My name is Ma Hnin Ei Ei Khine, an 18-year-old Burmese-Karen girl, living in Kayin State. I suffered from COVID-19 and now I am being rehabilitated. Back when I was suffering, I frequently worried I might die. Since I was physically, mentally and emotionally drained, I was very depressed. It was not just then; I feel down in normal times as well. I'm depressed because I suffer from fear of insecurities of my life.
I am now taking treatment with a therapist and would like to share my views with other people going through something similar. Most of the time, people do not care much about their mental health. My community and my parents do not know how to take care of mental health or how to deal with their children in positive ways. Consequently, they tend to inflict psychological trauma on the children unconsciously. Plus, people are not known to do a lot of self-reflection. As for me, the only girl in the household, I have had to endure some bullying.
Since I started experiencing COVID symptoms, people in my neighbourhood did not support me physically or psychologically. In fact, they excluded me and my family by saying that people should not go near us. They should have been telling me to stay healthy, to take care, to stay strong and ask if there was anything I would like to eat. My family and I received nothing but social exclusion.
As my whole family suffered from COVID-19, we were more stressed, more prone to anger, and felt small as well. In my country, places that offer such psychological healing are very scarce and more so in the rural parts where I live. It is also more expensive, but I had no other choice.
Fortunately, I was accepted on a programme run by an organization that works on psychological support. There, I realized that I was not alone and that many are suffering. We got support from each other. Although the mental distress of each individual was not the same, we supported each other knowing that we were all suffering from our own issues and had counselling sessions with a therapist. I talked regularly with my friends but took a break from using social media. I meditated, I focused on my self-time. This is how I deal with myself. In my community, I also reach out as much as I can; starting conversations with people, asking if they are ok, and sometimes, I arrange something to surprise my friends online. I help that way.
Despite the hardships due to COVID and the current crisis, I find myself resilient as I have someone to who I look up to. She is my teacher. She was a scholar at Harvard and graduated there. Her mindset is really strong, and she manages her life really well. She does not give up easily on anything, for any reason. This is why I respect and admire her. So, I have learned from her to overcome my problems, learn from my experiences and reflect on them. By doing this, I have survived in a resilient manner.
Although it is not hard for people to listen to psychological trauma, it can be very hard for those who are voicing their issues; they have to re-live their suffering. But let’s ask ourselves, “Are you willing to suffer your whole life by yourself? Can you give up happiness for the rest of your life because of something you did?” So, speak out. Open up to those whom you confide in. At such times where even tomorrow is uncertain let us overcome it by being healthy, happy for ourselves and for the people around us, by remembering merry and happy memories at every time, every second.
