Thread by @mail2neeti

Was planning to write a blog on #WorldMentalHealthDay, but have less energy to do so. Just want to share my journey on prioritizing on mental health. Prior to start of my PhD journey in Australia in 2015, I was aware about mental health issues but did not experience it myself.

Being separated from my family and being away to pursue my dream came with a baggage of guilt, that intensified when earthquake struck in April 2015. I headed home and returned to Australia with two kids ( aged 4 and 9) all by myself without supporting presence of my partner

Being a single carer of two young boys, who were grappling with the new country, environment and yet being a PhD student put immense pressure and I broke down but I knew about it before it was too serious. Since then, I started seeing counsellor at university and it was one of

the best decisions of my life. Thanks to @AustraliaAwards that I could experience living in a country where Mental health is prioritized and considered as integral part of health system. I also went on learning Mental Health First Aid. It is one thing knowing what mental health

is but practicing it in day to day life. I am an ambitious woman with equally strong value on her role as a mother. And sometimes balance is too much to maintain. Here are some of the strategies I have been using. I am still learning and relearning from people around me

1. Understanding my limitations: what I can do and what I cannot and accepting it to plan my current engagements and future aspirations.
2. Dream has been important part of my life, and I see dream in sequences, stages and strategies. I do not let it remain vague & unattainable

3. I am people's person, I love conversing, debating but I am struggling still to understand that not everyone is going to like me and accept the way I am, and that is okay.
4. Picking my battles wisely, it is ongoing struggle and something that I have not been doing that well

5. Knowing who are my PEOPLE, my TRIBE, my CLAN. When you are constantly shifting from one job to another, one country to another, your PEOPLE change too, and that is okay, but knowing what kind of People are the ones that I can be myself, is important. Still struggling in this

6. Last but not the least, FAMILY is important. spending quality time with children and my partner is important. And growing together, nurturing each other in this hostile world is important. No matter what, FAMILY comes first. And I have learnt it hard way, really hard way.