In India whenever we celebrate Independence Day what comes to my mind is the great poem by Rabindranath Tagore for our country. Where the Mind is without fear, and the head is held high

The poem stresses that freedom from fear is an important part of being independent. Many mental illnesses show symptoms of a fear psychosis, which result in socially unacceptable behavior. The root cause is fear. Fear of being attacked, followed etc. are some common delusions which occur.

How can we get rid of fear? One strategy is to acknowledge fear, and also envision the worst that can happen. Ask oneself. What is the worst that can happen? Be prepared for it. If one leads an honest life, one can be free of fear. Fear is also a result of symptoms of guilt. Some children have poor growing environments. They may be subject to abuse and this results in some form of guilt and fear.

Mental illness, often being episodic and unpredictable, evokes the full range of emotional responses, including anger, grief, embarrassment, shame and despair. A powerful strong emotion that is often presented is guilt. A person’s sense of guilt usually relates to their moral code.

It’s important to seek counseling and therapy from a professional for overcoming guilt and fear. Seeking help is the first step. It’s important to acknowledge one’s guilt.

So what are you waiting for? This Independence day find your freedom to lead a great life ahead.

Cheers from the NAMI INDIA team.