The 2010s was the decade for wellness. Athleisure, veganism, keto diets, meditation … there was a wellness trend for everyone. Gone were the days when a person’s health was secondary to other things. We came to the realisation that we have only one body and it is imperative that we keep it running in good shape. We are also finally taking mental health more seriously.
I admit there were some trends that I personally hated. High on that list was wellness bloggers peddling bullshit to unsuspecting young people. One good example is Kim and Kourtney Kardashian being slammed for promoting a weight-loss drink that promised unrealistic results. Considering both these women have personal trainers, makeup artists, and stylists, it’s highly unlikely that their bodies are a result of one weight-loss drink.
But keeping the focus on the good things, I realise that for every weird wellness trend, there is another that completely transforms us for the good. One of those trends that has changed the world for the better is the normalisation of therapy as a form of self care.
Therapy is no longer taboo
Once upon a time, visiting a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist was a matter of shame. My mother’s family has a history of mental illness and for the longest time, it was a hush-hush matter. When it did come up in conversation, it was a topic for ridicule.
But thanks to the efforts of many social activists, celebrities, and the wellness industry, going to a therapist is no longer taboo. When I was going through a divorce, I would not have been able to process all that was happening if it weren’t for my therapist. Nobody found my weekly appointments strange. In fact, my friends and family encouraged it.
What brought about this change? In India, the change really began when prominent A-list celebrities spoke up about their mental health issues and battles with depression.
In 2015, Deepika Padukone shattered people across the country when she admitted to Barkha Dutt that she suffered from depression. “I had just won all my awards, and you know, all the appreciation for 2013 … everything had happened and it was a great time, and obviously, people were gonna think like ‘Why is she depressed? She has everything going for her.’ But I woke up one morning just feeling empty, you know? Like this pittish feeling in my stomach. I woke up feeling directionless, I didn’t know where to go, I didn’t know what to do and I had these bouts of feeling so low that I would just start crying at the drop of a hat.” She said, “Sometimes being out around people helped but sometimes it didn’t help. Again, I don’t think it is in my control, nor in the people surrounding me.”
The floodgates were opened and a slew of celebrities came out with their struggles around mental health. Karan Johar, Anushka Sharma, Parveen Babi, Asha Parekh, Illeana D’Cruz, Tiger Shroff, Manisha Koirala … the list is long and revealing. Mental health issues don’t only plague regular Joes like me and you.
The 2010s did one great thing: it normalised seeking help for your mental health. The way you’d see a doctor for a flu, you can now go see a therapist for your mental health without the fear of shame or derision.
And that’s one wellness trend we’ll be rooting for for the years to come.
Lead Image Credit: PxHere
