Page 29 - Cornice Grade 8

Mental Health

Being a teenager while the world rots

l Grishma Rana l

‘Mental health’ is a huge buzzword nowadays. with the normalization of them. The pandemic
With rising cases of depression, anxiety, and oth- does seem to have affected the mental health
er mental illnesses, we as a society have started to of many. Looking outside longingly waiting for
normalize this behavior. We are at a point where the government to finally announce we can go
having a mental illness is seen as trendy and outside safely. Having to drag yourself out of
cool, and something that somehow makes us su- bed because you know you’re going to have the
perior and almost acts like a crown graced upon same repetitive day as always, so what’s even the
our heads that say, “Look at me! I’m falling apart, point? Feeling like an empty shell just existing as
but at least this makes me fit in with randos on a physical body upon the hard ground with no
the internet who are as disordered as me!” This purpose at all. Or sometimes, feeling nothing at
sense of pride, comes hand in hand with com- all. Just numbness.
petition. When not sleeping for more than three
days becomes something to brag about, and if Seems relatable to you yet? If not, good for you,
you’ve skipped more meals than the person next and if yes, good luck with that buddy. Mental ill-
to you you’re seemingly better, and if you’re un- nesses aren’t something you can cure with a snap
der eyes look as dark as coal you’re cool, and if of a finger, and I really do sympathize with those
you’re made of more caffeine and energy drinks who do suffer from mental illnesses every day,
rather than blood, that sticks a ‘Good job!’ stick- and I really do hope you find the recovery and
er on your forehead. But where did all this come the help you deserve. But, this write-up is about
from? The pandemic? Stress from Covid? Quar- how quarantine has affected our mental health,
antine? The simple answer is, neither of those. so let’s get back on topic. We long for the physical
Mental illnesses have always thrived, and have sense of comfort we have when we are with our
affected many people who were labeled as freaks. friends and relatives, which we had very little of
They have always been taking lives, and suicide during quarantine. This, of course, has affected
has always been something that lingered with all of us. Those who have struggled with their
an eerie air upon our earth. The only difference mental health during these times weren’t able
between today’s knowledge of mental health, to receive the support they needed, there’s only
and the past, is now finally it has been talked so much you can say to someone through a few
about. texts. I can’t speak for everyone, for we all have
our own thoughts, personal problems, etc. But
Now more people have spoken up about their ex- I’m sure all of us have struggled internally or ex-
periences with Depression, Obsessive-compul- ternally. We are all valid and deserve to be happy
sive disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Dis- and healthy mentally and physically.
order (GAD), Eating disorders, and many more.
All the shared stories have something inspiring
about them, an awareness that spreads through-
out the internet and the world. But with the pure
intentions of awareness, also comes the dan-
gerous romanticized versions of these illnesses.
With the pandemic, there are more accounts of
domestic violence where the victim can do noth-
ing due to being locked away from the world in
their house. Which really takes a huge toll on the
victim’s mental health as well. We don’t seem to
look at the ugly side of mental illnesses that come