Often our problems look bigger inside our heads than they really are.
For example, speaking things out suddenly makes you realise how unworthy they are of your attention.
Blogging is to writing, what speaking is to that unspoken inner voice.
To most of my friends, colleagues and even family I pose a simple question:
Why do you not blog?
And invariably the fear of placing themselves out there. In the wide eyed lens of public opinion, comes out as the one thing that deters them from doing so.
Through a complex set of maximum three tweets I had suddenly spoken out loud (which by the way means 140 characters on social media) that blogging would always deter me from any inherent suicidal tendencies.
Spoken impromptu, it did get me thinking.
Why it is true, I can never (my personal stance and not generic or applied to all) commit suicide over something I have blogged. The deepest darkest emotions included.
Because somewhere in my heart I have let go. Of that idea. I have shared it with a fellow reader and let my burden be halved as well. I know in this space below as comments or on social media amidst all the negativity, I will find a person who will understand. And one person is enough to save me.
Mental health is an issue that our society (especially our country) has still not woken up to. People are not only ending their lives for real but also when they aren’t taking the extreme step, things are not calm seas for them. In addition the social stigma attached is mind numbing. A bit of awareness and help can go a long way in helping those who do suffer from this.
Blogging as a practice invites community. I have over the last seven years connected people through their works and words in good and bad times. Kept track of their family stories, their sob stories and more importantly been around them.
And so have they been.
Nurture blogging as a community
The decision to speak about my mother was never easy. In fact days after I published my first post about her, it got me so restless. I barely slept for a week. But with every passing post my strength increased, my wounds healed.
This year on Mothers Day when I published another post for her, people from all parts of the world (as readers of Philosphers Stone) emailed me, pinged me and applauded my strength to put my emotions out there. In fact many asked me start an exercise where bloggers can write about their personal experiences and deal with the pain associated with it.
Something I have already started working on.
Mental health and blogging can be (it already is to an extent) one of internet’s success stories.
Long time ago, given the support of my peers I spoke about my own story. How I was driven so close to taking my own life. A dark moment of my life that perhaps I had never told anyone before I published it here. That day I broke my own chain of thoughts.
Blogging heals many wounds. And opens doors to great things ahead. Its power is still not unleashed for many.
Today lets pledge that we shall encourage its impact to help people achieve more. And open up more, bringing authentic stories that inspire each day.
Have you blogged or written your way out of a bad emotion ever? Would you like to share with us here?
Connecting it with #MondayMusings
Richa , this post was so powerful. Incredible expressions , a quiet strength and brutal honesty all rolled into a few words and whole lot of heart.
I do feel mental health as a topic is still tackled in hushed tones if at all . If we just start talking , about it or even in general – a lot of bad days and bad phases can be put behind us.
Keep writing and inspiring .
Thanks Chandni, this post is completely an ode to our conversation online you know that right? 🙂
The reason I started blogging was because I was depressed, going through a terrible time..over the years, blogging has given me a way to express and even decipher my own thoughts, views..It has helped me let go of things and even evolve as an individual.. I don’t know much about what should be done for mental well being but blogging can help.. I think so atleast
Naba I started blogging because I was in a phase where I had no clue what to do with my life and career. I was depressed and needed direction. This came through..
Writing makes it real, writing also makes it heal. I experienced both in the past two years. I have untangled and sorted my life out so many times on the blog.
Mental helth as an issue needs to be looked at and adressed better by the society at large. But blogging in someway helps you deal with what ypu are experiencing and sometimes even help you connect with people.
This post is so real, strong and powerful Richa. Carry on doing wht you do Woman!
Thank you so much Jaibala 🙂 Yes Blogging helps us declutter. Our own ways of life come real and alive for us.
Blogging has been healing for me too, Richa. I’ve used my blog to vent, to muse, to be inspired. It also makes me feel accountable to a community of readers! I think the longer we blog, the more authentic we are called to be.
After so many years of blogging it becomes a part of your soul. And like everything else demands time, space and credibility 🙂
While I do have my own story to tell, I do not – in all the millions of words I have written in the blog till date – have the courage to talk about it yet because of all that transpired.
Instead, I find recourse in mixing fact within fiction and releasing it as short stories, some of which ended up becoming quite popular without anyone ever knowing how close to the truth the fiction ever was.
We do have an opportunity to heal though with our words… and especially in an era where the media chooses sorrow over hope, I strongly believe we as bloggers need to do the opposite. It is why I partcipate in & make the most effort for the #1000Speak posts… I have seen enough sorrow that it has physically aged me. I would never want anyone else to go through that.
Why not share hope and happiness in our posts so that noone else need feel they are alone and drowning?
Roshan cannot agree more. We can bring stories that help us create hope in minds of people without mentioning denial. Acceptance and moving on, the two facet of blogging personal stories..
When I started my blog, I was all alone in a condition where walking or standing was not possible. I wanted to seek happiness and all I did was logging on to WordPress to create a blog. Writing is healing and that’s why it is therapeutic.
Great post and your post has resonated with most of your readers 🙂
Parul so many of us have started blogging in similar setups when we couldn’t be who we wanted to be.. Yes I am happy that my posts find space in few people’s heart and mind 🙂
Je connais tous les dialogues de presque tous les Disney, chansons zinclues ainsi que de quelques zautres films essentiels de la vie! Si j&o©sur;Ãqtais l? Impératrice je pourrais faire la télé pour vous, bruitages en prime!
Woah that was one intense post.. I also went and read your earlier one (baygon)..glad you found strength to move on.. Hugs
*hugs* Aarti, thank you for reading 🙂 Maybe words such as these inspire me to always write away my fears, sorrows, disappointments..
Every time I check the mail I allow myself a couple of seconds to hope there will be an ho–stntoegod letter in there. I love December because I usually get some Christmas cards… I send out lots in the hopes I’ll get some back.
Very pertinent post.
Yes – Blogging is emotional catharsis.
It is Vikram.. it is..
Your reflections are always something one can learn from Richa. I did share once during an event hosted by Write Tribe.
Thanks Vishal for such kind words. A writer’s happiness lies in his or her words having meaning for someone else..
You.. Richa are such a strong soul. Continue what you do best and don’t give up blogging if that’s what it takes.
xoxo – Chaicy
Style.. a pastiche!
Thank you so much Chaicy 🙂 *power to bloggers everywhere*
This is so absolutely true. Only those who write to express all they feel and cannot speak about will know how it feels to pen it down and get over it. Also, yes mental health is something no one is taking seriously, and should. Good one, Richa! 🙂
Thanks Ashwini, writing is therapeutic in more than one way. Blogging I would say is a step ahead of it.
Lets write and write more because as you said writing will give a release and that can only heal
Yes the more we write the better balanced our minds be..
This is a great video – super creative idea! I esllaicepy loved all the decor at this wedding – the pink cupcake wrappers, upside down umbrellas and the beaded curtain. Wonderful details!
An emotional outlet that does not necessarily judge you…that is blogging. Like you said, its as cathartic to put your angst into words as speaking and sharing it. Proud of you my dear friend for doing this and also paving the way for many more to follow suit and save themselves.
Thank Kala 🙂 Agree that blogging is a step ahead of writing, it is a form of letting go that mere words do not provide..