It Is Not Just In Your Head

By Ravina Sewani

So when did it start for you?

Was it when you couldn't process things in a room full of people?

Or was it when you lost a loved one?

Or was it when you were bullied in school?

Or was it when your academics went downhill?

Or did it start when you lost your person to a break-up?

And since then, has it been,

Racing heartbeats,

Sweaty palms,

Unreasonable shivering,

Unfathomable numbness?

Constant palpitations

Because that's how it's been for me:

And I know,

You resist because you think that's the way out.

You turn your back because you think that's the way out.

You ignore because you know that's the way out.

You live in oblivion because you think that's way out.

You suffer inside to dodge the judgy comments.

You don't talk about it because you think, it will eventually fade away.

But darling,

The only way out is being vulnerable to it,

The only way out is facing it.

The only way out is to give it the maximum attention.

The only way out is by being aware.

The only way out is talking to your friends and family.

The only way out is to stop looking down at yourself.

The only way out of this taboo is to talk.

And then talk again.

And talk a lot.

And talk once more.

The only way out is acknowledging that mental illness is for real.

The only way out is to accept the fact it is okay to not be okay.

The only way out is to know that it is not just in your head.

And even if they say that it's in your head, why on earth should that mean that it is not for real.

By Ravina Sewani