Lifeline

KALYANI ADUSUMILLI highlights the need for asking for help, and for self-compassion and self-love. She challenges us to come together to eradicate the stigma around mental illness, so that we can all open up about our struggles and overcome them.

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Giving up may seem like the only option when you’re at your lowest. But there’s a better one – reaching out.

Often, we ignore the cracks in our emotional and mental well-being until we’re suddenly staring down an abyss. Climbing out from that darkness back into the light is possible. The first step of that ascent is to accept that you need a hand. None of us was ever meant to walk a solitary path.

I tried to carry my burdens on my own for decades, until they became too heavy. When that happens, escape becomes tempting, unless you remember to look up and grasp that outstretched hand, the lifeline waiting to steady you, reminding you that you’re not alone.

Building yourself back up also requires self-compassion. Only then can hope emerge and healing begin. Hope comes in all forms – the promise of a second chance or the discovery of a purpose in this life. I know firsthand the power of hope in healing and transforming darkness into light. But I had to make room for it and let it take the lead, so I could stare down my fears. Asking for help when you’re faltering is not a sign of weakness, though we may be at our most vulnerable in that moment. Rather, it’s a testament to our mind’s power, our insight into our limits as humans, and our resourcefulness. In truth, it’s an act of courage, a show of strength, to suppress the ego and to admit that we’re struggling. Ultimately, it reflects our desire to rise again. If we avoid the issues that stress our minds and wreak havoc on our emotions, it is then that we weaken, and our ability to fight back becomes compromised. It’s no different than a disease attacking our immune system. Do we not seek treatment for bodily ailments?

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Building yourself back up
also requires self-compassion.
Only then can hope emerge
and healing begin.
Hope comes in all forms –
the promise of a second chance or
the discovery of a purpose in this life.

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We place great value on caring for our physical health. Without our pumping heart and powerful lungs, how would we survive? But what controls those organs? The most complex and beautiful organ of our body, the brain, responsible also for the workings of our mind and consciousness. So why do we not similarly care for our mental and emotional wellness? The body and mind are interconnected, so if one declines, so will the other. Just as we schedule annual physicals for our body, what if we regularly schedule wellness checks for our mental and emotional health?

People tend to focus on longevity over happiness. For me, the prospect of a meaningful and purposeful life (be it a short one) characterized by mental peace and equanimity, holds more appeal than living to 90 without it. As Aristotle said, “The energy of the mind is the essence of life.”

Millions of people struggle with mental health issues, but sadly very few consider mental health treatment because of the stigma attached. The embarrassment associated with mental illness persists across cultures. If speaking about it remains taboo, the younger generations will also continue to suffer in silence. The key is to change the narrative and encourage open honest dialogue, empathy, and compassion. We are all united in our struggles and, therefore, can only thrive when we support and uplift one another.

We can start the mental and emotional well-being journey by treating ourselves with love and compassion, then spreading that to others. Be each other’s lifeline. What is more healing than that?

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