backpackerandbeer-blog

[backpackerandbeer-blog]

Today issues related to mental health are on a rise. While the stigma related to this has shrunk, the number of cases recorded has soared drastically. People have started opening up about their issues, most common being anxiety and depression. But why is the millennial generation facing such a crisis? As we look into the reasons behind the rise in issues related to mental health, there are few which are open to everyone while some are still debatable. Unemployment – with uncertainty around jobs and running behind the deadlines and targets, today employment has become a rat race. With unemployment on a rise, people who cannot find a secure job come under tremendous stress leading to various issues. Social media – as number of researches are coming up with the negative effects of social media, it has been found that unrealistic feed on these social networks are making people prey of anxiety. Economic instability – with stress about looking after the family, repayment of loans and medical bills etc, there are number of people who are on a verge of a mental breakdown. The incidence of Late Mr. VG Siddhartha was one such incidence. Lifestyle – With people choosing alcohol and cigarettes as stress busters, it is only a matter of time that everything will come back to them because of what they’re consuming. In a recent article which threw light on the current situation, the people suffering from mental health issues have outnumbered the number of doctors dealing with it. This has led to severe back logging which leads the doctors to prescribe antidepressants just to finish up the treatment and move on to the next client. The issue is so severe that the person suffering from such issues is vulnerable to violence and harm to themselves or others and can even resort to consuming narcotics. Thus, addressing such an issue with utmost care is very important. Many corporate today are giving leave to their employees on the grounds of mental health instability. Also, there are guidance centers organized by governments of number of countries. It is very important to open up and talk to someone trustworthy. If you or anyone around you is suffering from anxiety or depression or showing symptoms of the same, it is necessary to guide them properly. With people opening up about these issues on a large scale today, the world has suddenly changed its attention towards the new threat to our health. Understand that it is okay to be not okay.

[backpackerandbeer-blog]

Home away from home.

As I grew up and saw people going away to chase their dreams, going beyond the seven seas, the whole idea of the same fascinated me. I would be a tourist some day and at days just a pilot or a driver but my dream of stepping out into the unknown was always alive. As this lust to see the beautiful Alps or the vast Sahara and the magnanimous Notre Dame grew, I also came across this phrase “You’ll always come back home” which at that time I did not understand what it actually meant as I had never left my home.

My dream of almost 18 years finally became a reality when I got an opportunity to visit the beautiful city of Cologne in Germany. It was an exchange program and in the stay of those 15 days, I found my home. My stories about Germany can go on for hours and hours and I will not feel tired. It was an opportunity to meet new people and see places which were once unimaginable. I mean I had never seen someone go to bed at 9 and wake up at 5 to get some fresh bread from the bakery. I saw the beautifully enormous Cologne Cathedral, the Lindt Chocolate Factory and Eifel National Park. Not just that, I learned so many things about the people and their lives in the country which I believe has been an unfortunate member of the worst parts of the history

As the fifteen days passed and the journey towards my real home began, I started feeling home sick. I remember the flight from Dubai to Mumbai where we had a transit, I literally cried about the fact that I was going away from this beautiful paradise, with the company of SRK as his movies played on my screen.

Two days after I reached home, I was numb, as if something precious was missing from my life. I felt like for the first time in my life I actually came away from my home. The land of Haribo was calling me back. The beautiful sights from my dreams were for once a reality. I tried to take in as much of the country as I could. Right from playing football with Germans (which kind of hurts) to turning towards being a vegan for a month after coming back and trying (and I say it again), trying to be more punctual like the Germans, I did it all. The last one was a failed attempt because I accept I’m a lazy guy!

So today, after four years and going to Germany twice, it is quite clear to me that my home is not just here, but also the world beyond the seven seas. I’m grateful for this beautiful journey of past four years and many more yet to come.

Hope that you will join me in this adventure ride and we can experience this journey together.