Author: sanafawad

Inspired by : Voices of Men By Jonny White

Statistics : ONS and Samaritans

Collaborated by : Northern Blogsco.

Through centuries of evolution of human race; progression, adaptation and globalisation, through cutthroat competitions and survival of the fittest, from bread winning to being on the bread line, the ‘man’ of the house indeed has always had a lot to live up to.

The individual and collective journey of the ‘stronger gender’ is perhaps one to explore deeper than what meets the eye. I often wonder, whether the world in general, countries, cultures and civilisations have somehow overburdened man of today, a little more than man of yesterday.

Males continue to account for three-quarters of suicide deaths in the UK. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures from 2018 revealed 4,903 male deaths compared with 1,604 female deaths and the latest increase in the overall UK rate appears to be largely driven by males, Additionally males aged 45 to 49 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate (27.1 deaths per 100,000 males); for females, the age group with the highest rate was also 45 to 49 years, at 9.2 deaths per 100,000.

It is almost heartbreakingly ironic how the oft generalised, apparent persona of macho masculinity, helps mask and gravely overlook the fact that men stand as (and potentially more) vulnerable to Mental Health Problems than their female counterparts and that underneath this presumed epitome of strength, might, power and potency may be a ‘human’ who is susceptible and struggling.

The UK male suicide rate of 17.2 deaths per 100,000 represents a significant increase from the rate in 2017; for females, the UK rate was 5.4 deaths per 100,000, consistent with the rates over the past 10 years.

These statistics are humbling to say the least. Mental Health in general has been struggling with discrimination and bias, there’s a shame a stigma attached, to both the sufferer and the healer; there is victim shaming, blame and sadly, even disregard.

This bias has affected the sentiment on the whole but if we dig deeper, there’s an ironic disposition – The so-called perceptions of genders, the expectations the hierarchical benchmarks which predispose men to psychological pressures of presenting themselves as the ‘stronger gender’, the so-called masculinity or machoness is depicted through a tendency to alienate emotions and hide vulnerabilities, rather than explore and endorse them.

Besides vast genetic and environmental predisposition that puts men at risk of many mental and psychological illnesses, there are stark socio-economic factors that play part. Men are traditionally less likely to have social confidants ( outside their domestic relationship / partnership ) with whom they could emotionally connect ( hence drastic impact of relationship breakdowns), financial pressures and reluctance to seek support may lead one into a downward and vicious spiral of social isolation , delay in seeking and receiving help and concurrent use of Drug and Alcohol often as a self-sought remedy to address internalised pain – certainly a form of self-medication which often worsens both the progression and prognosis of illness.

Johnny White’s Film THE VOICES OF MEN, explores just that, real stories of courageous men who came forward, in face of stigma and discrimination, in face of their own insecurities and sensitivities, just to encourage and inspire many who must be fighting these silent battles. It’s documentation of courage and gallantary from a place that can be very solitude and often scary. And for once, helps us see the struggles beneath the strength in it’s raw, unfiltered form.

Watch the full video here :

It’s about time, and high time indeed that we start talking about Men’s Mental Health, and encourage others to do so, for Men’s Mental Health Problems are on an all time rise, and that this really Matters

Let there be openness, let there be vulnerability and let us all be ‘humans’ who endorse vulnerabilities. As that is the first step towards recovery, closely followed by the second step which is getting timely professional help.

And let’s all stand together, for ourselves and for one another, in this strenous journey through Mental Health Struggles, Strive and Stigmatisation 🧠

It’s a glorious day – pleasing, pleasant and extraordinarily picturesque – clear blue skies, cool summer sun flooding the neighbourhood, its subtle rim of gold soaking all in a glittery hue. The wild magnolias in full bloom, birds chorusing, squirrels wild and free. I take a moment to breathe in all that surrounds me, sigh and question my senses. Am I mistaken or there is actually an atmosphere of rejoice around me?
Inside me is a different story. The entire United Kingdom is in a state of literal clampdown . Only a week ago we were out and about. An aura of invincibility surrounding us. Guilty as charged, I recall how I spent the previous weekend, galivanting the city centre. The malls were busy, cafes bustling with life and laughter. All was well. There were talks about Herd Immunity and how the NHS is well prepared, adequately equipped and satisfactorily staffed, come what may – And indeed this cushion seemed comfortable enough to wrap around that fleeting anticipatory anxiety, if any.
I had loads to think about, I had poster presentations booked, a member ceremony to attend and a higher training interview to prepare. There was no time to think about Corona Virus. Life’s on as usual and surely it can’t be that bad. We just entered 2020 – It’s the 21st century. not godforsaken 1400s where plagues and black deaths were rampant. The documentary Pandemic not even loosely comparable to times as outstanding as today, Besides, NHS is supposed to be the world’s best healthcare system. The art of self-solace is a commendable trait, repression of a sort, may be not in factual sense, does help deal with difficult thoughts, circumstances and emotions and maybe it was just that I wanted to dwell on, at least for now.
It also helped that the depressive discussion of Corona felt quite distant geographically and was best avoided as it was nowhere close to home. Self-inflicted ignorance is sometimes a bliss – or so I thought. I recalled SARS and MERS and Ebola, and the hazy memory confirmed how they had been successfully curbed.
I realised how comforting this sudden solidification of confidence in todays’ human’s competency and capability was.
There is a degree of invincibility that humans take pride in. Most of the times it isn’t even intentional. Perhaps it’s a queer amalgam of deep-rooted fear, innate insecurity and a subconscious realisation of emerging calamity consequently refuted by humanistic feelings of self-confidence, resilience and a hint of denial.
Anyway, as we stood still, wastefully wondering and washing hands, things escalated rather rapidly. Let’s just say there was little opportunity to pause and ponder, as within what appeared to be a flash, the entire country was now in Official Lock Down.
Schools and businesses shut nationwide, flights floored, events cancelled. Definition of a responsible adult revised, terms like social distancing and self-isolation upgraded in vocabulary and chief medical officer becoming a household name. An absolute ban on non-essential travel, leisure and entertainment, challenging the very core of human autonomy. The same human who had been globetrotting, taking world as his oyster has now been restricted to his couch, frail and frustrated – swapping between various dull looking devices in name of entertainment and survival.
Being part of the NHS staff (more brain than chest – we’d explore further) , there’s little change to my roster or my routine. The commitments, the commute, the long days gradually stretching longer and lunch breaks shrinking away. Mood slightly morose but motivated nonetheless.
Work is still open- as – usual, busier- than- normal and bringing panic along to the corporation is not encouraged.
Storm brewing inside us, we hold our heads high, swallowing away the ever increasing – now almost constant nausea, clutching to this straw called hand sanitiser, and commence our shifts: another day, in a violent, vicious battle against this unexpected, unfamiliar force.
It’s astonishing how juxtaposed the two realities are, the world (as we knew it) of humans around and (inclusive of) me has come to a sudden halt. I expected the nature to rightly depict this. I envisioned sombre clouds and sullen skies. A part of me prophesied a true reflection of despair and despondency, as clearly human’s distress is bound to affect the wider world. Its baffling is how in turn the days have taken to be bright and glorious. The nature has come out to play and be merry. The sparrows dancing with swallows and the squirrels, the Laurels caressing the Ladybugs, the Ox Eyed Daisies and Forget Me Nots co existing in cohesion.
This is a sight of dreams, a sight so surreal, and most certainly never this palpably notable.
I cannot but wonder how, as human walked indoors, shutting gates behind him, did rest of the universe rejoiced in unison
For may be we stand answerable to nature, for the centuries of choices we made, at the expense of this earth and its inhabitants bar humans!?

‘Someone please tell me to stay home’!!
Its Monday morning and the Monday Blues engulf me like nothing I’ve known before. I am packing my bags for yet another week at work, trying my hardest to keep as calm as composed as I possibly can, making a mental note that I’ve completed all the necessary chores over the weekend, ensuring there are adequate supplies for my family in anxious anticipation of what may lay ahead in times of sheer doubt and uncertainty. Forlorn, fearful and heavy hearted I leave the home.
It’s dim and dark, the roads are deserted, streetlights appear brighter than usual. Birds have been a constant feature in this Covid consummated commute to work – ritualistically singing the morning tunes. God, where did we go wrong, I say a silent prayer, and sense one of my eyes welling.
I feel overwhelmed, almost queasy. Now somehow, I could relate what a soldier leaving for the battle field must have felt. Leaving your family behind, as you step out in the red zone. Intending to save lives. Intending to put yourself on the line to protect others. It sounded dramatic, and never in a million years I knew this would be my reality.
I am not a very brave person. I could hardly take swing too fast. The ‘ self-rotating Cup’ in the local theme park being my most explicit adrenaline inducting endeavour. I was more of a curled on the sofa with Nancy Drew kind of person. I never chose army or air force. I always knew I just wasn’t brave enough. Now as I find myself hurled in and around the frontline, with scarcely any arms or ammunition, missing even the basic personal protective equipment, I think of my 2-year-old – and wonder how in the world would I muster up the courage to fight this battle, battle on the outside, and a bigger battle brewing within my own self.
This decision however hard is different, whether it’s worth it I am not sure. What I am certain of is the how desperately people need us, in times so dire like these. The 21 one-year old girl with paranoid hallucinations who has stopped taking her medication. The 56 years old immunocompromised man with panic disorder now clutching for dear life as the world around him crumbles and this time quite literally – I might possibly be their (one of the very few) last resort(s)
Adam is my 7th * patient of the day (Mental Health reviews being far more elaborate, extensive and time consuming than Physical Health ones). He is worried and weary. He is 65 years old with underlying physical health co morbidities that render him vulnerable to the current pandemic. His anxiety is worse now, the feeling of impending doom- more real than ever before, sweating more severe, palpitations more persistent. Social Isolation has not been helpful to his already precarious mental health. He has not left his home since a week now; nationwide lock down meant no one has visited him either. He is unable to cope, has lost his sleep and appetite and has little hope for future, our conversation is desperate, options limited.
These indeed are the most testing times in modern day history. Tedious talks of risks and vulnerabilities. Non-stop news, minute to minute coverage of chaos and calamities, a tornado of unfiltered information, facts figures and fatalities – a strange mix of social media insurgence and depleted human interactions. Indeed, man stands alone, ironically ‘isolated’ fending desperately for himself.
As we whizz through hundreds of heart wrenching stories linked to the current biological apocalypse, harrowing tales from ITU, collapsing patients and dwindling staff safety and moral. This pandemic has affected patients and healthcare workers alike, this may be no less than a world war, if not worse. As Psychiatrists we are the biggest preachers of social interactions, and there is great fear, that the impact of desperate measures like Self Isolation and Social Distancing may bear dire, unprecedented consequences.
Its perplexing for both, us as professionals and our patients to fathom and familiarise themselves to these changes. In recent days we have seen a commendable surge in emergency mental health referrals; and there seems to be a very obvious trigger.
Ariana is 30 years old lady with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder. She has also struggled with low mood since last 10 years, it was reassuring to see that she was finally managing to do well in herself after years of struggle. One of the most important aspect of her contingency management plan was maintenance of social activities and routine. Her life now was organised neatly with several weekly events – she was learning sewing at a local community centre, and attended a craft class weekly where they made cards and gifts for people in hospitals, this added purpose to Ariana’s day, she had a routine, made friends and felt valued. The consistent social interaction, positive feedback and connectiveness was therapeutic, it gave her an identity that she felt belonged to and most of all a purpose and HOPE!
Covid 19 has impacted the world in more ways than just the respiratory system. The biological, social and economic collapse has inflicted a tremendous degree of psychological trauma, compatible only by ones as a result of warfare or natural disasters. The scale of this is widespread – both in terms of magnitude as well as mortalities, and this is just the beginning. I might not yet be the one intubating the covid positives, however my services help those who’ve been through the ordeal, have friends and family suffering and the ones struggling provides a holistic view of mental illness that focuses on the person, not just their symptoms.
The journey of through a Mental Illness is a tedious and at times torturous. There is little hope of complete cure, we base our prognosis on ‘recovery’ – it being the ongoing and ultimate goal depicting improvement. Therefore, more of a journey than a destination profoundly influenced by people’s expectations and attitudes and requiring a well organised system of support from family, friends or professionals. A structure that has fell through drastically due to recent viral calamity. As the world sinks deep in the fathoms of Physical Battle with a biological enemy, what’s imminent is the return of the psychologically wounded, War Veterans and Victims alike, in leaps and bounds.
What is extraordinary in this case however is how vulnerable does it make us – the healthcare workers to the enemy itself. Battling against the tide, blatantly exposed to the assailant, its exceptional how the wounded and healer stand equally susceptible, drastically defenceless, facing this uncharted malefactor.
It all is very terrifying and a part of me does desperately want to ‘stay at home’.
But as I can absolutely not, I beg please you do!!
NB (not real names, not real stories – but inspired by many similar events)

Friday – ‘ the day of Frigga’ named after the Germanic goddess of Love. I am not quite sure if the Friday that we know of today, elucidates love per se, but what it has become strappingly associated over the course of time, is so called ‘start of the weekend’ – depicting a sort of freedom, a liberation, possibly from virtual clutches of the daily grind of nine to five.
Friday is one of the most valued days in most of western world, largely as it marks a break to our work week , followed by the welcome opportunity to do rest of one’s life in the subsequent two days. Its imperative to wonder how this definition and distribution, almost compartmentalisation of our life, one week after another had thus far impacted our lives.
There is always this mandatory Friday at- work question ‘ any plans for the weekend’ ?! and indeed these two days proposed a host of ‘doing life’ ideas, intents and options. Life that most of us were unable to do due to the monotonous routines. Ever burdening work demands, expansive to- do lists, back churning commutes to work and desperate hours in traffic jams. ‘Doing Life’ as simple as spending time with your loved ones, having a cooked breakfast, and getting your nails done usually made it to the weekend- to- do list.
More overlooked, in the melodramatic humdrum of daily grind were things like connecting with the juxtaposed world of nature around us, may be staring at the clouds forming and de forming, sitting next to a plant or soaking the sun. Just standing and staring, may be breathing and being aware of it. And most of all – just doing nothing for one-minute moment.
How Life as we know it had become nothing but a constant whirlwind of tasks and tick boxes, demands and deadlines, contests, competition and a constant struggle to survive. Bread winning is no more just bread. The global world of pride and pretention had somehow rendered mankind in a constant state of combat – a virtual war within oneself and one another. Engulfed by the glamorous – rather pseudo world of Instagram and Snap chat, perpetual portrayal of pristine perfection had become the new benchmark in the cornicle of ‘survival of the fittest’.
I, like many others, jumping the bandwagon if Insta Enthusiasts, often struggle to account and justify the amount of time I spend aimlessly scrolling ‘being enthused’ by many a lives, projected via pictures. This constant surge of stories and snaps, fashion, travels, interiors – a sustained source of inspiration and ingenuity. Shopping malls swarmed with ambitious shoppers, cafes bustled with caffeine and company seekers, roads congested, airports overcrowded, busses bursting at the seams – this humungous cascade of homo sapiens in a state of constant rush. Heading heedlessly to destinations undefined.

All this was the case until of course more recently. When the world is turned upside down, by a so-called infective agent, a mere mass of nucleic acid, too small to be seen with a light microscope an unable to multiply or even survive outside a living host. This lethal game of jumping hosts and incapacitating the later has the world go berserk. Never in the modern history – since at least the 1945s has world felt so collectively so helpless – defenceless, demoralised and almost devoid.

Over the past two decades- with exponential surge in social media use, fast evolving definition of normality in view of expansive globalisation, has seen huge increase in mental health problems, of groups who stand most vulnerable is our youth, malleable and susceptible to social triggers, it can be argued that there may be a link between above and predisposition to image insecurities, substance misuse, eating disorders and affective disorders.
Friday now is different, infact there’s hardly any line demarcating any day of the week with most of the world now stranded at home. My daily dose of Instagram has suddenly gone rather dull. With everyone sat home in their pyjamas, there’s little ‘inspiration’ to overindulge in weekend retail therapy. The planes grounded and airports deserted, no one’s aspiring to travel far and wide. In a blink of the eye, life has transformed from being overcomplicated, exceptionally competitive to something so plain and primitive that it’s surreal.
And as I sit grounded at home on the very weekend I used to stray outdoors, desperate to seek rejuvenation prior to another week of grind and drudgery. I get to contemplate, what I read somewhere ‘when all returns to normal, indeed we need to consider what of those ‘normal’ things are worth returning back to’
May be we owe this much to ourselves and our generations ! 🌿

Insanity sometimes is the sane response to a mad society’ – R.D Liang (The anti-Psychiatry Movement )

These words struck a chord with me the very time I came across them, it’s rather thought provoking how we; the society, the civilization have set standards and norms and demarcated the typical from atypical. Mental Health and attitudes towards it have come a long way, from Law of Idiots to callous stories of life in mental asylums, the journey of so called ‘Psychiatric Patients’ continues, and ‘Eventful’ is a word too mundane to define it.

Even in today’s world and age, when we all want to talk about Mental Health and Awareness, unfortunately there are amongst us, within us, may be are us, individuals and attitudes that stigmatise Mental Health. Stigmatise those who’re suffering, those who’re healing and those who’re trying to heal others in whatever capacity they can.

Mental health has never been a bigger concern as world indulges in plastic entertainment and gadgetry relationships. Yet the bias, the bigotry and brazen discrimination against both the patient and the professional fails to cease.

Mental Health is not one person or one perspective, it’s not a distant theory you’re not associated with, it’s all of us, at odd times and off phases, through bad days and rough patches.

Subtle yet stumblingly debilitating is the decline in community’s mental health. This might not be talk of our town, but it’s very much happening , and it’s very much getting the world . With much bigger a force than we realize.

Transcultural Psychiatry remains a special interest of mine as a Psychiatrist. Its alarming how perception and practices around Mental Health vary across the globe and I frequently compare these.

Unfortunately Mental Health is something we still shy away from. It’s that damned tag that you would not wish upon yourself. Labelling and stereotyping of mental health, and the sufferer of it, remain a sad but stark reality of our society.

I have personally witnessed so many instances where brushing symptoms and presentations under the carpet is unfortunately considered preferable to status loss and discrimination. This is the first step that we need to take in order to tackle this mammoth monster that’s crept in, affected and engulfed our society without us even noticing its presence. I talk about how prevalent Mental Health Disorders are in our society and unfortunately, how underdiagnosed and un treated they remain.

The stigma, the society, the fear of being pointed at and left out advertises against approaching the root cause. It’s harder to identify, lest associate with a mental health illness. And in the gravity of it, it’s difficult to seek and obtain the right kind of help, support and treatment.

This is the first step of this journey towards better minds. Let’s cut chains of difference and discrimination. Rule out negativity, forget, forgive ( or try to), stand together and spread love ( both literally and figuratively) . For healthy minds is a priority for us as a society , for mankind as a population and for earth as a planet .

‘There Is hope, even when your brain tells there isn’t’ – Unknown

 As I embarked on the journey of my Specialty Training in Psychiatry, I took it as my moral duty to talk ‘a lot’ about Mental Health. To associate and identify with it, to normalise it as I would an odd headache or a runny nose. Talk about mind and feelings, passions and reactions, anxiety and trauma, depression and drug use. Talk about it being okay, not being okay. One of the biggest dilemmas we face in today’s day and age when it comes to illnesses of the mind is the culture of ignoring, minimising or altogether disregarding the possibility of the same.

There is little doubt that the twenty first century human brain, stands prone to trauma and breakage. Inadequate safety networks, vulnerable mindsets, fragmented relationships, unrealistic socioeconomic competitiveness and a perpetual strive with negligible passivity in the daily grind renders this scrambled lifestyle a perfect breeding point for less than ideal attitudes and behaviors.

As per NICE Guidelines that we follow here in the  UK Management of Psychiatric Illnesses can be broadly discussed via a model often referred to as Bio Psycho Social Model. The focus here is laid upon three crucial aspects of treatment ; Pharmacotherapy or Medication, Psychological Therapies, and more importantly Social Intervention. The expected knee jerk reaction to any mental or physical health issue is pharmacological intervention, conveniently ignoring the crucial importance of basics like effective social networks. There are countless pills and potions but as per evidence and experience the efficacy of any intervention is increased significantly if additive of positive social and interpersonal circumstance As a psychiatrist I see countless cases where the Inadequate network of close relationships is a major perpetuating factor to multiple affective disorders.

Unlike many Physical Health Diseases, where its fairly straightforward to spot an illness, it’s extremely complex to detect an underlying Mental Health Issue. And this is where the importance of adequate Social Support lies.

We dwell in an age of persistent precipitating factors and human brain stands prone like never before. However it is extremely resilient and would initially contest the challenges, as it starts to get overwhelmed it resorts to utilization of coping mechanisms and defense strategies. Its therefore long before signs of any malfunction start to appear despite the mind being overburdened and distressed. The subtle signs of a bigger mental crisis may be perceived as normal and seemingly unreasonable attitudes may be mistaken for social inadequacy, rudeness or lack of manners and that we may fail to recognize could be an underlying struggle within mind and it’s works.

Behavioral changes like anger or agitation may be a sign of underlying anxiety, avoidance and isolation might point towards a growing agoraphobia, being hypervigilant and getting excessively startled, are some of the features that can be seen in PTSD ( post-traumatic stress disorder), defiance and challenging behavior in children may suggest Conduct Disorder, and the list continues. Many of these indicators are ignored and forgotten while the storm within the individual may continue to brew; sadly un noticed and un-intervened . I therefore cannot stress how important nonverbal, not so apparent cues may hint to deeper rooted issues.

Developing countries like Pakistan don’t have substantial pots of cash to splash out on expensive projects, However what we can do is work with the strengths and resources we already have and build on them. The importance of Social Workforce cannot be denied. By Social Workforce I refer to the intricate network of friends, family, near and dear ones. This is one aspect that Pakistan is well equipped with in terms of manpower, however what is slightly challenging is how to ensure that workforce ( which is essentially us all ) delivers effectively. It’s crucial that Primary prevention start at places closer to home.

Modest steps sometimes bring the largest impact. It might not be very dreary a task, to spare moments from our screens and cast an eye on those near us, offer a patient ear, extend a helping hand, to help, and to be there ( in whatever capacity one can)when things take a tow for nears and dears ( or even complete strangers)

Not on all occasions would you meet with encouragement, people going through rough patches would seldom engage in niceties, they wouldn’t be weighing social approbation of their relative interactions. Expect to be ridiculed, misunderstood and often misjudged. There’d be projection, displacement and transference. These are some of the challenge we face every day as health care professionals, however for the bigger good of the community, I believe we as a force, as professionals and as members of the general public need to extend this attitude beyond just the confines of work. There would be instances when you’d make someone’s day a little better, a little bearable. Help someone see that silver lining ( however short lived) and a brighter perspective of seemingly dim and dark situation. Identifying concerns at prodromal stage can ensure timely intervention which combined with professional support can bear better prognosis.

Little things are vital. These seemingly little things add up to impart a greater difference. A helping hand , a stepping stone, a cup of tea, a kind word. That’s a step towards a slightly better day, a slightly better mind. And that’s where we start !

More often than not, the subtle signs of a bigger internal crisis may be perceived as normal. Thus ignored and forgotten while the storm within brews. The non verbal, not so apparent cues may hint to deeper rooted issues.

Seemingly unreasonable attitudes may be mistaken for social inadequacy, rudeness or lack of manners. What we may fail to recognise could be an underlying struggle within mind and it’s works.

Mental Health Issues are not a far fetched phenomenon affecting few and far between.They are not limited to the rare, discriminated minority. Mental health is not about being ‘mad’ and being labelled like so. They are us, within us and among us. As we stand isolated individually; starkly bare and unconsciously vulnerable to these so brazenly stigmatised conditions of brain.

The Twenty First Century human brain, stands prone to trauma and breakage. Inadequate safety networks,vulnerable mindsets, fragmented relationships, unrealistic socioeconomic competitiveness and a perpetual strive with negligible passivity in the daily grind renders this scrambled lifestyle a perfect breeding point for less than ideal attitudes and behaviors.

As a psychiatrist I see countless cases where the Inadequate network of close relationships is a major perpetuating factor to multiple affective disorders. The expected knee jerk reaction to any mental or physical health issue is pharmacological intervention, conveniently ignoring the crucial importance of basics like effective social networks. There are countless pills and potions but as per evidence and experience the efficacy of any intervention is increased significantly if additive of positive social and interpersonal circumstance.

Its my personal belief that secondary prevention can start at places closer to home. It might not be very tedious a task, to spare moments from our screens and cast an eye on those near us, offer a patient ear, extend a helping hand, to help, and to be there ( in whatever capacity one can)when things take a tow for nears and dears ( or even complete strangers)

Not on all occasions would you meet with encouragement, people going through rough patches would seldom engage in niceities, they wouldn’t be weighing social appropation of their relative interactions. Expect to be ridiculed, misunderstood and often misjudged. There’d be projection, displacement and transference. These are some of the challenge we face every day as health care professionals, however for the bigger good of the community, I believe we as a force, as professionals and as members of the general public need to extend this attitude beyond just the confines of work. There would be instances when you’d make someone’s day a little better, a little bearable.Help someone see that silver lining ( however short lived) and a brighter prespective of seemingly dim and dark situation.

It’s the little things that matter, it’s the little things that turn big. A hand to take a tiny step towards a slightly better next day. You never know what difference a minute effort on ones part can make to another life 🙌

Somewhere between catching school vans to checking train schedules for work, somewhere in quest of saving time and rushing through tides, from reaching bench marks to meeting deadlines, in desire of saving time I’ve actually lost most of it.

Now I sit back and think of all those petty issues I spent time mulling over, all those school exams that had me panicked, the challenges the pressure the constant strive to do more.

Now still, the faff remains. So does the hustle and humdrum. The only thing lost is peace and that probably was the entirity of it all !

Lest you let it pass unnoticed, there is a perpetual noise that you find yourself engulfed in.Noise of all sorts, shapes and forms. Opinions, ideas – broadcasted,propelled and propagated. Individual and collective. I am not talking about a two way conversation that is both inviting and therapeutic.Pacified, collaborated and appropriately reciprocated. I am referring to a cluster of dialogue and dialects followed by chaotic rebuttles hurled out in air by utter strangers in name of being social. The small talk, or bigger talks just because sitting silent is not great manners.

I struggle to engage with utter strangers, I struggle to start conversations with people I don’t know, more so continue the conversation. Is it an utter necessity?! Is it important to win friends left right and centre. Is it crucial to being socially appropriate ?

For an age the thought dwelled in my mind, to a point where I felt almost handicapped. I had this urge to literally force my self to make desperate efforts in order to initiate shallow almost meaningless conversations.

May be a tad bit tardy, came the realisation, of power of Quiet, rather hidden within the awkward uncomfortable apparant inadequacy all along !