Tag: STRESS

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Health Lite Blogs

Forget your stressful period days with simple tips

Period cramps will feel more painful if you’re dehydrated. Make sure that you drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water in a day. You can also include fruit juices in your diet that will nourish your body while keeping it hydrated…reports Asian Lite News

Pain and discomfort are often considered a part of menstruation. 80 per cent of women experience pain during menstruation at some point in their lives. However, for some of them, it could last from the beginning of their periods to menopause. For most women, period pain can be managed through some lifestyle change. Aastha Sharma, Co-founder, of Imbue Natural shares tips that can help you ease period pain and manage it efficiently:

Switch to Healthy Snacking: Your diet plays an important role in maintaining healthy uterine upkeep. The hormonal imbalance during periods often leads to unhealthy food cravings. While you give in to your food cravings, make sure that you also eat snacks that are healthy and will provide you with essential nutrients. Make sure to include healthy fatty acids such as Omega 3 in your diet. Foods high in fibre such as green vegetables, legumes, and whole grains have been known to reduce cramping during periods.

Exercise: Indulging in physical activities has also proven to reduce period pain. Walking, running, swimming or yoga can help you relieve pain. Exercise releases hormones like endorphins and serotonin that act as natural pain-killers.

Stay Hydrated: Period cramps will feel more painful if you’re dehydrated. Make sure that you drink at least 2 to 3 litres of water in a day. You can also include fruit juices in your diet that will nourish your body while keeping it hydrated.

Heat Therapy: Pampering your body while on your period can not only reduce pain but also help your body relax. Women often use hot water bags to reduce cramping and comfort the abdominal region, however, a hot water bag can prove tedious when it comes to managing the temperature and finding instant comfort. An alternative to this is using period pain relief oils. Imbue’s Rosa Period Pain Oil is one such alternative that is made with the goodness of pressed cinnamon, yarrow, and vetiver oil. The self-warming properties of this oil help in reducing period cramps and elevates mood by relieving stress.

Take a break, stop working through it: Women are often taught to keep menstruation a private affair, and talking about periods is often stigmatised. We are expected to endure the pain and work through it. Stress from work and domestic life can add to the physical discomfort. You must listen to your body and give it a break as and when it needs.

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Health Lite Blogs

Preventive steps to manage stress

One of the most powerful ways to influence our body and mind is visualizations. It helps condition are brain to achieve our goals and re-centres our energies towards our vision…reports N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

Burnouts have become extremely common amongst people, and have become a big challenge for individuals and corporations both. Change is difficult and stressful, but the level of change triggered by the coronavirus outbreak is indeed mammoth. And that’s why it is crucial to take preventive steps to manage our stress levels and seek out support whenever we need it. Namita Piparaiya, Yoga and Ayurveda Lifestyle Specialist, Founder of Yoganama guide a journey of health and wellbeing.

Take mindful breaks

Mindfulness is an accessible and highly effective form of self-care. You learn to disconnect your overloaded senses from all distractions and focus purely on yourself, your body, your breath and the sensations you feel. This helps you shift your brain from the constantly doing mode to the just being mode. It enables you to tap into a state of immense calm and peace that is always within your reach. You can take mindfulness breaks while sitting at your desk and focusing on your breath. Or you can go out into nature for some grounding and mindful walking. You can even eat your food mindfully to experience this practice and give your nervous system some needed break.

Practice Yoga Nidra

If you start to spot early signs of burnout like irritability, disinterest in your work, lack of motivation and lethargy, you should start making time for little yoga Nidra breaks. Yoga Nidra is an excellent practice to include in your daily routine. You can practice it for 10 mins or 40 mins, during the day or before sleeping it all depends on what works for you. The best part is all you have to do is just lie down and listen to the teacher’s instructions. It takes you into a soothing pre-meditative state which is excellent for relaxation and improving cognitive skills. This one feels like a mini-vacation once you’re done!

Explore guided Visualizations

One of the most powerful ways to influence our body and mind is visualizations. It helps condition are brain to achieve our goals and re-centres our energies towards our vision. You can even use visualization and imagery to reset your nervous system with relaxing guided meditations. A popular one is garden visualization. Imagine yourself in a beautiful garden, and then use all your senses to immerse yourself in that experience. By observing the colours, you can see, capture the various smells emanating from the garden, and use your sense of touch to feel the breeze against your skin. Even though you’re only visualizing these in your mind, the effect is still very powerful on your body.

Lastly, seek help from others. You do not have to fight all your battles alone. Especially when it comes to work, you must seek help as and when needed. Whether from colleagues, HR, or supervisors. There’s a lot more awareness around mental health, and there’s a good chance you will get the support you need. For example, maybe you need to ask your boss to redistribute the work on your plate. Or perhaps you feel you do not have enough say or control over your work, please share your feedback clearly and politely. It can be difficult, but it can also be rewarding. Remember, your mental health is a priority, so don’t let it suffer, ask for help.

ALSO READ-Stress during pregnancy?

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Stress during pregnancy?

It could lead to preeclampsia, miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth rate. Thus, it is important to look after the mental well-being and take care of the physical health of the mother during pregnancy…reports Dr N Sapna Lulla

It is common for an expectant mother to feel stressed about pregnancy, especially those who are pregnant for the first time. It can bring up a range of emotions and anxieties. Being concerned about having a healthy pregnancy is not a bad thing because it can push people to take action in the face of new challenges.

However, when the stress becomes too overwhelming, it could lead to health problems for the mother and the baby. Hence, it is necessary to consult with your doctor for a smooth and risk-free pregnancy.

Understanding the common causes of stress during pregnancy

Finding out that they are pregnant can be a stressful experience in itself for some women. Stress arises mostly in unplanned pregnancy. Other factors such as fear of pregnancy loss, fear of labour and delivery, financial problems, uncomfortable physical changes like nausea, tiredness, mood swings, and backaches, miscarriage, and fear of taking care of the baby when the baby is born could lead to stress among pregnant women.

It’s important for mothers to keep herself stress free

Maternal stress or anxiety during pregnancy can affect the fetus, causing possible long-term consequences for infant and child development. Chronic stress can affect the mother’s health and can cause headaches, problems sleeping, fast breathing, and a racing pulse.

Also, it could lead to preeclampsia, miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth rate. Thus, it is important to look after the mental well-being and take care of the physical health of the mother during pregnancy.

Risks of stress to your baby and pregnancy are;

. Preeclampsia: Research shows that if you already have high blood pressure, you’re at greater risk of getting preeclampsia during pregnancy. Preeclampsia is a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure. It usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman whose blood pressure had been normal. It can lead to complications for both mother and baby.

. Miscarriage: Also known as spontaneous abortion, it can be both physically and emotionally painful. Research shows that women who had major negative life events or psychological stress exposure were twice as likely to have early miscarriages. The stressers of pregnancy can trigger depression in some people. To cope up, people use harmful substances like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. These can increase the risk of certain pregnancy complications, including miscarriage.

. Preterm birth and low birth rate: Studies show that mothers who experience more stress are more likely to go into labourearly.Stress can increase the chances of having a premature baby (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) or a low-birthweight baby (who weigh less than 5 and a half lb (2.5 kg or 2500 g) at birth). Chronic stress can lead to long-term changes in the body’s vascular system, hormone levels, and the ability to fight infection. All these, can potentially influence labour to start before the baby is full-term.

Post-delivery complications

Some studies show that high levels of stress during pregnancy could lead to a higher chance of the child developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stress may also affect the baby’s brain development or immune system.

Tips to manage stress during pregnancy

Here are some ways to help you reduce stress:

. Remember all the discomforts you experience during pregnancy are temporary. Learn how to manage and deal with the discomforts. One can talk to someone who knows about pregnancy or your doctor

. Eat healthy, take enough rest, sleep and exercise

.To help manage the stress, one can try relaxation activities, like prenatal yoga or meditation

. Read a lot about pregnancy so you know what to expect during pregnancy and when your baby arrives.

. Plan ahead and don’t miss any appointments.

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Is childhood really stressful?

If your child has had a stressful week and the anxiety goes away once things have calmed down, then it’s normal…writes Dr. Khushboo Thakker Garodia

Children are as susceptible to stress as adults. While adults can process their stress better, sometimes a child may experience stress but may not be able to express themselves adequately. Even small changes can impact a child’s feelings of safety and security. They may present with

Physical Symptoms like

. Change in appetite

. Headache

. Bedwetting

. Nightmares

. Sleep disturbances

. Stomach aches

. Feeling cold

. Teeth grinding

. Nail-biting

. Sweaty palms and soles

. Other physical symptoms with no actual physical illness

Emotional symptoms like

. a sudden change in attitude,

. withdrawing from family and friends,

. excessive crying for no reason,

. difficulty in concentration,

. extreme clinginess to the parent,

. aggression

. anxiety,

. Newfound fears

. Temper tantrums

Some of the commonly known triggers in children include:

. Arrival of a new sibling

. Change in routine

. Unfamiliar situation

. Delay in milestones

. Pandemic – that stopped the world

. Starting school

. Changing schools

. Learning difficulties

. Conflict with friends

. Bullying

. Moving to a new location

. Tight schedules leave no time to play

. Illness / Death of family members

. Relationship issues between parents / Divorce

. Financial problems in the family

. Going through bodily changes (noticed mainly during adolescence)

. Unable to cope with pressure from self / parent / peer / school

. Illness or Hospitalization

. If your child has had a stressful week and the anxiety goes away once things have calmed down, then it’s normal. Children have their own methods of coping, but if the stress is significant, frequent, or doesn’t go away, that’s when it’s time to seek help.

You can help your child by learning to recognise the signs of stress and teaching them healthy ways to deal with it. Children learn how to respond to stress as they grow and develop.

Dr. Khushboo Thakker Garodia, Homeopath, Trichologist, Nutrition & Stress Management Expert.

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Creative ways to keep away depression

Gardening is an awesome diversion from our increasingly technologically driven lives. Spending time gardening and enjoying nature can help us mentally de-stress by keeping us involved…writes Puja Gupta.

Lockdown has changed our daily routines and most of us are very much irritated and stressed throughout these days. While it may sound weird to tell people with depression to go outside and garden, there is a considerable amount of clinical evidence which suggests that spending time with plants improves our mental health, particularly depression. Even spending time with indoor plants works wonders to alleviate both mental and physical stress in people of all ages.

Vinayak Garg, Founder, Lazy Gardener says: “Many researchers have found that gardening or green care’ stimulates our bodies’ natural development of happy chemicals, which may help keep depression and anxiety at bay, with unexpectedly amazing results. Even during this pandemic, each nation is battling a war where the enemy is not visible nor are the weapons. In these times, along with other safety measures, why not turn to the potential benefits of gardening as a way to help in the mental and physical war against coronavirus.”

Here are some interesting and the creative way to fight depression and anxiety, suggested by Garg.


Getting your hands dirty!

Getting your hands dirty in the garden boosts your serotonin levels, according to studies. Serotonin is a happy chemical that also serves as a natural antidepressant and immune system booster, lack of which is responsible for depression. When you come in contact with soil, a particular soil bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, causes serotonin to be released in our brain, making us feel better and happier from within. At the very least, now we understand why people prefer to garden without gloves and always enjoy the sensation of getting their hands into the dirt and compost heap.

De-stress therapy at your doorstep

Gardening is an awesome diversion from our increasingly technologically driven lives. Spending time gardening and enjoying nature can help us mentally de-stress by keeping us involved. When you directly contribute to the nurturing of the buds and witness the plants grow gradually, believe me, your happiness and contentment will know no boundaries and you’ll keep coming back to it. This is a small yet a very powerful exercise to even boost your self-esteem, leaving no space for stress at all.

Building your Creativity

How about simply finding out how to keep those garden pests away and improving soil quality to keep the garden healthy? How about deciding what kind and colour of a pot will suit your favourite plant the best? Get yourself into it once and this green care will take care of your positivity, creativity, mood upliftment, skill building, and ultimately help you fight depression naturally and gradually.

Building your strength

Working in the garden improves dexterity and strength. Digging, raking, and mowing are especially calorie-dense activities and the aerobic exercise involved will easily burn the same amount of calories as a gym workout. During gardening, physical exercise is combined with social contact. You get exposed to nature and sunlight. Sunlight works two way on your body: reduces blood pressure while also increasing vitamin D levels, and the fruits and vegetables grown have a positive effect on the diet. Sounds healthier right?

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Food Lite Blogs

Magic foods to relieve stress

Spinach is a nutritious leafy green vegetable high in calcium, B-vitamins, iron, and antioxidants. One of the foods that can help with anxiety is spinach…writes Puja Gupta.

There are a number of reasons to get stressed in daily life. A healthy diet, exercise, yoga, meditation, listening to music, or engaging in a hobby are all known stress-reduction strategies. Vitamins are an essential component in your quest for perfect glowing skin, as well as numerous other health benefits. It boosts the immune system and increases the body’s ability to withstand stressful situations. Dietician Vidhi Chawla lists down a few vitamin-rich food items to include in our diet:

Oranges

Oranges, which are high in vitamin C, can help to lower stress hormones and strengthen the immune system. According to research on high blood pressure patients, increasing your Vitamin C intake can lower your blood pressure and levels of cortisol, or stress hormone.

Spinach

Spinach is a nutritious leafy green vegetable high in calcium, B-vitamins, iron, and antioxidants. One of the foods that can help with anxiety is spinach. Magnesium is found in 157 mg per cup of spinach, which is 40 per cent of your daily requirement. In fact, a lack of magnesium can cause headaches, fatigue, and stress-related symptoms. They are low in carbs, can be used as part of a weight-loss diet, and are beneficial to people with high blood pressure.


Eggs

Because of their high nutrient content, eggs are often referred to as nature’s multivitamin. One of the few naturally occurring sources of vitamin D is whole eggs. Whole eggs are high in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants, all of which are required for a healthy stress response. Whole eggs are especially high in choline, a nutrient found in high concentrations in only a few foods. Choline has been shown to be beneficial to brain health and may protect against stress.

Nuts

Nuts are high in nutrients, including B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. B vitamins are an essential part of a healthy diet and can help with stress reduction. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts may even aid in the reduction of blood pressure. Nuts and seeds are also high in magnesium, which is beneficial because magnesium has been linked to improved anxiety management.

Avocados

B vitamins are necessary for the health of our nerves and brain cells, and a B vitamin deficiency may cause anxiety. Avocados are high in B vitamins, which are known to help with stress relief. They’re also high in monounsaturated fat and potassium, both of which help to keep blood pressure down.

Blueberries

Blueberries may appear small, but they are high in antioxidants and vitamin C, making them effective stress relievers. Our bodies require vitamin C and antioxidants to repair and protect cells when we are stressed. While blueberries are delicious on their own (try freezing them for a cold berry snack), there’s no better way to boost the nutrition in a serving of yoghurt or high-fibre cereal than to add them to it.


Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb that can help you cope with physical and mental stress. Here’s a unique way to incorporate ashwagandha into your diet. Take a 1 teaspoon of ashwagandha powder in ghee and mix in some date sugar, honey, jaggery, or coconut sugar (any one of these sweetening ingredients). Consume the mixture approximately 20 minutes before breakfast or later in the day with a cup of milk. If stress is making it difficult to sleep, it is best to take ashwagandha at night as it can help induce sleep. Ashwagandha has also been linked to lower cortisol levels in the morning.

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Suffering from burnout hits?

If you’re neglecting these two essential activities, your body might stop cooperating with you once you have urgent work to do…writes N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe.

People without stress are very rare in society. While the whole world fights a battle against the coronavirus pandemic, office work has not stopped. While it used to be a 9-5 shift earlier, now homes have become offices themselves. Constant calls, meetings, deadlines to meet, and feeling locked in the house can affect one’s mental health.

Also, earlier there was a thin line between your professional and personal life that could be defined by the fixed working hours and coming back home, but now, since you are working from home; you practically work all the time.

People have reported suffering from a “work breakdown” this year while working from home, which is known as “burnout”.

Anuneet Sabharwal, MBBS, MD Psychiatrist, Founder and CEO at The Happy Tree, shares list of signs if you are suffering from burnout and how can you make it right:

You are working a lot:

You wake up thinking about work and you keep doing it till going to bed again at night. Well, this is often a drag and you ought to worry about it before it leads to a much bigger issue for your health.

Solution: To fix this, you need to plan some things in your day that aren’t associated with your work. For instance, set a time for your food and eat it with no workaround you.

You are unable to possess some ‘me’ time:

When we are working in an office, there’s a punching-out time once we rise from the desk and leave the office and work behind. After leaving the office, it’s us and our personal lives that we head to. However, during work-from-home, there’s no moving out of the office zone so you quite stay on your computer till the deadlines are met. There must be many meetings and updates on work from time to time too. But that’s exactly how your office can stay in-tuned with you.

Solution: In this case, you’ll set an alarm for yourself and stop work when the time is up.

You do not like your work anymore:

This is the foremost and the most popular one. When someone starts feeling pressured with work, they stop liking what they are doing which is strictly what’s happening with you. You’re feeling pressured and frustrated.

Solution: Start rewarding yourself with something you wish for after completing each task. For instance, have a favorite food after you’ve completed X number of tasks.

You feel less connected with the world:

Not sure what is responsible for this one: global pandemic, office, or work? Well, whatever is to be blamed, we all know you’re suffering. People found it difficult to catch up with their friends even once they were getting to the office, now it’s become absolutely zero. So yes, we get it.

Solution: Use social media and technology, video to stay connected with your friends.

You do not have time to eat or sleep properly:

Well, eating and sleeping are as important as your work. If you’re neglecting these two essential activities, your body might stop cooperating with you once you have urgent work to do. So always remember, work is there, but health comes first.

Solution: Eat your meals far away from your work desk and fully concentrate while eating. For sleeping, set a time and put all the gadgets away before an hour of that point.

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Hacks to nourish your body and mind

Remember to do a few neck and shoulder stretches while on your desk to avoid neck pain or back pain later. It will also help in keeping your posture upright. Add useful stretches from your yoga class to these intervals…writes Siddhi Jain.

Another era of lockdown and pandemic has reached and most of the people started to work from home. Whether working from home or office, toiling away for long hours without breaks and physical activity can begin to damage your body, vitality, and even without tell-tale signs.

“It is important to achieve a healthy work-life balance in order to live a fulfilled life. But there are moments in life when you have to finish certain deadlines and cannot avoid spending a lot of time on your desk,” says Beenu Rajpoot, a noted filmmaker, and a Fit India Champion.

The fitness expert has these suggestions for those busy hours that will not only nourish your body and mind but also increase overall productivity:

Between emails, meetings, and calls, try to take a stroll even for a few minutes to reset your body and brain. A little bit of movement during those long sitting hours will go a long way to ensure that your body and joints do not become too stiff by sitting.

Check your breath during intervals. Take a few long breaths engaging your abdominals to ensure that your body is getting enough oxygen. Learn some Pranayama techniques to recreate yourself quickly so that you can maintain a constant energy level throughout the long span of desk sitting.

Remember to do a few neck and shoulder stretches while on your desk to avoid the neck pain or back pain later. It will also help in keeping your posture upright. Add useful stretches from your yoga class to these intervals.



Choose the appropriate ergonomic chair and table in order to maintain a good posture while sitting for long hours. Some of the important factors to be considered are — the shape of the chair, height of the chair, height of the table, lumbar support in the chair, among others. Ensure that your chair has some kind of lumbar support. Lumbar support will protect your lumbar spine from pressures of excessive flexion during long sitting hours. It is also important to choose a chair where you can adjust the height of the chair so that you can adjust its height vis-a-vis your table. It will be good for your mid-upper back and shoulders. Often people who ignore this advice can develop health conditions like scoliosis and rounded shoulders.

Keep drinking water during a long shift. It’s quite common that people under pressure keep suppressing their thirst subconsciously that makes them dehydrated. Remember to keep sipping the water every hour or so to keep your body rich in fluids that will improve circulation and will keep your blood pressure in check, apart from many other benefits of drinking water.

Decorate your space nicely and keep it clean, organized and minimal. Avoid too much clutter around in your space. Too much physical clutter affects the states of your mind, too. Practice the yogic principle of ‘Aparigraha’ or minimalism to keep your space, physical as well as mental, free.

Ensure that you are getting some sun during the day. It will not only enrich your Vitamin D levels but also give a big boost to your immune system. It is very common among the big cities in India that people don’t get enough Vitamin D as they are not exposed to sunlight often. Lack of exposure to sunlight leads to Vitamin D deficiency that is often linked to other health issues.

Gives your eyes some rest in between after every half an hour or so by doing a simple yoga technique of palming. Rub your palms together and just cover your eyes with your warm palms. Your eyes will feel energized immediately.

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Pandemic Stress On Kids?

In the long run, this can lead to an emotional breakdown among children, and the same may lead to these children resisting to return to school post-lockdown…writes Puja Gupta.

New generation kids get unimaginable experiences and lifestyles related to pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown generated a lot of fear and stress across all age groups. Children usually thrive under predictable conditions, but disruption led by the pandemic greatly impacted them physically and emotionally.

Online schooling, isolation, quarantine at home, lack of social interactions, lack of physical sports, and parental angst have developed fears, depression, and boredom among children. While most parents, were involved in dealing with the uncertainty of the pandemic and putting all efforts to keep their family safe and sustainable, the emotional needs of children were somehow ignored, points out Jesal Sheth, Senior Consultant-Paediatrician, Fortis Hospital, Mulund.

The experts discuss the impact of the pandemic on children and how to tackle it:

THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON CHILDREN

The pandemic has changed the way children typically grow, learn, play, behave, interact, and manage emotions. Children have been observed to have conduct problems, peer problems, externalising problems, and general psychological distress. When compared with children who did not exercise, children with psychical activity had lower hyperactivity-inattention and less pro-social behavior problems.

Moreover, from a more emotional perspective, they have a lot going around in their head, and the biggest worry for them is whether or not they will see their friends in school or will they get sick. The joint effect between lifestyle changes and psychosocial stress caused by home confinement perhaps aggravated behavioral problems in children.

In the long run, this can lead to an emotional breakdown among children, and the same may lead to these children resisting to return to school post-lockdown. This can happen primarily because children have lost their pre-lockdown routines and the loss of touch with their peers and mentors. In addition to this, the lockdown-related constraints can have a long-term negative effect on their overall psychological well-being.

Here’s how you can help children cope with Covid-related stress:

Addressing fears — Anxiety and emotional depression can be tackled by parents to some extent by addressing fears of children, talking about problems and possible solutions from the child’s perspective.

Spending time with grandparents — Children who have grandparents can decide to spend some quality time with them.

Create a routine — Parents can maintain some routines even if confined at home. It is always good if parents and children can plan some activities together. Parents should also plan their children’s tasks one at a time, involve them in various home activities, educate them about following hygiene habits.

Play Games — Engage in indoor play and creative activities. In addition to these activities, children can be advised to be involved in household chores and understand their social responsibilities

Native Indian games a promising supplement for kids with special needs.

Virtual play dates — To keep them in touch with friends and classmates plan a virtual party and playdates

Bad behaviours can be redirected and discussed — Parents should pay more attention to the emotional well-being of the child. Keep emphasising Covid-19 measures like wearing a mask, social distancing, and frequent hand washing, as the pandemic is not over yet. Also, children should be encouraged to socialise with their friends and classmates through digital forums under the parent’s supervision.

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Youngsters on severe stress

70 per cent of young India under the age of 25 have had issues with mental well-being, but only 26 per cent have been able to consult a professional counsellor or therapist…writes Siddhi Jain.

No one is excludable from stress. It is a common condition of mind that most of the people go through in each stages of life. A recent survey has found that 77 per cent Indians feel that the current level of conversations and initiatives around mental health in India are insufficient, while almost 9 in 10 know this is an important ‘health’ aspect.

According to the Fiama Mental Well-being Survey India 2020, which covered 15 cities across India with over 700 participants aged 18-45 years, 1 in 4 young Indians feel that mental health issues can start as early as the teens, while 70 per cent of young India feels that one is susceptible to mental health issues by the age of 35 given the socio-economic milieu we live in.

Conversations around mental health in the country have increased over the last few years, but the problem continues to grow especially in the younger part of the country’s population.

70 per cent of young India under the age of 25 have had issues with mental well-being, but only 26 per cent have been able to consult a professional counsellor or therapist. Most of them have relied on reaching out to friends and family or have looked for help online. This indicates that young India is still hesitant is seeking out professional help, reveals the survey conducted in partnership with Nielsen.

Impact of lockdown on mental well-being:

A whopping 82 per cent of India feels that lockdown has negatively impacted mental and emotional well-being, due to professional uncertainty, inability to pay bills and concerns on mobility.

Young India’s beliefs about mental health and role of social media:

More than half of young respondents associated depression with mental health, followed by stress and disturbed peace of mind.

Almost 7 in 10 believe that mental health issues can adversely affect physical health, and more than half feel that it adversely affects personal relationships.

The top possible issues identified by the respondents to have an adverse effect on mental well-being are: Pressure of maintaining relationship with your partner; Managing daily household chores; Work pressure; and Poor performance in exams.

So what helps young India stay balanced?

Almost 60 per cent of young Indians feels activities like yoga, meditation and exercise enhance mental well-being, while almost 2 in 10 rely on socializing to feel better.

Ahead of World Happiness Day, ITC Fiama and mental health literacy-focused NGO MINDS Foundation launched MyHappimess, an initiative designed to encourage conversations, explore the everyday emotions that go through the human mind and drive awareness around mental well-being and health.

As per Dr Raghu Appasani, a Psychiatrist and Founder/CEO of the MINDS Foundation, “We all have mental health issues and at any point in time, we are somewhere on that spectrum.”

5 natural alternatives to help you cope up with work stress.

He explained that the rise in mental illness has exponentially grown in the past decade and observes, “We all are impacted by mental health distress at some point, whether we are rich, poor, young, or old; therefore, we must all become literate in the language of mental health to create an empathetic and compassionate approach to allow those suffering to no longer feel left in the dark.”

Sameer Satpathy, Divisional Chief Executive, Personal Care Products Business, ITC Limited said, “Stress is a commonly understood and widely experienced term. There are simple things that we often try to do to help alleviate this stress but rarely do we engage in conversations on this. The Fiama-Nielsen survey to understand the changing attitude and behaviour towards mental health corroborates this need to enhance conversations. Fiama with MyHappimess embarks on a purposeful journey to encourage mental well-being and effectively address issues of stress and anxiety in everyday life.”

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