Skip to main content

Posts

The Controversial Practice of Baby Throwing: A Religious Ritual in India

This article will definitely send chills down your spine! Baby throwing, a ritual practiced in specific regions of India by both Hindus and Muslims, is a tradition that has stirred controversy and deep-seated beliefs for centuries. In this ritual, infants under the age of two are handed over to priests, who conduct a ceremonial act involving shaking the baby and then tossing them from the roof of a shrine or mosque, usually at heights ranging from 30 to 50 feet. The ritual is primarily carried out during the first week of December at two prominent locations: the Baba Umer Dargah near Sholapur, Maharashtra, and the Sri Santeswar temple near Indi, Karnataka. Remarkably, more than two hundred families journey to these sites each year, eagerly participating in this age-old tradition. The origins of baby throwing are believed to date back five to seven centuries. According to folklore, a pir (a Sufi spiritual guide) once suggested to parents whose infants were gravely ill to construct a shr...

Understanding Schizophrenia: Unraveling the Complex Mental Puzzle

  Schizophrenia can be a puzzling and often misunderstood mental condition that influences the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and interacts with others. It brings forth a variety of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech and actions, emotional numbness, and withdrawal from social connections. It's important to grasp that schizophrenia is not a one-size-fits-all disorder but rather a spectrum of related conditions. Once upon a time, schizophrenia was classified into five subtypes based on its primary symptoms and how it appeared in individuals. These subtypes included paranoid, hebephrenic (or disorganized), catatonic, undifferentiated, and residual schizophrenia. However, in 2013, the American Psychiatric Association decided to do away with these subtypes in the official diagnostic manual (DSM-5). The reason behind this change was that they weren't deemed reliable or valid enough for guiding diagnosis and treatment. Instead, the diagnosis of sc...

A Closer Look at a Common Mental Health Challenge: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a significant mental health condition characterized by persistent and profound feelings of low mood, diminished self-esteem, and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that are typically enjoyable. This debilitating condition affects an astonishing 163 million individuals worldwide, based on data from 2017, and it exhibits a higher prevalence among women. MDD often makes its initial appearance during a person's twenties, a period marked by significant life transitions. The impact of MDD extends far beyond a mere emotional state, as it can severely impair personal, social, and occupational functioning, while also posing risks to physical health. It raises the chances of self-harm, suicide, substance use disorders, and other co-occurring medical conditions. The origins of MDD are complex, believed to be a result of a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Specific risk factors include a family history of the conditio...

Unveiling the Mingi Tradition: A Journey from Darkness to Hope

  The chilling tale of mingi, a traditional belief among the South Omotic-speaking Karo and Hamar peoples of southern Ethiopia, has long been shrouded in darkness. This haunting superstition entails branding children with perceived or real physical abnormalities as ritually impure. They are also considered to cast an evil shadow upon their communities, leading to the grim practice of disposing of mingi infants without a proper burial. But why are these innocent lives condemned? Reasons for being declared impure range from the circumstances of birth, such as being born out of wedlock or as a twin, to specific physical characteristics like the eruption of upper teeth before lower teeth or the chipping of a tooth in childhood. Tragically, mingi children are subjected to various gruesome fates, including having their mouths filled with sand, strangulation by rope, drowning in rivers, or abandonment in the unforgiving forest. This dark practice is deeply ingrained in the Karo culture an...

Harry Houdini: The Extraordinary Escape Artist

  Prepare to be mesmerized by the incredible life and enduring legacy of Harry Houdini, the master of escape. Houdini was not just a magician; he was an adventurer, innovator, and a cultural icon who pushed the boundaries of what the human mind and body could achieve. In this captivating article, we'll take you on a thrilling journey through the captivating world of Harry Houdini. Early Life and Magical Beginnings Our story begins in Budapest, Hungary, on March 24, 1874, where Houdini was born as Erich Weisz. Little did anyone know that this young boy would grow up to be one of the most famous magicians in history. Houdini's family immigrated to the United States in 1878, settling in Appleton, Wisconsin, where the seeds of his fascination with magic were planted. At the tender age of nine, he took on the moniker "Ehrich, the Prince of the Air" and embarked on his journey as a trapeze artist. When Houdini was 17, he and his brother Theo made their way to the bustling s...

Understanding and Managing Anxiety: A Guide to Better Mental Health

Anxiety, that flutter of nerves before a big presentation or a looming deadline, is a normal and even healthy emotion. It helps us gear up to face life's challenges, whether it's acing a test, giving a speech, or responding to a threat. Yet, for some individuals, anxiety can take an excessive, persistent, and overwhelming form, seeping into their daily lives and well-being. This is when anxiety transforms into a mental health issue that warrants attention and care. Anxiety disorders are some of the most prevalent mental health conditions globally, impacting about 1 in 10 people at various points in their lives. They don't discriminate – they can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, culture, or background. Additionally, they often co-occur with other mental health concerns, such as depression, substance misuse, or eating disorders. These anxiety disorders manifest in different ways, each with its own set of symptoms and causes. Here are some of the most common types: Ge...

Mental Health: A Fundamental Right and How to Enhance It

Mental health is the cornerstone of our overall well-being, empowering us to navigate life's challenges, harness our capabilities, and contribute to our communities. It's not merely an aspect of health; it's a fundamental human right, and it plays an integral role in personal, community, and socio-economic development. Despite its paramount importance, mental health is not always guaranteed or safeguarded. Multiple factors can adversely affect our mental well-being, encompassing individual psychological and biological elements, exposure to adverse social, economic, geopolitical, and environmental conditions, and limited access to quality and affordable mental health care. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), depression stands as one of the leading causes of global disability, impacting over 264 million individuals. Tragically, suicide ranks as the fourth leading cause of death among those aged 15-29, claiming more than 700,000 lives annually. Furthermore, individuals...