Last year, when illustrator and comic maker, Mounica Tata, gave up her day job to work as a freelancer, she faced an uncanny demon. Working all alone from home, without social interaction, she felt lonely and developed symptoms of depression.
Having experienced gloom first hand, Tata, 29, decided to document her journey through a series called #AreYouOkay, on social media. “I wanted to give a visual depiction to my feeling like drowning when in a crowd, among others,” she said.
In January this year, she made eight such posts, depicting emotions like anxiety, depression, and loneliness among others. The response was so good that now Tata, is converting her illustrations into a zine, a short magazine of self-published work meant for circulation. “The next step is to make a series on self-help coping mechanisms,” Tata said.
According to the National Mental Health Survey 2015–16 implemented by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, there is a huge burden of mental disorders in the Indian community. This study undertaken in 12 states revealed that nearly 11% of Indians above 18 years suffer from mental disorders.
Many artists are using their work to talk about mental illness on social media. Prathiksha Bhat, freelance illustrator, 22, feels talking about mental health issues on social media will wake up people to the realities. PICS: PRATHIKSHA BHAT “Usually people distract themselves by watching funny videos or pictures of friends and family. The usual impression is that everyone is fine or having a great time. But if you scratch the surface, you realise that the truth behind pictures on social media is completely different,” said Bhatt.
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This year, when she did a month-long mental health awareness series, the response overwhelmed her. Encouraged by that, she will soon be launching her series called Embracing Emptiness and also publish zines, to be used as educational material.
City-based White Swan Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that delivers knowledge services for mental health has been using a comic strip that speaks about the stigma of mental illness through the eyes of a dog. “Visual art is universally appealing to people. They are easier to consume. Moreover, if effectively used, they can be highly impactful,” said Manoj Chanran, CEO.
In March this year, Sonaksha Iyengar, illustrator and writer, 23, set up an impromptu meet up of followers of her work on social media and friends. It was the next step for Iyengar, who runs the series Garden Of Kindness on social media. “We had different attendees and we shared stories, art activities and affirmations. The idea is to set up a support community to help each other out,” she said.
Say Goodbye To Work Worries: 5 Natural Methods To Beat Stress
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A recent study by Optum found that 46% of the Indian workforce reports suffering from some form of stress.
Don't let your busy and stressful worklife take a toll on you. Excessive stress can have a negative effect on your body, mood, as well as behaviour, ranging from headaches, anxiety, fatigue and irritability.
Dr Hariprasad, Ayurveda Expert at The Himalaya Drug Company, shares natural methods to cope with stress:
A recent study by Optum found that 46% of the Indian workforce reports suffering from some form of stress.Don't let your busy and stressful worklife take a toll on you. Excessive stress can have a ne..
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Your eating habits have a significant impact on stress levels. Following a balance of different foods and nutrients is essential. A diet rich in different food items such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy, fish, and poultry would help you get carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins and minerals. A well-nourished body is better able to cope with the physical and emotional effects of stress.
Your eating habits have a significant impact on stress levels. Following a balance of different foods and nutrients is essential. A diet rich in different food items such as vegetables, fruits, whole..
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All forms of physical activity are useful in managing stress. Exercising has many benefits like releasing endorphins and calming the mind, which in turn help in reducing stress levels. Even 45 minutes of physical activity a day goes a long way towards managing stress.
All forms of physical activity are useful in managing stress. Exercising has many benefits like releasing endorphins and calming the mind, which in turn help in reducing stress levels. Even 45 minute..
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Organising one's workload leads to a sense of control and peace of mind, and there are many ways to achieve this. One way to do this is through adopting time management, prioritising tasks, and scheduling tasks to complete them. Switching between tasks and having them pile up often becomes an additional source of stress. Decentralisation of tasks or asking for help as and when required is also a good way to reduce stress levels.
Organising one's workload leads to a sense of control and peace of mind, and there are many ways to achieve this. One way to do this is through adopting time management, prioritising tasks, and sched..
Read More
Herbs like Ashwagandha have been proven to be effective in managing the negative effects of stress. According to Ayurveda, Ashvagandha helps reduce the damaging effects of long-term stress by rejuvenating the mind and body. It is an adaptogen that helps the body stabilise physiological processes, support better resilience to stress, and maintain a healthy balance between various biological systems.
Herbs like Ashwagandha have been proven to be effective in managing the negative effects of stress. According to Ayurveda, Ashvagandha helps reduce the damaging effects of long-term stress by rejuven..
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Sleep is essential in stress management. Not getting enough sleep typically leads to irritability and fatigue. Oversleeping can make us sluggish, depressed, and puts our health at a higher risk. Getting the right amount of sleep, between 7-8 hours, is a good way to stay energised and effectively manage the challenges of the day.
(Text: IANS)
Sleep is essential in stress management. Not getting enough sleep typically leads to irritability and fatigue. Oversleeping can make us sluggish, depressed, and puts our health at a higher risk. Gett..
