The shifting landscape of modern relationships is undeniable. As a millennial, I’ve seen firsthand how our generation has redefined dating—rejecting traditional timelines, prioritizing personal growth, and often keeping things casual. In theory, this newfound freedom is liberating. It allows us to chase our ambitions, focus on self-discovery, and avoid the societal pressure of settling down too soon. But at what cost?

I won’t deny that breaking away from rigid relationship norms has its perks. There’s less stigma around being single, more emphasis on individual fulfillment, and greater autonomy in choosing what love should look like. Yet, I can’t help but notice how this mindset often fuels emotional detachment, commitment phobia, and an underlying fear of vulnerability. We’re so focused on independence that we sometimes forget that meaningful relationships—romantic or otherwise—are fundamental to our mental well-being.

Treating serious relationships as disposable, avoiding deep emotional investment, and normalizing detachment can lead to patterns that damage our self-worth. Masking jealousy as affection, resorting to silent treatments, or glorifying the “situationship” culture often create emotional instability. The pursuit of self-happiness shouldn’t come at the expense of genuine connections. In a world that champions casual over committed, are we truly prioritizing our mental health?

Dating apps, social media, and hookup culture have contributed to a relationship mindset that often prioritizes instant gratification over long-term fulfillment. Commitment phobia has led many to avoid serious emotional investment, fearing heartbreak or a loss of independence. As a result, many young adults find themselves in non-committal situations that lack stability, fostering anxiety, loneliness, and uncertainty.

Are Millennials and Gen Z Undervaluing Friendships and Self-Love?

"With dating apps and social media pushing the idea that love equals romance, it’s easy to overlook the power of friendship and self-love," explains Urvashi Musale, Child & Teen Behavioral Psychologist.

A growing number of Gen Z individuals are recognizing the limitations of casual relationships. According to studies, only 23% of Gen Z engage in casual dating, compared to 78% of previous generations. This shift indicates a stronger desire for meaningful relationships, but the focus doesn't have to be solely on romantic connections.

Strong friendships are vital for mental health, reducing stress, and even increasing life expectancy. However, modern culture often places more value on romantic validation than on deep, non-romantic bonds. To shift this focus, we must normalize and celebrate meaningful friendships. Encouraging group activities, prioritizing regular meetups, and promoting honest conversations about non-romantic relationships can help create deeper emotional fulfillment.

Self-love also plays a crucial role in this shift. When individuals cultivate a strong sense of self-worth beyond their relationship status, they are less likely to seek constant external validation. Practicing self-care, setting personal goals, and recognizing personal value can strengthen friendships rather than replace them.

Why Do Younger Generations Struggle with Long-Term Friendships?

The rise of "ghosting" and "situationships" isn’t just affecting dating—it’s also impacting friendships. Millennials and Gen Z often struggle to maintain long-term friendships due to digital distractions, fear of confrontation, and a culture that prioritizes convenience over deep connections. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated social isolation, making it harder for many to rebuild and sustain meaningful friendships.

According to a study from Dartmouth College, social isolation during lockdowns led to a decline in meaningful friendships, highlighting the long-term impact of digital-only interactions.

To build emotionally secure friendships, Millennials and Gen Z can:

Prioritize In-Person Interactions – Digital communication is convenient, but it often lacks depth. Meeting face-to-face, engaging in shared activities, or joining interest-based groups can create stronger bonds.

Improve Communication Skills – Friendships often fade due to misunderstandings. Practicing active listening, expressing appreciation, and addressing conflicts instead of avoiding them can help maintain long-term relationships.

Set Clear Boundaries and Expectations – Healthy friendships require balance. Defining relationship dynamics and ensuring mutual effort from both sides can prevent resentment and miscommunication.

How Can Self-Love Strengthen Friendships Instead of Replacing Them?

Many individuals seek validation through romantic relationships, but true self-love strengthens rather than replaces friendships. When people feel secure within themselves, they are less likely to rely on others for emotional stability.

According to research, 80% of Gen Z daters prioritize self-care and seek partners who do the same.

To cultivate self-love in a way that enhances friendships:

• Practice Self-Reflection: Understanding personal needs and setting boundaries leads to healthier relationships.
• Be Kind to Yourself: Self-compassion reduces reliance on external approval for self-worth.
• Pursue Personal Passions: Engaging in hobbies and interests fosters confidence and creates opportunities for connection with like-minded people.

Self-love and friendship go hand in hand. When individuals value and care for themselves, they become better friends—more patient, supportive, and understanding. At the same time, strong friendships reinforce self-love by providing encouragement, acceptance, and belonging.

However, it is essential to strike a balance. While self-care is necessary, withdrawing from social connections under the guise of "self-love" can lead to isolation. True emotional well-being stems from cultivating a strong sense of self while remaining open to deep and meaningful friendships.

Mental Health Consequences of Prioritizing the Wrong Relationships

The pursuit of superficial relationships, avoidance of deep emotional bonds, and constant digital connectivity have led to a rise in anxiety, depression, and loneliness among Millennials and Gen Z. Studies show that excessive social media use, ghosting culture, and casual dating trends contribute to lower self-esteem and increased emotional instability.

While Millennials and Gen Z have revolutionized relationship culture, it is important to evaluate whether these changes truly serve their well-being. Independence and self-growth are essential, but so are meaningful relationships that provide emotional support, companionship, and stability.

To maintain a healthy balance, younger generations must:

• Recognize the importance of deep friendships alongside romantic pursuits.
• Prioritize self-love without isolating themselves from meaningful connections.
• Foster relationships that contribute to emotional and mental well-being rather than those that drain them.

Ms. Urvashi Musale is a Child & Teen Behavioral Psychologist in India

When strands clog your shower drain or your brush looks full every time you run it through your hair, panic is a natural response. Hair loss, or alopecia, is not just a cosmetic concern; it often hints at something deeper. And yet, thanks to internet half-truths and old wives’ tales, myths about alopecia spread faster than a viral meme. On World Alopecia Day, we turn to experts to separate fact from fiction while spotlighting the hidden medical conditions that might be behind the hair fall.

It is Not Just "Shedding Season": Medical Reasons Behind Hair Loss

Autoimmune Disorders (Alopecia Areata):

Hormonal Imbalances (Thyroid Disorders and PCOS):

Nutritional Deficiencies:

The good news? “Early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions can help restore hair growth and prevent permanent damage,” he assures.

Wigging Out Over Myths

Myth 1: “Only men experience alopecia.”

“While male pattern baldness is more commonly discussed, women are equally susceptible to alopecia due to hormonal imbalances, thyroid issues, and nutritional deficiencies,” says Dr Gangurde. Yes, ladies lose hair too and not just from brushing too hard.

Myth 2: “Stress alone is responsible for hair loss.”

While stress is definitely not good for your scalp’s health, it is not the lone cause. “Alopecia usually has multiple triggers, including genetics, autoimmune conditions, and underlying medical issues,” explains Dr Gangurde. Translation: stressing about stress causing hair fall might make things worse.

Myth 3: “Alopecia is always permanent and untreatable.”

This one might be the most damaging myth of all. “Many forms of hair loss, especially those caused by hormonal or nutritional factors, are reversible with timely medical intervention,” says Dr Gangurde. PRP therapy, medications, and lifestyle changes can all turn things around if you act early enough.

Do Not Just Shed Tears, Seek Help

If your hair has been thinning or falling out in clumps, resist the urge to DIY it with oils, serums, or social media hacks. “If you experience sudden or persistent hair loss, consult a dermatologist or trichologist promptly,” advises Dr Gangurde. “Early intervention can address the root cause, prevent progression, and in many cases, restore healthy hair growth.” Remember that alopecia is not just a surface-level issue. And with the right diagnosis, it is often more fixable than you think.

The 2025 flu season has turned out to be unlike any other in recent memory. This year, the flu season is marked by record-setting infections, multiple viral peaks, vaccine mismatches, and an overstretched healthcare system.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this year’s influenza activity is the most intense since the 2009 swine flu pandemic, with over 80 million estimated illnesses and rising. What’s driving this intensity, and what should the public know about prevention and symptom management?

Let’s break down what makes this flu season so severe and what it means for your health.

A Season Like No Other: What Makes 2025 Different?

In most years, flu activity in the U.S. typically follows a predictable pattern, starting in October, peaking between December and February, and fading by April. But the 2024–2025 season has defied that rhythm.

Cases surged past the national baseline in December and then, unexpectedly, peaked again in February, a second wave that blindsided doctors and public health experts.

As of March 2025, the CDC had reported an estimated 37 million influenza infections, 480,000 hospitalizations, and 21,000 deaths. Hospitalizations, in fact, reached their highest levels in 15 years.

One key driver? A mismatch between circulating flu strains and this year’s vaccine. The dominant strains: H1N1 and H3N2, accounted for more than 99% of cases.

H3N2, in particular, is known for mutating quickly and evading immune responses, and only about half of circulating H3N2 samples matched well with vaccine antibodies, according to CDC surveillance data.

Post-Pandemic Immune Gap

Another reason this year’s flu is hitting so hard: our immune systems are still catching up.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread masking, social distancing, and school closures suppressed not just SARS-CoV-2 but also seasonal flu and other common respiratory viruses. While that helped in the short term, it reduced community-level immunity over time, especially among children, who typically build natural resistance through repeated exposures.

“Young children who were toddlers or preschoolers during the pandemic missed early exposures to flu viruses,” explained experts at the nonprofit group Families Fighting Flu. “Now they’re in school, more socially active, and more vulnerable.”

The CDC reported a troubling spike in pediatric flu deaths this season with 216 fatalities, making it the deadliest flu season for children outside of a pandemic year. Neurological complications such as seizures and hallucinations also rose among young patients.

A Shift in Viral Dominance

Another unusual trend: COVID-19 has taken a back seat this winter

Unlike previous years when COVID-19 variants dominated respiratory illness charts, flu has surged ahead as the top driver of doctor visits and hospitalizations. This could be due to a shift in viral dominance, changing weather patterns, or differences in immunity buildup. According to the CDC, nearly 8% of all outpatient visits are currently for flu-like symptoms, much higher than what’s typical for this time of year.

Vaccine Fatigue and Gaps in Coverage

Vaccination remains the strongest tool we have to fight influenza, but uptake has been stagnant, or worse, declining, in key groups.

As of April 2025:

• Only 49.2% of children and 46.7% of adults had received the flu vaccine
• Among pregnant women, that number dropped to 38%
• Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+ had just 48.3% coverage
• And overall, nearly 9.2 million fewer doses were administered compared to the pre-pandemic 2019–2020 season

Barriers like vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare access, and fewer flu shot clinics in rural areas continue to widen the gap.

What Are the Symptoms in 2025?

The 2025 flu has shown typical but often more intense symptoms than in previous years. Here’s what to look out for:

• Sudden onset fever
• Severe body aches and chills
• Sore throat and persistent cough
• Nasal congestion
• Diarrhea and vomiting (more frequent in children)
• Extreme fatigue
• Headache
• In some children, neurological symptoms like confusion or seizures

These symptoms may overlap with COVID-19 or RSV, but tend to come on faster and hit harder in flu cases this season.

How Long Do Symptoms Last?

For most healthy people, flu symptoms begin 1 to 4 days after exposure and typically last about 5 to 7 days. However, fatigue and cough may linger for up to two weeks.

You’re considered most contagious in the first 3 to 4 days after symptoms start but can continue to spread the virus up to a week later. The CDC recommends staying home until you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication.

Vaccinated individuals may experience milder or shorter symptoms, but those with underlying conditions, young children, and older adults may have longer recoveries and higher risk of complications.

Can the Flu Cause Serious Health Problems?

Yes, especially in people with weakened immune systems, chronic illnesses, or no prior flu immunity.

Possible complications include:

• Pneumonia
• Ear and sinus infections
• Exacerbation of asthma or heart disease
• Life-threatening conditions requiring ICU care

This is why experts stress that prevention remains the best medicine.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Family

Here’s how to lower your risk during the remainder of the 2025 season:

• Get vaccinated, even now. It may still protect against circulating strains
• Wash your hands often with soap and water
• Avoid touching your face in public settings
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
• Stay home if you’re unwell to prevent spreading the virus

A lung cancer diagnosis shatters worlds. It thrusts patients into a whirlwind of fear, confusion, and uncertainty. What now? How will I cope? Is this the end? These questions are inevitable and urgent. Yet, amid the anxiety, many patients harbor a dangerous belief: that if cancer has taken hold, quitting smoking is pointless.

It's not just a myth, it’s dangerous. Newer studies show quitting smoking even after a cancer diagnosis can significantly improve survival, make treatments more effective, and alleviate symptoms. In other words: even after cancer strikes, letting go of cigarettes can save your life.

In many small towns across India, where awareness about cancer and tobacco risks is limited, patients often continue to smoke despite their diagnosis. “Some feel it is too late to stop. Others are too addicted or too hopeless to try,” says Dr. Ruchi Singh, HOD & Senior Consultant of Radiation Oncology at Asian Hospital. This is the kind of thinking that kills from the inside out.

The reality is the opposite. Dr. Singh emphasizes, “We try to explain … it is never too late. If they stop smoking, even after the cancer has started, the treatment becomes more effective. It is one of the most important things they can do for themselves.”

Every cigarette after diagnosis undermines treatment, weakens the body, and shortens survival. But should someone quit even late into their cancer journey their lungs begin to heal, treatments work better, and recurrence becomes less likely.

How Does Quitting Smoking Extends or Saves Lives?

Global research aligns with Dr. Singh’s clinical advise, a study by IARC and Russian oncologists followed 517 lung cancer patients who smoked at diagnosis. Those who quit within three months lived 22 months longer on average and had 33% lower mortality risk and 30% lower disease progression, regardless of stage or smoking intensity.

The Prospective cohort of the Annals of Internal Medicine confirmed quitting after diagnosis yields meaningful survival benefits.

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. A Harvard study of nearly 5,600 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients found former smokers lived longer than current smokers, suggesting even pre-diagnosis quitting increases survival. Additional studies show quitting at or around diagnosis reduces mortality significantly and improves outcomes across all stages of NSCLC.

Smoking cessation isn’t just beneficial—it is one of the most powerful lifesaving interventions for lung cancer patients.

People tend to discount vaccines or preventive care because success makes the threat invisible. Lung cancer prevention has been a public health battle for decades. Policymakers and physicians worked to reduce smoking rates, and incidence fell. But once a cancer diagnosis arrives, all remission plans depend on a foundation of good habits—like quitting tobacco.

Tobacco smoke introduces toxins, weakens immune function, and diminishes treatment outcomes. Continuing to smoke after diagnosis:

• Lowers treatment efficacy
• Increases post-surgery complications
• Heightens the risk of recurrence or second primary cancers
• Shortens survival significantly
• Quitting reverses much of that risk—even post-diagnosis.

How to Quit Smoking After Lung Cancer Diagnosis?

Treatment regimens already overwhelm patients. Quitting smoking under stress and physical duress is tough—but not impossible. With the right support, patients dramatically increase their success odds. Here’s a compassionate roadmap:

1. Set your quit date now, delay weakens motivation and clarity.
2. Seek medical support, consult your oncologist or a specialist in Siliguri. Therapy, nicotine replacements, or counseling can double your quitting success.
3. Lean on loved ones, share your commitment and ask for accountability.
4. Identify your triggers- stress, discomfort, or routine can push you back. Replace smoking with walking, meditation, or tea.
5. Shift lifestyle habits and replace “smoke with morning coffee” rituals with alternative rituals—like stretching or herbal tea.
6. Build habits that support health- hydration, nutritious food, gentle movement and joy—these restore lung health and resilience.

Indeed, about 36% of tobacco-linked lung cancer patients manage to quit after diagnosis. Those are lives reclaimed.

Lung cancer still has a stigma. Many see it as self-inflicted. That stigma often delays help—including quitting support. But as Dr. Singh reminds us: “People think cancer means a death sentence. But many cases are treatable, especially if caught early. If someone quits smoking, we see real improvement such as better breathing, better recovery after surgery, and fewer chances of the cancer coming back.”

For patients, oncology teams, and families, smoking cessation after diagnosis isn’t optional—it’s urgent evidence-backed medicine.

A lung cancer diagnosis changes everything, but it does not define what comes next. Quitting smoking—even when the disease has already appeared—creates space for healing, response, and survival. It says, “I’m still here. I’m still fighting."

If you or someone you love is facing lung cancer- quit, today. It doesn’t erase the past—but it can extend the future. Numbers don’t lie: treatment plus quitting smoking can give us 22 more months, more energy, more peace, and a higher chance of beating this disease. Quitting is more than choice. It’s courage. And it is always worth it.