Entertainment

From Bollywood dreams to bipolar reality: a doctor's journey – Kevin MD

Published

2 months ago

March 27, 2024

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
– Maya Angelou
Since my teenage years, I have been watching Bollywood movies of all sorts. Maybe people from the subcontinent like them because no one can relate to these movies other than them.
My favorite hero was Sushant Singh Rajput. I liked him for his personality, his sweet smile, and the genuine look he had in his eyes. When he smiled, I could sometimes see a hint of pain in his eyes. He did a lot of movies and gained a lot of recognition for his work. I studied about him a lot and got to know that he had an exceptional IQ. He was very interested in physics, astronomy, and coding. Although he dropped out of his engineering course at university just to pursue his passion for acting. Having no connections in the Bollywood background, he was an outsider in the industry, and therefore, he had to struggle to find work in Bollywood. He lost his mother at an early age and was a very shy and sensitive kid in childhood. But he became a star and gained immense popularity, wealth, and fame. He was truly a self-made person.
He died by suicide in 2020 at the age of 34. A lot of speculations were made after his death, and his psychiatrist and psychotherapist later revealed that he had been fighting depression and hypomanic episodes for a long time and had bipolar disorder. He couldn’t accept his diagnosis and was always reluctant to take medication. He never discussed his condition with his friends because he was worried about his career and thought his family would suffer.
I am a very hardworking and intelligent doctor working in oncology for the past four years. I come from a lower-middle-income class and received all my education on a scholarship throughout my life. Later, I was selected in a public sector medical college, so there was very little expense regarding my education. I was sensitive and shy and would cry easily. There were a lot of expectations from me since childhood to be the perfect eldest daughter, the brightest student in school, high school, and later medical school.
During my residency, I met teachers who always expected a lot from me. I was very empathetic and emotional and took very little time to bond with my cancer patients. I felt a lot of sadness listening to their stories; literally, I felt as if I could feel their pain and emotions and was always available for them round the clock. I always thought that I had to do a lot of work or facilitate everyone around me just to prove my self-worth. That made me a workaholic and a dependable doctor.
After a few minor setbacks in life and failures in a few exams, I cried a lot for days. I lost my appetite, a lot of weight, and sleep for almost 14 to 15 days. But prior to this period, there were a few weeks in which I felt a lot more confident, spent my hard-earned money extravagantly, started speaking in English very fluently and rapidly, although I had been a little hesitant in speaking English all my life. I also discovered that I had a passion for writing, although I had been an avid reader but had never written all my life. I also had a few conflicts with my program director and colleagues. I felt a lot of anger during those days, although I had always been a calm person who was never impolite or anxious in my life. I was the person who could sense and always thought about other people’s needs. I never put myself first and could even detect changes in people’s moods around me. I could always tell when someone was hungry, upset, or having a bad day around me and always tried to act like a therapist. I listened to everyone’s problems around me but never shared my thoughts and problems with anyone, having the thought in my mind that everyone already had a lot of issues going on in their lives.
Later, I went to a psychiatrist who told me that I had bipolar disorder. It can’t be cured but can be managed with medication and psychotherapy. I never accepted his diagnosis but started medication on my own. I never told my friends or family due to the mental health stigma in our society. I forgot approximately the past three years of medical knowledge, and it affected my performance at my workplace a lot. I started having crying spells and gastrointestinal symptoms. Almost every day, I had to vomit a lot in the morning and had frequent episodes of watery diarrhea throughout the day. I completely lost my appetite and lost almost 10 to 15 kg of weight. My friends started noticing that something was wrong. I started taking leaves due to being ill every few days, and my department almost lost all hope in me.
When I told a few of my friends, most of them advised me to quit the medication. They also could not accept the fact that someone so lovable and polite could be bipolar. They advised me to quit psychotropic medication due to the lack of knowledge about mental health issues in our society. I changed my psychiatrist and medications multiple times on my own because I thought I only had clinical depression and nothing else. This went on for a whole year, but the antidepressants never worked for me. After falling extremely sick one day, I saw a doctor who prescribed me mood stabilizers and counseled me to accept my diagnosis and to never quit any medication on my own again. I started therapy, and after some time, I regained my memory, focus, and appetite. I started performing well in exams again. I started enjoying those activities again that I used to do in the past. A few of my friends and family were very supportive to me and dealt with my tantrums in a peaceful way.
People who get diagnosed with such illnesses mostly lose all joy in their lives during the hypomanic and depressive phases. I just want to emphasize the fact that there is no shame in having a mental illness, and sometimes people with these illnesses even perform better than others in life. But accepting your diagnosis is the first key step. The difference between my story and Sushant’s story is that he couldn’t accept his mental illness and succumbed to it, while I never attempted suicide even though I lived miserably for a whole year. Although I accepted it after a very long time. The day I accepted my diagnosis and myself, I started getting better. Never ever quit your medications on your own because the effects can be disastrous. Family and close friends’ support is important, but do not listen to everyone’s advice. They can never get the slightest idea of what you are going through. Psychotherapy is important, and sometimes people can feel better even with psychotherapy alone. Medications are only prescribed when your daily life is being affected by your illness.
We always need to be aware of those children around us who are extremely shy, kind, sensitive, intelligent, and introverted, who have a history of trauma in their lives. These are the kinds of people who have the greatest risk of developing mental health problems later in life. Residency is tough and can be toxic for some doctors. Teachers and parents have the responsibility to teach themselves soft skills in life; otherwise, they will have to learn them on their own at a heavy price.
The author is an anonymous physician.
Tagged as: Psychiatry
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Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.
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Entertainment

Chicago Fashion Week powered by FashionBar LLC: Modern & Ready2Wear | 04/26/2024 – Choose Chicago

Published

8 hours ago

May 14, 2024

knitved

CHICAGO – FashionBar is pleased to announce Chicago Fashion Week powered by FashionBar, scheduled from April 21st to April 28th 2024. The event kicks off with the Designer Reveal and Avant Garde Competition followed by a weeklong of runway shows at Water Tower Place on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.
Experience the beauty of simplicity in the Modern Minimalist & Ready to Wear show. This presentation, designed for the contemporary individual, celebrates clean lines and timeless elegance in a showcase of accessible yet sophisticated fashion.
The Modern Minimalist & Ready to Wear Show will take place at Water Tower Place, FashionBar Level 3, 835 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. This three-hour event is not only a celebration of fashion but also a charitable initiative, in partnership with The Mary E Smith Foundation.
You can learn more/donate to the Mary E Smith Foundation by clicking this link here.
Non-Profit Beneficiary – The Mary E Smith Foundation
The Mary E Smith Foundation exists “To provide the resources to assist in the early detection and prevention of brain tumors; to support education and research in the neurosciences through scholarships; to award grants to health care organizations; to provide financial assistance for brain tumor screenings for underserved families; to promote healthy living and lifestyles through health awareness; to conduct and/or support community programs dedicated to the improvement of health, wellness and overall quality of life” – Mary E Smith website.
By partnering with the Mary E Smith Foundation, we contribute to the mission of supporting those impacted by brain tumors and promoting advancements in early detection and prevention.
The Modern Minimalist & Ready to Wear Show will open with a cocktail reception beginning at 5:30 pm, which will include viewing designer samples as press, media, models, buyers, editors, stylists, PR organizations, VIPs, Celebrities, influencers and yourself kick off a week-long of The Shows!
Itinerary:
Powered by FashionBar, this event is part of the Chicago Fashion Week experience, as we present The Shows from April 21st to April 28th, 2024 & The Marketplace on April 27th & 28th 2024. The Marketplace is a Chicago fashion experience, that showcases amazing designers, apparel, and products, giving you fashion, wellness, and beauty in unique Chicago venues. To vend at The Shows or The Marketplace, please email us at [email protected]
Water Tower Place is a Chicago landmark on the Magnificent Mile and renowned for its vast selection of over 60 stores including American Girl Place,…
Experience one of the world’s most beautiful and iconic shopping districts.
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Water Tower Place is a Chicago landmark on the Magnificent Mile and renowned for its vast selection of over 60 stores including American Girl Place,…
Experience one of the world’s most beautiful and iconic shopping districts.
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Entertainment

Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion – The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Published

13 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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You must join the virtual queue when you arrive. We may not admit visitors near the end of the day. Sleeping Beauties is an immersive exhibition with sensory experiences including video animations, soundscapes, and smells. Visitors travel in a single path in one direction.
Special Access for Members
Priority access in the virtual queue and Weekend Member Mornings 9–10 am every Saturday and Sunday

The Costume Institute’s spring 2024 exhibition, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, reactivates the sensory capacities of masterworks in the Museum’s collection through first-hand research, conservation analysis, and diverse technologies—from cutting-edge tools of artificial intelligence and computer-generated imagery to traditional formats of x-rays, video animation, light projection, and soundscapes.

When an item of clothing enters the Costume Institute collection, its status is changed forever. What was once a vital part of a person’s life is now a motionless ‘artwork’ that can no longer be worn or heard, touched, or smelled. This exhibition reanimates these objects, helping us experience them as they were originally intended—with vibrancy, dynamism, and life.

The exhibition features approximately 220 garments and accessories spanning four centuries, all visually connected through themes of nature, which also serves as a metaphor for the transience of fashion. Visitors will be invited to smell the aromatic histories of hats bearing floral motifs; to touch the walls of galleries that will be embossed with the embroidery of select garments; and to experience—via the illusion technique known as Pepper’s ghost—how the “hobble skirt” restricted women’s stride in the early 20th century. Punctuating the galleries will be a series of “sleeping beauties”—garments that can no longer be dressed on mannequins due to their extreme fragility.

To access the booklet of all large-print exhibition text, click here
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Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
This vibrant title brings to life four centuries of extraordinary garments and accessories inspired by the natural world.

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Entertainment

Breaking boundaries of style: The soaring trend of gender-neutral fashion – WION

Published

18 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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The impact of gender-neutral clothing extends beyond the LGBTQA++ community as it promotes inclusivity for all genders including those who identify as non-binary and genderfluid. Read on!
Fashion has always been a way for individuals to express themselves, an opportunity to feel comfortable in their skin that gives everyone the power that they need in order to break free from the barriers.
Earlier, fashion was defined by gender demarcations, with clothing specifically built for men and women, ignoring the needs of people who don’t want to limit their identity to two specific genders.
But in recent times, there has been a considerable shift in this perception, with fashion becoming inclusive of all who want to experiment and are daring to break the stereotypical norms by freely expressing their gender identity both globally and in India.
This has led to the emergence of gender-neutral clothing, empowering individuals to dress in a way that highlights their uniqueness, rather than supressing their identity.
The market demand for gender-neutral fashion is steadily rising and is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5 per cent from 2021 to 2030. Gender-neutral clothing breaks stereotypes and brings a more fluid and dynamic vision to an individual’s style. It rejects the idea that clothes should be gender-specific and paves the way for authentic self-expression that celebrates diversity.
The impact of gender-neutral clothing extends beyond the LGBTQA++ community as it promotes inclusivity for all genders including those who identify as non-binary and genderfluid.
It challenges the notion that clothes should be confined to masculine or female designs but rather opens the door to making fashion accessible for all. Gender-neutral clothing holds a special place as it permits individuals to feel comfortable in their being, making it all the more valuable than conventional gender-specific clothing.
It gives people the freedom to experiment with different styles, colours and silhouettes without feeling suffocated by what they are wearing. For instance, designs that blur the lines between male and female designs such as boxy t-shirts, oversized blazers, tailored suits, etc are becoming increasingly popular.
These designs boast silhouettes that are breathable, and comfortable and allow freedom of movement. This gives individuals the liberty to wear clothes that embrace diversity making them inclusive about different choices that hold the key for boosting confidence and self-acceptance.
Also read: Scent of luxury: India’s jasmine infuses global perfume
A new generation of gender-neutral fashion individuals has emerged and their voice has become a huge success on various social media platforms. The millennials and the GenZ have joined forces to build a space that allows non-binary and gender-fluid people to share their real selves on social media and gain support from a large community. Social media has vast potential and people can utilise these platforms to put their gender-neutral looks on the air and encourage the adoption of others.
Celebrities have also embraced this trend as they are preferring gender-neutral clothes and influencing people to experiment and wear what makes them feel comfortable, as clothes have no boundaries.
Movies like Barbie have successfully generated a wave of pink and have made the shade gender-neutral by portraying male characters shining in pink, breaking the notion of femininity attached to the colour.
The new online trends have been able to transform people’s mindset and have contributed towards the development of a robust online community that has normalised apparel, and prioritised embracement of differences.
Indian fashion designers and labels are taking huge leaps to break down the role of apparel in making people conform to traditional gender roles, by offering diverse, versatile and inclusive designs, catering to all genders.
For instance, Payal Gupta with her brand YUGA has launched a collection of gender-neutral skirts, dresses, trousers and much more.
Additionally, gender-neutral clothing is making waves in the industry with designers promoting the eco-friendliness of the materials and production techniques that are paving the way for the cultivation of a sustainable fashion industry.
Another prominent Indian fashion designer – Hansika Chabbria has unveiled her gender-neutral label called One Less with the objective to make sustainable fashion accessible through apparel that is free from specifications.
Also read: Indian actress Smita Bansal shares 5 parenting mantras for mothers with teenage daughters | Exclusive
The fashion industry is moving away from the traditional sizing system that ignores the need of people who don’t fit into socially acceptable boxes.
Brands are recognising the need for gender-inclusive measurements so that clothes can no longer be a factor that creates disparities among people.
High-profile designers, including Gucci and Alexander McQueen, have launched gender-neutral collections, and numerous independent brands and retailers are now offering gender-neutral clothing options. The future of fashion is bright, with designers continuing this revolution down the years by pushing set boundaries and creating magic with innovative collections that cater to diverse gender identities.
Fashion is becoming a movement and is creating a world with greater diversity and representation. Brands are making significant headway by prioritising inclusivity in their campaigns, fashion shows, and advertisements. The trends associated with gender neutrality is certainly becoming the new normal in the world that destroys traditional stereotypical norms and empowers individual to be, feel, and live life as they want.
(With inputs from Jamil Ahmed, Co-founder & CBO, Fashinza)
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