Mental distance

Keep distance ,be safe ! This is what we get to read on the highway trucks but quite applicable in our every day lives in the’ Corona times ‘ .

But is it just the ‘Social  Distance ‘ or  “Mental Distance”as well? 

We are all confined to our homes, big and small.The frustrations,anger,violence and unrest in the families has been going up .Some admit and some deny . We need to accept that everything is not fine in anyone’s life and family . “Denial”takes us to dangerous places of accumulation of stress and anxiety. 

The sudden confinement has led to a different dynamics of relationships in the family. I would like to believe that there is something lacking in the “appropriate understanding “ of ourselves ,our boundariesnand awareness with acceptance. 

Let’s best channelise our energies .

Nareen is experiencing suffocation with the family members which is curbing her creative instincts. Her biggest challenge is handling 15 year old boy. Now here is the catch . Are the expectations real ? Is it fair to suddenly tell your child to do yoga for an hour every day ? Are they ready to listen to you ? No . But there is a way out. How about encouraging your child to do 3 yoga steps daily and gradually go up to 3,5,7,9,11. Baby steps avoid pressure.

The key to success here is that it creating boundaries balances the mental and emotional fabric of the parents as well as the kids and other family members. The parent would later not feel guilty of burdening and nagging the child. The child would not be under the guilt and burden of performance pressure. Does it sound realistic?

Boundaries support us in creating strong and clear mental distance from fear and anxiety. When practiced consistently we then understand what this mental distance does for us . 

This time can be used as a gift for self care and self discovery says Sangeet Jain Vice Principal of Sorem ,society for rehabilitation of mentally challenged.Just ask yourself what do you want for yourself? What are you doing to get it ? 

Nothing change, if nothing changes. Here are some tips for good Mental health and Mental Distance. 

1. Work on understanding,creating and implementing your boundaries.
2. Practice gratitude for everything good you are doing for yourself. 
3. Self reflect on your thoughts ,things you don’t have to do .
4. How does it feel to actually practice Mental Distance? 

One step at a time will definitely make you feel healthy. 

Gargi Arora 

Cognitive behavioural therapist 

Counselllor