Aman was 22, a college student in Delhi with decent grades, a buzzing social life, and a promising future — at least, that’s what it looked like from the outside. No one noticed how hard it had become for him to get out of bed. He laughed with his friends, but something inside him felt hollow. His heart raced in crowded classrooms. He stopped writing in his journal. Slowly, silently, Aman was slipping into the grip of anxiety and depression — and no one saw it coming.

In India, where success is often measured in performance and productivity, mental health struggles remain invisible until they explode. Depression doesn’t always look like tears, and anxiety isn’t always panic attacks. Sometimes, it’s smiling through the pain. Sometimes, it’s just pretending.

What Depression and Anxiety Really Look Like

Waking up tired even after a full night’s sleep

Overthinking simple decisions

Feeling numb during things you used to enjoy

Being constantly irritable or restless

Avoiding social situations, even with loved ones

Physical symptoms like headaches, chest tightness, or nausea

These symptoms often go unspoken because they don’t “look” like an illness. In rural areas, they’re dismissed as “overthinking” or “weak nerves.” In cities, they’re masked with hustle.

How Can We Begin to Heal?

1. Language matters — Stop calling someone lazy when they might be low.

2. Listen actively — Ask “How are you really feeling?” and mean it.

3. Build awareness in schools and colleges — Empower students to seek help.

4. Normalize therapy and counseling — It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s self-care.

5. Create safe spaces — both online and offline — where people can share openly.

Aman finally opened up to a professor who referred him to a campus counselor. He’s healing now — still learning, still showing up for himself. His biggest realization? “It’s okay to not be okay. But it’s not okay to stay silent.”

Let’s learn to spot these invisible wounds. Let’s give mental health the space it deserves — in our minds, in our conversations, and in our hearts.