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Mental issues know no boundary. Whether you're living in the best country in the world or the worst, it's always there; lurking somewhere deep in your mind. I'm Aslan, a 24-year-old graphic design student living in Iran, and I want to tell the story of how it's like living in Iran as a young adult, and how it affected me mentally.
Political turmoil, economic collapse, and tensions within and without the country has made the future dark and uncertain for my generation. You don't even know if you can get a job to earn enough money to sustain a simple life, let alone thinking of becoming successful. For me, these uncertainties led to chronic stress and overthinking which in turn caused procrastination. "Will I ever achieve something in the future when I don't even know what's gonna happen tomorrow? Is it even worth trying?" Such thoughts went through my head every single day. Procrastination led to more stress, anxiety and even guilt. I was trapped in a vicious cycle. The cycle continued, until at the age of 23, one night, I experienced my first panic attack. Truly a horrifying experience. But it didn't just end there. Soon after the first attack, I developed panic disorder. In order to continue living my everyday life, doing everyday things, I started taking medications. "I'm 24, I should be having the time of my life right now, but here I am, mentally ruined, and my future pitch black." But, despite all these hardships and negative thoughts, I still haven't given up on my dream of becoming a great graphic designer in the future. But first, I have to defeat procrastination, and the thoughts lingering in my mind.
We only have one life, and we have to fight for it. Unfortunately, in life, struggle is inevitable, and for people suffering from mental issues, it's even more challenging. I guess, we're playing the game of life on hard difficulty. But always remember, the harder it is, the greater are the rewards in the end.
I'm going to end my brief story with one of my favorite quotes, but before that I want to thank Jessica and everyone else who provide us with a space to share our feelings, our stories with the world, and connect with the ones going through the same hardship.
“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” — Sigmund Freud