LETTERS: I recently asked my mother, 73, whether depression was common in the 1950s and '60s.
"No, we didn't have much but we were happier.
"We accepted life as it was. We had little to compare ourselves with, and there were fewer opportunities for anyone."
She said today's youth compared themselves unrealistically with others.
This, coupled with the desire to quickly achieve them, caused self-doubt and anxiety, she said.
Most of our anxiety is self-inflicted. There are two types of stressors: controllable and uncontrollable.
Uncontrollable stressors are natural disasters, economic depression and death of a loved one.
Controllable stressors include training for competitions, planning, time management and paying too much attention to what other people think of you.
We can control stress. We need not stress about the possibilities that have not come to pass.
Consider myths and the truths. Between perception and reality.
For example, it is a myth that the harder one works, the more one is deserving of love. The truth is, people will love you for who you are, so cherish them.
Another myth is that we cannot make mistakes in life because the world is observing what we do.
The truth is, thinking that you cannot make any mistakes is a mistaken thought in itself.
Also, thinking that everyone is obsessed with your life is another mistaken belief.
That said, I am not belittling mental health conditions such as clinical depression, bipolar and schizophrenia.
We need to be more compassionate, more empathetic, more patient and listen before we speak.
The theme for World Mental Health Day is "Make Mental Health And Wellbeing For All A Global Priority".
In this day and age, mental problems are more widespread and common than you think.
JOYCE T.
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times