Sujit De
Very often the reason that causes our depression is a grave and genuine one. Any issue be it a death of our dear one, injustice, social ills, unbearable financial constraints, physical abuse or emotional torture – is indeed very serious in nature.
When we suffer from depression, our well wishers generally advise us to share our pain with them, to listen to soothing music, to read an inspiring book, to get solace in the beauties of nature and to consult with a doctor. Needless to say that they advise such things not to get any money or favour from us. They only want to comfort ourselves as they are our friends in need. Unfortunately, we sometimes think that they are trying to belittle the gravity of the problem that is causing our depression. And also we are apprehensive about whether they are casting doubt on our mental strength. Such thinking actually belittles our genuine friends and isolates ourselves from them.
The funny thing is that when we suffer from cough and cold or from asthma, we do not hesitate to go to a doctor and give her/ him medical fees to get necessary advice. And we eagerly follow doctor’s prescription which advises us to drink plenty of water, soup and to inhale water vapour apart from taking medicines. Our doctor prescribes those things not to pooh-pooh air pollution which is indeed the main reason for our bronchial disease but to give us some relief. Ironically, had our doctor finished her/ his job by saying, – “You see, air-pollution is the main culprit. Let’s solve that problem first. You mustn’t try to get some temporary relief!” – we would have been very angry!
As a matter of fact, the social stigma attached to mental problems makes us behave in this manner. Such stigma can wreck havoc especially on the psyche of a man as we have been brainwashed with such myths as – “a real man should not cry”. If a man becomes emotional then he runs the risk of being branded as a “cry-baby”. The problem of dancing with the tune of such a male-stereotype adds insult to injury.
It is time to break ourselves free from gender stereotypes and to shed all inhibitions about depression or any other mental stress. We must not forget that no disease can be branded as exclusively mental or physical one. Our diseases are mainly phychosomatic as the mind and the body are closely connected.
