- Krishna Patwari shares how he battled with his suicidal thoughts after suffering from several mental illnesses since his teenage.
- Seeking medical help and adopting positive life changes when needed can help people recover from their mental issues.
Due to the lack of mental health awareness in India, many patients choose suicide as a way to escape from their extreme mental distress, an alarming statistic of World Health Organization (WHO) says.
30-year-old NGO worker Krishna Patwari shared his story of how he battled with his suicidal thoughts after suffering from various mental illnesses since his teenage. He shared that his journey of mental disorder started when he was only 16 years old. He was a psychology student in college but never thought that he would himself suffer from a psychological disorder. He never opened up about his mental health problems to his family and friends. “I was just comfortable enough not to be seen or heard,” he said.
As a fresher, he dealt with extreme bullying during his initial days at the university. He even lost his father during that crucial phase in his life. All these events triggered panic attacks. He never went for therapy, but as a psychology student, he somehow knew that he had anxiety and maybe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Being unable to deal with his psychological distress, Krishna committed suicide on a late Diwali night and was rushed to hospital by his mother and neighbors.
“When I was recovering slowly, one day my cousin-brother came to see me with his family. I saw my 1-year-old nephew for the first time and holding his little hands was the greatest feeling I ever experienced. It’s crazy because the first thought that went through my mind was “If I wasn’t here today, I wouldn’t have been able to see you. I’m so glad I am!” Krishna explained his feelings.
The next day after his nephew’s visit, he sat with his mother and told her that he needed medical help. “Who knew, all I wanted was to truly be seen and heard, and how empowering and enriching that really is and that it should start with me,” he said. He consulted with a psychologist and started having regular therapy sessions. After six months, he realized that his mental health was improving gradually. He even started working with an NGO for child counseling services. His work life positively changed his outlook on life.
According to Mental Health Foundation experts, sharing your feelings with someone you trust and seeking help from a mental health professional are two integral parts of taking charge of your health and wellbeing. Any individual with a mental illness can recover and live a satisfying life by taking medical help and adopting positive lifestyle changes.
P.S- Name and place changed due to privacy concerns
