HOW THE IDEA OF GUILT CAN RUIN YOUR MENTAL SANITY
Typical consciousness of guilt comes out of the idea of wrongdoing. It can be seen as Prajnaparadha in Ayurveda. A generic idea of wrongdoing can be asserted by actions such as theft, deceit and other unlawful activities. There is no denying that the burdens of such activities can become heavy and consumes the perpetrator with extreme agony as the realization of wrongdoing feeds on the very person. However worse may it be there is little to be done to escape that burden. Nonetheless, it is the nuances of guilt trips that take a toll on the mind. Where the consciousness of guilt is heavier than the guilt itself.
Sumita(Name changed) is one of those people who are very much aware of their physical appearance, she constantly struggles to lose bodyweight in order to appear leaner. Yet the primary problem with her fitness plan lies in her habit. Although pretty serious about getting lean Sumita cannot really let go of desserts; she needs a mouthful of sweetened delicacies especially whenever she undergoes any kind of emotional turmoil. The extend of emotional vulnerability is so severe that she ends up consuming desserts almost every day which helps little with her fitness goal.
The worst part of Sumita’s condition lies not in her habit but it is the fact that she is fully aware of it. Sumita is completely aware of her unhealthy food habits, she knows that she tries to cope with situations through food.
It is Sumita’s awareness about her unhealthy coping mechanism that consumes her with guilt. Whenever she eats something sweet, she feels guilty for violating her fitness target but at the same time, she cannot help it. Her guilt consciousness is detrimental because it feeds on anxiety and further denigrates an individual’s mental health. Guilt consciousness is one of the most prevalent causes that disrupt mental peace. Sumita’s condition is just a part of the picture which turns out pretty horrendous. Her emotional vulnerability feeds her cravings whereas the anxiety of guilt consciousness creates self-consciousness which grows into emotional vulnerability. Thereby creating a vicious cycle that cannot be escaped.
Mental wellbeing is very crucial to a healthy and productive lifestyle. Guilt consciousness is the most fundamental aspect that further develops into anxiety and low self-esteem. Thus, pushing an individual to the abysmal labyrinths of self-consciousness. A mind that is very sensitive and disciplinarily conditioned is prone to the sensation of guilt every now and then. Conscience is the key factor that drives the idea of feeling guilty. While hypersensitive conscience has contributing factors such as cultural and moral conditioning and requires professional guidance to deal with.
Mental health is still stigmatized in Indian society — most people see no difference between mental health problems and being mad. It is the perpetual ignorance about mental health that pushes an entire generation on the verge of mental breakdown. Ignorance fails us to identify problems with their origin and instead of treating the problems people end up categorizing all under one umbrella — madness.
