The stigma surrounding therapy in an Indian household.

This is a progressive world that we are living in today. Our minds are fresh and ideologies free. We are a generation of “liberals” whom the society has termed as rebels. This is a modern world, but does it truly feel like one? 

This so-called modern world has become a place where terms like depression, anxiety, panic attacks have become common household terms. Today, every second person is facing mental health issues. While people are coming out and speaking about it openly, these mental illnesses are still considered as a taboo in the Indian society. 

Therapy is the only thing that works in help mental health patients. People have seen drastic results while doing therapy. And as we say therapy helps us, there is still a stigma relating to therapy in Indian households. These people do not accept the fact that mental illnesses are legit diseases and not a gimmick, let alone therapy. In an Indian a household, a person talking about taking therapy is considered as “mental.” But that is not the case for the patient. They actually need help to survive the illness they are living with. A person who is sufferance from mental health issues is already in a bad space, terming him/her as “mental” lowers his morale even more. Young children today are scared to talk to their parents about their condition or that they want to take therapy, solely because of the fear of being judged by their own parents!

Therapy is something that helps mental health patients, but here in India it is severely looked down upon. Going to a therapist is like a walk of shame for any person. But why is it so? Why do people feel afraid and shameful to visit a therapist? 

Here are some reasons:

Conditioning:

Since ages people have been conditioned that mental illness and therapy is bad. It is taught to us that if you feel depresses it is your fault and you have to deal with this alone. In India people think that mental health illnesses are something that should be kept inside a closet and locked for eternity. 

Less talk surrounding therapy:

in India specifically, there has always been less talk regarding therapy. People are scared to open up to their family that they have some trouble and that they need professional medical help. There are very limited discussions around these topics. And even if someone tries to bring it up, they are silenced. 

Just like other illnesses and diseases need medical health, mental health illnesses do too! And therapy is that medical help that will help the person come out of a very dark place. It is high time we star speaking about it!