We live in different times and If there are any lessons drawn from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is the importance of mental health. A bigger fraction of us struggled with things we never thought possible.
Humans are innately social beings and we thrive best in a competitive environment. The everyday hustle that keeps us busy enough from facing our inner fears and struggles has become an addiction, but because its a way of making a living, we tend to rationalize it. This changed overnight when the pandemic hit, forcing us to stay at home and for many, it took away the enabling environment for escapism.
To answer the question, mental health is not just the absence of a mental disorder. It is a state of well being where an individual realizes their own abilities, can cope with normal stress of life and still work productively.
Bottom line is, it is possible to have a “normal” life, even after being diagnosed with a mental disorder. The key is to be self aware, get the proper treatment from certified professionals, lean on your support system, talk to a therapist to help you understand what triggers your cognitive, emotional or behavioral reaction.
After all, normal is just a sense of fitting a standard or an average and these standards can change overtime. but that is a topic for another day.
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