Today, everyone is stressed about the importance of mental health, however, no one is able to completely incorporate that themselves. Sometimes, we need to hear from someone else what we already know.
For this reason, I thought of speaking about it in public, and WordCamp Bengaluru 2023 was the right platform.
I talked about how mental health plays a crucial role in maintaining work-life balance. During the talk, two questions from the audience about mental health stuck in my mind. I would love to put insight into those two questions, as they seemed quite important to me in terms of life and mental health.
The very first question that hit me was about existential crisis. Why do we exist? What is our true purpose in this world? These are the questions we often ponder about at some time in our lives. While these questions do not have a one-solution-for-all I answered the question by saying that the basic purpose for all human beings is that one must help others in whatever way possible. However, there is more to our life than helping others. At the time, I could only give a basic answer.
Many millennials and GenZ today face the question of existential crisis. There’s no one cause for this but varied factors like economic challenges, environmental concerns, social media, political turmoil, mental health issues, information overload, and changing cultural norms. Some may find meaning and purpose in these challenges, while others may struggle with existential crises.
Overcoming an existential crisis requires you to embark on a self-awareness journey and self-reflection. Understanding what and who you are is the beginning of overcoming the existential crisis. This journey is tough and takes time, but don’t hesitate to seek support from your friends and close ones. Practicing mindfulness, meditation, yoga, exploring your hobbies, and passion, and reconnecting with yourself through these practices can help you to reach your true purpose. If your existential crisis is causing severe distress or significantly interfering with your daily life, consider seeking help from a therapist or counselor who specializes in existential concerns.
Being a book lover, I would surely suggest some books like Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl where the author argues that finding meaning in life, even in the most challenging circumstances, is essential for human well-being. It provides valuable insights into the pursuit of meaning and purpose. Another personal recommendation is Who Will Cry When You Die? By Robin Sharma. The book encourages readers to reflect on their values, priorities, and actions, aiming to inspire positive change and a sense of fulfillment in daily life. Some other books you can try are The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, and The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim.
The other question was a bit complicated. An insightful woman from the audience asked me if mental health is contagious. I was surprised at the question first, so I asked her to clarify. She explained me in a very simple way: she gets anxiety/ panic attacks, her child sees her while having these attacks, and now she is worried these attacks will be passed on to her child. Now, this seemed strange to me, but I answered the question by saying that no these issues wouldn’t pass. I explained here how the concept of perception would work. For example, a situation would bring a panic attack to one person as they might perceive it stressfully. The same situation might be perceived differently by another person, in a less stressful way. So, the panic/ anxiety attack will not necessarily pass to the future generation or the others around.
I further discussed this topic with my husband, and other friends from WordCamp too. I learned that while the same issue may not pass, but, yes, the vibes can pass. Then I started observing myself and the people around me. To my surprise, it was true!
While there is evidence to suggest that there may be a genetic component to anxiety disorders, the inheritance of anxiety or panic tendencies is not a straightforward process. It’s not a guarantee that a parent with anxiety will pass it on to their children. Some research has shown that certain genetic factors can increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders. However, genetics is just one piece of the puzzle. Having a genetic predisposition doesn’t mean that a person will definitely experience anxiety or panic attacks.
Every individual is unique. Siblings growing up in the same household may have different responses to the same environmental factors and genetic predispositions. Not all children of parents with anxiety will develop anxiety disorders.
If the parents can treat or learn to cope with their panic and anxiety attacks, they can save their child from seeing such attacks at a young age. Whether or not anxiety or panic attacks can be treated completely varies from person to person and depends on several factors, including the severity of the condition, the individual’s response to treatment, and their commitment to self-care strategies.
Now that I have these answers in a proper way, I feel light and happy. You learn and grow when you explore and WordCamps is surely a place for that. I am glad that I was a speaker at WordCamp Bengaluru 2023 and that I interacted with such an amazing audience.