AKHILVAANI LIVING IT UP

Author's Note: Author does not claim to be either a researcher or a historian of Bipolar Disorder or any other form of Mental Illness. The quest for history of Bipolar Disorder, earlier known as Manic Depressive Insanity came from the desire to understand the rubrics and nuances of this type of madness which the author … Continue reading THE Brief History of Manic Depressive Insanity (Bipolar Disorder)- from Hippocrates to DSM-5

It is time to think unthinkable. Because it is time to bring out of closet the untalkable. What it is? And why it is important. Let there be a suspense for a bit and before coming straight to the point, let us look at diagnostic criteria of Bipolar Mania in  American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical … Continue reading Talking the Talk-Bringing out of the Closet the Taboo Word- Sexual Indiscretion in Bipolar Mania

Caveat: akhilvaani started came into being in 2017 as a considered response to removal of stigma around Mental Illness. It is  also a decisive platform which aims to create awareness by encouraging sufferers, care givers and other stakeholders to Own Up, Open Up and Talk Mental Illness. akhilvaani through the non invasive source of e-mail … Continue reading Ms. Shayonee Das Gupta Speaks-Other Warriors of Mental Health and ” D-Word” by Shubhrata Prakash helped me Open Up

Way back in 1998 when no one wanted to discuss his/ her mental illness in the country, God chose me as the poster boy of Mental Illness. All my depressive breakdowns of catatonic numbness and destructive  psychotic manic flares were rather public events.  Two decades have gone by and during the period I had the … Continue reading Mental Hai Kya ?- Haan Main Hoon Na

A decade back activist Tarana Burke started #MeToo movement to kick-start mutual support and solidarity between survivors of sexual abuse. But the hashtag got the traction  and became viral overnight in 2017 once Alyssa Milano used it in support of friend Ross McGowan's allegation of sexual harassment against Harvey Weinstein. The 2017 and 2018 events are … Continue reading #IndiaMeTooMentallyIll Thy Time is Now

Dr Ankit Patel, welcome to akhilvaani- a platform to "Own-Up Open Up and Talk Mental Illness.  I have been glued to your earlier posts in Facebook, Twitter and Bipolar India about your own fight with Depression, Kindly accept my most sincere gratitude for agreeing to participate in this national festival. Question 1: At the outset, tell us, … Continue reading Dr. Ankit Patel: Life Lessons from one Psychiatrist’s Fight with Depression

Akhilvaani has been silent for a while. But it is apt to restart this journey afresh today- yesterday I was part of unfolding of a fresh chapter of story of a great institution that begs to be told. And what an evening it was yesterday. Sun had just set over the Bay of Bengal. And … Continue reading The Banyan Story- A Road Less Traveled

While  I write this piece, my mind is numb. It straight away takes me to the wee hours of 6th August, 2001, when the unthinkable happened at Erwadi Dargah in Ramanathapuram district of Tamilnadu. "Erwadi Tragedy" is something which a thirty year Indian today may not even have a clue about. But when it happened it … Continue reading WHY After 16 years of Erwadi Tragedy-there is a need to Re-Mind India: Erwadi Matters

Akhilvaani: Question 1: Ranjitha welcome to Akhilvaani, a platform to "Own Up Open Up and Talk Mental Illness. At the outset, tell us, who you are, what your profession is and what is your passion.(you can tell anything and everything you want to tell in free-flowing manner. I want the people to get a feel … Continue reading Depression is part of who you are it is not what you are. There is life beyond depression: Akhilvaani in conversation with Journalist Ranjitha Gunasekaran