‘Mental health is seen as important but not a priority’
She sees the world like a canvas filled with myriad colours that paint one’s life as one walks and imbibes inspiration from life. She is an Expressive Art Therapist and NLP practitioner who practices healing through understanding of one’s mind-body-soul.
Dr. Shraddha is the also founder of Triyati-TheBetterMe. Triyati helps people with mental wellness through self-empowerment that enhances and maximises resilience towards various events in one’s life.
We never forget green tea for a detox, but we hardly detox our minds constantly vexed with the modern day obligations, stress, emotional isolation, anxieties etc. There is no bigger treasure than a ‘mind in peace’.
We discussed mental wellness with Dr. Shardhha who educated us with her vast experience in personal as well as professional life.
Interview:
What is Art therapy? How is it useful for mental health?
“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
This is one of my favorite tools which I use for my clients.
Art Therapy is a very beautiful and creative process where we use drawing, painting, coloring, sculpting or collaging to improve mental health and well-being. It is one of the tools used during client counselling and one don’t need to be an artist or expert to experience this process.
The beauty of this process is that you can express yourself without actually speaking about what is disturbing you. It creates a safe zone where you can vent, have catharsis, self-exploration and develop new coping skills. As the client creates art, it, at times, gives them new insights.
Through exploring their art, people can look for themes and conflicts that may be affecting their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It can benefit people of all ages including children, teens or adults.
Tell us something about your initiative of Trayati? How did you think to start something like this?
Trayati is a sanskrit word meaning ‘liberate positivity’ which that is my mission too.
Triyati-my baby’s birth
I had a perfect life, well-chosen career and profession. Life was quite busy with a Govt Health project at hand and personal practice as a Homoeopath. Even after marriage, I could easily continue with my profession.
But life never gives smooth rides. I had to leave my work when my husband was posted to a remote location. Those two years of my life seemed never ending, painful and depressive. From being always busy and doing so many things I moved into doing nothing. I had lost my profession and I felt as if I had lost my identity. I started losing interest in life too.
When I tried sharing and venting out, I got responses like “Don’t worry you will get adjusted”, “You think too much”, “It is just a phase”. But I could not be assuaged. I needed someone to hear me unbiasedly without giving me those cliched phrases. Unfortunately even my closed ones did not understand what I was really looking for.
This was the time I realized if I am going through this, then there are many out there who, need help and would be surrounded with judgments. Finally after two long years of difficulty and emotional drain, I decided to pull myself together. I started exploring the area of psychology and started to work towards creating awareness about the importance of mental health and emotional well-being.
My intention was to empower individuals to tap into their potentials, build resilience and create positivity and so, I founded Triyati.
Do you think mental health affects more women than men? If yes, What are the reasons?
If I talk about the statistics, then according to the WHO, mental health concerns are almost identical for men and women, but the we hardly see it. Although there does not appear to be gender disparity in the overall prevalence of mental health, there are significant differences in the pattern and intensity of the symptoms and women take most of the brunt.
what affects women’s mental health
There are various reasons to it. They are as basic as women getting into different careers and fields and yet not being exonerated of the traditional roles at home. Post marriage there is a continuous effort to adjust to the new family, place and home.
Workplace is never an easy place because there is constant fight to prove self- worth and self-efficacy. We see how only women are asked a question like this, “How do you balance between your personal and professional life?” Women achievers are always living in guilt and stress, as they are trying to perfect all roles.
Another common reason for mental health issue among women is the advent of motherhood. Unfortunately the female is never educated about the process in advance but left to experience the stress of physical, emotional and physiological change. Other reasons can be societal discriminations, domestic abuse, trying to do it all etc. Unfortunately women find it so difficult just to say I’m Not Ok.
Do you think mental health is inherently feminized since so less men talk about it?
We grow with a cultural notion where we see men as strong pillars who do not express. Hence, men avoid showing breakdown; they fear they will be misunderstood, judged or scorned. Unfortunately most of the time it is the same gender that holds them back from seeking help as they are worried to attract labels like meek or weak. They express themselves by getting into various types of addictions.
But let me tell you, now the scenario is changing and there are comparatively more men approaching and seeking help for mental health issues. Pandemic has been blessing in disguise where in the Mental Health is getting attention and priority. Self-care has become indispensable to many.
About Dr. Shraddha Humnabadkar
She is a consulting Homoeopath with noteworthy experience of 13 years. She have been a part of Art of Living for almost 10 years. Dr. Shraddha is an Expressive Art Therapist (UNESCO-CID). Her passion for healing through understanding one’s mind-body-soul led her on path of NLP (Master Practitioner, NFNLP, USA).
Originally published at https://fortunemistress.com on October 17, 2020.
