Top News

Below are some excerpts from our conversation on mental health with Dr. Chandni Tugnait, Founder and Director of Gateway of Healing, TEDx speaker and psychotherapist, who attended the Grihalakshmi Mrs. India 2026 event as a jury guest. This conversation has answers to many important questions to mental health.

What is the biggest myth in society regarding mental health?

We often think about mental health (mental health) do not want to accept the problems associated with it. Many times we are not ready to admit even to ourselves that we are not feeling well. We have accepted stress as so normal that it seems there is no need to see it or pay attention to it. Many times the surrounding environment also does not help in this. Family or friends say, “Think good, think positive, don’t think so much.” This makes it even more difficult to understand the real condition of the person. Many people find it difficult to even accept help from a therapist or doctor. Therefore, it is very important to accept help for mental health as normal. Just as we go to the doctor when we have an injury or a fever, it is completely normal to seek help if we are not feeling well mentally or emotionally.

How do Millennials and Gen Z view mental health?

Gen Z is definitely a more aware and open-minded generation regarding mental health. If they don’t feel well or feel the need to talk to someone, they appear more willing to seek help. The situation has been a little different with Millennials. They have been taught for a long time to handle their own problems. So many times they wonder why they need help or what will change it. We have to understand that just as a person can have physical problems, similarly he can also have mental health problems.

How are self-confidence and mental strength to each other?

Both self-confidence and mental strength develop gradually. None of us are born with confidence. When we go through different experiences and face the world, our confidence gradually builds and mental strength also develops. However, sometimes a person’s mental strength can also be affected by childhood experiences. If someone has faced bullying in childhood or has had harsh parental behavior, his mental strength may be affected and he may need more support than others.

How important is it to understand and accept your feelings?

Our emotions can make or break our lives. Therefore, it is very important to understand what state we are in emotionally. The first step for this is to recognize your feelings. After this it is necessary to process it. Often, instead of processing emotions, people suppress them or busy themselves with something else. One starts working, starts watching social media or videos or engages oneself in some other activity. This may provide some relief at the time, but the emotion is not really processed. If emotions continue to be suppressed, they can affect our mood, communication style, relationships, focus and productivity. In the long run, its effect can also be seen on physical health.

What should a person do who is unable to process his emotions?

In such a situation, it is a good option to talk to a professional who can help. In a professional space, a person gets the opportunity to express his views without judgment and can feel safe. If for some reason it is not possible to seek professional help, then you can start with journaling. Writing down the things going on in your mind on paper i.e. brain dumping is a good way. This can help in clearing out the persistent thoughts in the mind. Meditation can also be helpful, but meditation is not easy for every person.

What is the reason for feeling lonely even while being in a crowd?

Today the pressure of living a life of show off has also increased. While trying to maintain a special image on social media, people often end up cutting themselves off. Despite having relationships and people around, they may feel lonely as their connection with themselves becomes weak. Many times we do things thinking about how other people will see us or how many likes we will get. For example, if someone is wearing an outfit in which he himself is not comfortable, but he thinks it will look good on social media, then he is prioritizing the reaction of others rather than his own comfort and choice. Due to constant comparison, a person forgets his own merits and starts considering the life of others as better. Therefore, it is very important to understand yourself, recognize your preferences and be comfortable with yourself.

Women go through different kinds of pressure. How can she deal with this?

First of all they should remember their abilities and talents. Often we pay more attention to our shortcomings and look at the strengths of others. This increases comparison and affects our self-confidence. So first of all remind yourself what is good inside you. Write down your strengths and identify them. If you have a down moment or have doubts about something, write it down on paper immediately. Clear out your thoughts, take a few deep breaths and then focus on your goal. Also remember that every experience has its own importance. If you are successful then it is great, but if you are not successful in any endeavor then you can definitely learn something from it. If we keep comparing ourselves to others at every step, we will neither be able to enjoy our journey nor realize our achievements.