Bengaluru: Karan (name changed) was 16 when his struggle with substance abuse began: Cigarettes and cannabis. Eventually, he went into rehabilitation 17 times. In 2021, following two bike accidents and a breakup, Karan decided to pursue a master’s degree in psychology and now works as a psychologist.In keeping with the World Mental Health Day theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change’, TOI spoke to people living with mental-health disorders or recovering from them about how their experiences shaped them, the importance of societal support and what they wish people knew about mental health conditions.“When people see someone drinking, they often assume the person drinks because he enjoys it or because they cannot stop. While these may be true to some extent, there are several biological, psychological and environmental factors that people do not consider,” said Karan, 28, undergoing treatment at Maarga Mind Care. He wants to change the narrative around addiction, depression and mental health.At 60, Ramkumar Ramaswamy, a freelance tech worker, has started therapy to address struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In 2016, an electronics lab in his newly constructed home and his fears around contamination began triggering panic attacks. He was eventually diagnosed with OCD at Nimhans’ OCD Clinic. “Those living with OCD should understand that providing constant reassurance can quickly become a crutch. That is what I learnt in therapy,” he said.For Nikhil (name changed), diagnosed with schizophrenia, family support made all the difference. “While my marriage fell apart, my parents stuck by my side. People should stop thinking people with schizophrenia are out of their heads all the time. After treatment, I’m back to normalcy. I think taking things one day at a time, educating myself and writing about my experiences,” the 38-year-old who was treated at Cadabams Hospital said.
