We often ask others how they are doing, but forget to check in with ourselves. While physical and mental health tend to get our attention when they show signs or symptoms, emotional well-being often takes a backseat. Emotional well-being rarely announces itself with a bad day. It shows up in small shifts you only notice if you are looking. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Anjali Jaisinghani, chief medical officer, Menthra India, shares questions worth asking yourself, honestly, once a week, for a sane emotional well-being.
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Have I lost interest in things that would normally pull me in?
Dr Anjali highlighted that loss of pull is usually the first sign something needs attention, long before you can name what feels off.
Am I waking at 3 am with my mind already racing, or lying awake for hours before I get there?
According to Dr Anjali, the pattern matters more than the hours. Either one says your mind has not switched off this week.
Have I pulled back from people this week, even in small ways, replying slower or showing up less?
“Quietly withdrawing is often more telling than mood itself,” said Dr Anjali.
How much of this week did I get through on autopilot, and how much did I actually live?
A week made entirely of autopilot is worth noticing before it starts to feel normal.
If a friend described this exact week to me, would I say it sounds fine, or would I ask them more?
We are almost always kinder and sharper judges of someone else’s week than our own.
According to Dr Anjali, answer these honestly, and you catch the small stuff before it becomes the whole story. If three or more have been true for two weeks or longer, that is worth taking to a doctor or a therapist rather than simply noting. And if any week has felt heavier than you can carry, reach out to someone today. Noticing is where the work starts. The point of catching it early is to get at what sits underneath, so it gets resolved instead of carried into next week.
About Dr Anjali
Dr Anjali Jaisinghani is a NIMHANS-trained psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer of Menthra India, an AI emotional wellbeing platform built on the belief that people deserve to resolve what they carry, not simply manage it.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
