Chandigarh, May 31 — When life feels like a relentless series of misfortunes, and every page turned reveals deeper pain, the question of survival becomes more than philosophical—it becomes deeply personal. Amid global unrest, economic hardship, and rising mental health crises, psychologists urge that even the most painful stories can be endured and rewritten.
“People often say, ‘I feel like my life is cursed, like every chapter is darker than the last.’ This isn’t just poetic—it’s how trauma and chronic stress reshape our perception,” said Dr. Uzma Haider, a clinical psychologist based in Delhi. “But emotional pain, while real and overwhelming, can be managed with support and strategy.”
Dr. Haider explained that persistent agony often stems from unresolved trauma or continuous adversity. “Survival starts with acknowledgement,” she said. “When people pretend they’re fine, they push their pain deeper, where it festers. We teach them to sit with their pain, give it a name, and then gently begin the work of healing.”
For those living through joblessness, relationship breakdowns, illness, or grief, survival can feel like dragging a weight through each day. But mental health experts say hope does not require a clean slate—it requires one small reason to stay in the game.
“Sometimes, it’s not about thinking positively,” said Dr. Rakesh Menon, a trauma therapist in Mumbai. “It’s about thinking truthfully. You might say, ‘My life is a mess, but I’m still breathing. I’m still here.’ That single truth becomes your anchor.”
Research shows that cognitive restructuring—changing how one interprets negative events—can help reduce emotional suffering. This doesn’t mean denying pain, but rather reframing one’s relationship with it.
“When clients tell me, ‘Everything’s gone wrong,’ I ask, ‘Has everything? Or just a lot?’” said Dr. Menon. “That little shift matters. It cracks the door open for light.”
For many, the struggle is made worse by isolation. Experts insist that connection is not just comforting—it’s life-saving.
“Agony thrives in silence,” said Dr. Haider. “Survivors often tell me they didn’t want to burden others. But connection is the opposite of burden. A 10-minute conversation can remind someone they’re not alone.”
While medication and therapy remain vital tools, psychologists also advocate for practical survival habits—routine, rest, physical movement, and avoiding harmful self-talk.
“Even when everything feels pointless, small routines can bring structure to chaos,” Dr. Menon said. “Get out of bed, brush your teeth, open the window. You’re not fixing everything, but you’re still living. That’s powerful.”
Above all, the experts say, it’s essential to reject the myth that only joyful lives are worth living.
“Sometimes life doesn’t look like a story of redemption,” said Dr. Haider. “Sometimes it’s just surviving one awful page after another. But survival itself is a kind of sacred defiance. It’s saying, ‘I’m still here, and that matters.’”
In the end, the book of life may never be perfect. But as long as a person keeps turning the pages, there is always the possibility of an unexpected sentence—of light breaking through the margin.
