health Archives

“Beta, Mask Pehno?”: How I Dodged the Coronavirus to Bali and Back

Paranoia was my co-passenger on the flight to Bali. We were handed small, yellow forms from the Indonesian Health Ministry to self-declare any symptoms. This caused me a fright, because as someone who passive smokes by calling Mumbai home, I’ve had a small cough for as long as I remember.

Sarvesh Talreja July 19, 2016

Love and Sex

The Bangover: The Morning-After that Needs No Cure

Your life on the working day after a raunchy tryst can feel sometimes like a Moods condom commercial. Enter: The Bangover, a feeling where everything reminds you of your partner’s naked body and your face has a perpetual post-coital glow.

Dr Mahinder July 11, 2016

Health

PCOS, the Condition Every Other Indian Woman Experiences But Doesn’t Talk About

When Sara Ali Khan spoke about PCOS on a Koffee with Karan episode, I screamed, “Go girl”. I’d had the disorder – which affects one in 10 Indian women – for years before I sought help for it. But if it is so common, why are we so afraid and ashamed to talk about it?

Mavis D'Silva July 8, 2016

Vice

How My Prescription Drug Abuse Chained Me to Self-Harm

There’s no stigma around prescription medication; it isn’t considered a vice like alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana. Still, refusing to recognise the demon of addiction doesn’t mean it isn’t perched on your back. I lost sleep, gained weight, and intentionally started hurting myself, leading to a spiral of self-loathing.

Sukrit Koul June 15, 2016

Coronavirus

Yes there’s a Pandemic still, but have we Lost the Resolve to Care?

The third wave is here. It’s screeching through India’s cities and smaller towns, but the suffering of these two years, has perhaps, inured people to respond with anything but a shrug. It’s still life and death, but we are now struggling to even care.

Jagruti Verma May 24, 2016

Sports

The Unadulterated Joy of Keechad Football

Today, children in the building cringe at the thought of playing in muddy fields and dusty grounds. But the joy of running around in the muck and making the perfect sliding tackle in the sludge is unmatched. I vote to bring keechad football back.

Hardik Rajgor May 23, 2016

Health

Avengers: Endgame Was Exactly the Tonic My Mental Health Needed

I suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder; the condition is often defined by intense emotions and the struggle to belong. I was always wary to be part of something big. And I’d never imagined that the Avengers would become the thread that connected me to the world.

Swetha Dandapani May 15, 2016

People

Honey, I Shrunk My Stomach

All roads now lead to the mystical millennial land of the flat stomach. But citizenship here is wrought with onerous challenges.

Poulomi Das April 8, 2016

Vice

An Addict for Life

Moderation is not my key; balance is not in my lexicon. Addiction is an inspiration. And I pray that every obsession gives me a high.

Selina Sheth April 1, 2016

First Person

20-Year-Old Battle With Acne: The Scars on My Psyche are Deeper Than the Ones on My Face

My acne-scarred face is the most enduring memory people have of me. When relatives come over, my brother gets the usual greeting of, “My, how you’ve grown!” I get “Why don’t you go to my friend’s dermatologist?” After years, I found a miracle drug. Was I willing to risk my health for it?

Parita Patel March 7, 2016