip, our vacation can provide important benefits to local communities while supporting conservation. These actions also go a long way toward ensuring your travel experience is full of relaxation, delicious authentic cuisine, and a genuine connection to the local way of life.

· Seek out high quality small-scale hotels that integrate well with local communities and are equipped with renewable energy sources. Although large hotel chains are often very efficient, these small-scale hotels will reduce your accommodation Footprint by as much as 48%.

· Consider alternative transportation instead of renting a typical car. An electric vehicle will help you reduce your Footprint by 40-50%, and a bike ride means no Footprint at all!

· Buy local and organic food products typical of the destination you are visiting. Each time you make this choice during a meal, you will see a tasty Footprint reduction of 5%.

Go capsule

Do you have a few “go-to” articles of clothing that have withstood the test of time? Maybe it is a favourite pair of jeans or a warm winter jacket. These items could be part of the foundation for your capsule wardrobe―a collection of timeless clothing items that can be mixed and matched to compose outfits for any occasion. Clothing makes up 3% of the global Ecological Footprint and one of the goals of a capsule wardrobe is to be intentional about clothing purchases.

Commute social

Cars are responsible for 19.7% of the global carbon Footprint.

How do you commute to work? Do your specific circumstances afford you ditching your car? If so, mingle with the carpooling folks, or even the cyclists or public transit riders who meet on the road every day. Bring social back in your daily commute!

Pick a plant-based diet

Global livestock is responsible for 9% of all anthropogenic carbon emissions (a conservative estimate.) To put it bluntly, reducing meat consumption is a great way to reduce our Ecological Footprint.

Look at your diet. How often can you choose a vegetarian alternative to that steak, burger or roast?

Expanding your vegetarian repertoire in the kitchen will help, so we invite you to explore these videos of delicious and easy recipes. Pick one that inspires you, go grocery shopping, and start chopping.

Get creative

We know it can be daunting to think about reducing your personal Ecological Footprint. We also know that there are additional ways to tread more lightly on our planet than the steps we’ve described. That’s why we’re inviting you to be creative and design your own step to #MoveTheDate of Earth Overshoot Day.

We are counting all the steps taken to #MoveTheDate. More steps mean more impact.

Let’s take a few steps today. The clock is ticking.

P.S. : We have personally powered ourselves from overshootday.org and footprintnetwork.org. You can join in the movement with us by showing snapshots of how you are contributing to #MoveTheDate of our Earth Overshoot Day. We are waiting.