BATTLE OF THE MIND

SWAPNAKALPA BANIK, 19 2nd year student of psychology, Gokhale College, Kolkata

After being together for more than a year, Swapnakalpa has just broken up with her boyfriend. They had had their differences for a while now, but the lockdown made her review their relationship with a lot more pragmatism. Suffering from depression and a borderline personality disorder, she is prone to mood swings. The uncertainty that Corona has unleashed on everyone’s academic plans and life in general has increased their frequency. Breaking off a relationship could just prove to be the last straw. But Swapnakalpa has made up her mind and decided to move on, sans any regret. “When you are put in a tough situation, relationships too are put to test,” she says. “The difficult times gave me a perspective on what is durable and what is not. We are friends with a lot of people because we see them every day, but times like these make us realise who we actually connect to. I have gotten closer to some people, and drifted away from some others.”

Swapnakalpa feels privileged that she can afford therapy and seek professional help to take care of her troubled mind. At the same time, however, the hypocrisy of people never ceases to astonish her. “A celeb’s death is making so many people shed false tears. A lot of people, otherwise indifferent to mental health issues of friends, suddenly have this well of sympathy for the mentally ill. I cannot stand this hypocrisy.”

“IT IS TIMES LIKE THESE THAT MAKE US REALISE WHO WE ACTUALLY CONNECT TO”