Healthigo

Health  Articles

Mind
Myths and Facts About Counseling

There are several myths and stigma attached to the complete process of Counselling. People are often very conflicted about approaching a professional who will be discussing and analyzing their hurtful feelings, sadness, and anxieties. Therefore, there is a constant sense of uneasiness and uncertainty in the minds of people and questions arise such as “Can this professional really help me?” or “Would it be a painful waste of my time?” or you might convince yourself that “I really have no idea what I would say.”? Especially if you have never ever been in counseling or therapy. Here we will talk about some common myths about counseling. Some Common Myths and Facts About Counseling MYTH Counselling is only for people who have serious emotional and mental problems. FACT Seeing a counselor does not mean you are mentally ill or “crazy”. In life, almost everyone has difficulties and challenges at some point and being able to ask for help to overcome these challenges are a sign of strength and taking responsibility to get your life “back on track.” MYTH Seeking Counselling is a sign of weakness. FACT Seeking counseling in fact assign of taking responsibility for your wellbeing. In fact, it takes courage to explore sensitive feelings and painful experiences. It is the first winning step for an individual in resolving their difficulties. MYTH The counselor will “fix” your problems. FACT Counselling is not a “quick fix” to cure your problems. The counselor’s role is to help you reflect and explore your feelings, thoughts, and concerns, to examine your options, and assist you in achieving the goals you set. MYTH The Counsellor cannot understand you unless she has had similar experiences or is of the same background. FACT Counsellors are trained to be sensitive to and respectful of individual differences, including the specific concerns/needs with regard to gender, race/ethnicity, culture, religion, age, and socio-economic status. Many Counsellors who are trained in the US and other Western countries have a super specialization in Multicultural Counselling considering diverse cultures in those countries. Counselors are professionally and extensively trained to treat a variety of life crisis and issues. MYTH Seeking Counselling suggests you do not have enough faith that God will take care of you, and fix your problem. FACT While prayers and the complete trust in God are always beneficial to your life, these practices are not the only options available to you for sorting through issues. Most people who seek counseling are people who lead very normal lives and want to find solutions to their life and the problems they face. It is important to bear in mind that everybody has significant problems at various times in their lives. Counseling is just a normal part of the process of resolving things and providing you the tools and the skills to handle them effectively. Counseling can help with multiple areas of life, including parenting, breakups, grief, financial stress, wellness goals, work-life balance, and many more. There is a myth that only “crazy” people seek counseling when the fact is that counselors do not use the word crazy and help people with all degrees of concern.

  1 Likes
  0 Comments
March 12, 2019
Sailaja Menon
Counseling Psychologist
Book Now
This is a Verified Doctor. However, to get a higher chance of a confirmed appointment, look for a Premium Doctor
Mind
Decoding Depression- Recognise The Symptoms

For a while now, you have felt this great weight on your shoulders. You drag yourself out of bed every morning with great reluctance. You go through your daily chores as if they are just that: mundane chores to be done with. You don’t enjoy anything you do, nor do you feel motivated enough to try something new. Everything feels ‘too much’: your work, your commute, your family, friends even the things you once used to do with great enthusiasm. At night, you find it hard to fall asleep, and when you do, it’s only to wake up a few hours later. Then you toss and turn for a long time, and fall asleep in the wee hours of the morning, which makes you dull and lethargic throughout the day. You no longer have much to contribute to conversations, and sometimes, with very little provocation, you have a strong urge to break down and weep. But of course, you won’t let it show. You try to hide it all by taking an extra effort to talk and be cheerful, neither of which lasts long enough. It feels as if a grey cloud has descended, darkening your life. And it refuses to lift. If this sounds like your story, then you have a fair idea of what depression feels like. “Everyone goes through periods of sadness, but those are usually in response to life events. ‘Blues’ brought on by a setback of some sort, like losing a job. Such sadness is transient, and you will be back to normal once the situation is under control.” Clinical depression, however, is different. “It’s a prolonged state of melancholy, usually lasting more than two weeks. You feel a persistent, continued, pervasive sense of sadness, most of the days, most of the time. And you are unable to detach yourself from it. Fatigue, loss of sleep and appetite, lack of motivation/enjoyment and sudden weight loss can all indicate depression. Conversely, in some cases, there is a tendency to eat and sleep excessively, and gain weight. People going through depression often have persistent feelings of excessive, inappropriate guilt, you feel that you’re not living up to the expectations of your family and friends that you’re somehow letting them (and yourself) down. And nothing can convince you otherwise.” Sometimes depression is somatized, manifesting itself as a physical symptom such as persistent headache with no identifiable cause. The most alarming symptom of clinical depression, however, is a death wish. When a person feels that life has become so unbearable that death is preferable, or they are haunted by the thought that they don’t deserve to live, it is time to seek urgent professional help. Never take such feelings lightly or brush them aside. According to statistics, about two-thirds of all clinically depressed people contemplate suicide, and a staggering 10 to 15 percent commit suicide. While most of us go to great lengths to ensure our physical wellness, we often ignore the warning signs that our minds send us. The stigma associated with mental illnesses is still very real to most of us, despite education and social awareness. Seeking professional help is seen as a weakness, and well-meaning people advise us to ‘snap out of it’ rather than approach a counselor. Clinical depression, however, is not something that can be wished away. There are multiple factors that contribute to the condition which will be discussed soon, but one thing is clear: those who are going through it should be given the attention and support they require, and at the earliest.

  0 Likes
  0 Comments
March 12, 2019
Girish Banwari
Psychiatrist
Mind
Decoding Depression- Managing Your Condition

“I don’t know why you say you’re depressed! You’ve nothing to feel sad about. Everything is going extremely well for you!” We all have heard these words. Some of us might have uttered them too. To others or to ourselves because, when it comes to depression, we need justification. A tangible reason that lends legitimacy to our condition. “I’m depressed because-” followed by an explanation allows us to be worthy of our condition. Depression without a ‘real’ reason is seen as a weakness, something that we ought to pull ourselves out of. Depression is a fallacy that most people live with. “Depression need not be in response to an external stimulus”. It can happen for no reason, ‘out of the blue’ as they say because some of us are biologically vulnerable to depression. It could be genetic, or it could be due to a physical condition like hypothyroidism. An unhappy event, a failing relationship, or continued financial problems only serve to unmask that existing vulnerability. Depression is a result of bio-psycho-social factors. “No two people will respond to the same situation in the same way. Person A might be able to accept their loss of job, put it behind them and move on, but Person B might be devastated by it. This could be due to their biological propensity towards depression, the inherent differences in their internal coping mechanisms, or external factors such as support from family and friends.” Clinical depression is not something that can disappear as quietly as it appeared. “Seeking professional help is seen as self-indulgence by most people, and they try to ‘pick themselves up and move on with life’. Sometimes it might even seem as if they have managed to come out of depression on your own. But remember that in such instances, there is always the possibility of a relapse. The treatment for depression depends on the severity of the condition. For mild to moderate depression, psychotherapy – combined with good social support – can work wonders. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) are some forms of therapy used to treat depression. Though there is strong resistance among people towards medication, moderate to severe depression should be treated with a combination of medicines and psychotherapy. Depression is the most prevalent mental disorder in today’s world, especially among the urban population. It is also among the most neglected of all health issues, and if left untreated can lead to self-harm or even death. Even mild to moderate depression can significantly reduce the quality of life. Recognizing symptoms and seeking professional help at the earliest can help heal faster, and perhaps prevent tragedies from happening.

  2 Likes
  0 Comments
March 12, 2019
Girish Banwari
Psychiatrist
Mind
Decoding Depression- Common Variations

Depression, like most other conditions, can manifest in varying intensity and scope. Depression is of many forms. Generally, we talk about Unipolar Depression or Major Depressive Disorder. Other commonly seen forms of depression are as follows: Bipolar Depression: This is a major disorder, characterized by extreme mood swings, as the name suggests. A person can move from elation and euphoria to complete withdrawal from all normal activities. During a ‘manic’ episode, they will be on a high – extremely talkative, happy, uninhibited and sexually active. – and then, during the ‘depressive’ episode, they will fall into an all-time low, unable to carry out even routine activities. Bipolar depression is essentially biological in origin; though stressful life events can aggravate the condition. It is often manifest in highly creative people. The depth of emotions they undergo during their ‘lows’ is given expression during their ‘high’ phases. This has helped reduce the stigma associated with the condition to a large extent, giving it an aura of respectability. However, it should be noted that about 1% of those who suffer from bipolar depression become deranged, making them dysfunctional. Atypical Depression: Apart from the usual signs like fatigue, restlessness and low moods, this disorder ‘involves several specific symptoms, including increased appetite or weight gain, sleepiness or excessive sleep, marked fatigue or weakness, moods that are strongly reactive to environmental circumstances, and feeling extremely sensitive to rejection’. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD is a type of depression related to changes in seasons. It usually occurs in winter, though there are people who go through SAD in the spring or early summer. Instead of dismissing SAD as ‘winter blues’ and trying to forge ahead, it is advisable to take steps to keep oneself from feeling low. Post-Partum Depression (PPD): PPD is a mood disorder that affects women after childbirth due to a combination of physical and psychological factors. The resultant extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion make it difficult for them to even take care of themselves and their newborn child. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): PMDD is a severe and often disabling form of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) that affects approximately 5% of women. The changing levels of hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) during the menstrual cycle trigger physical and psychological changes in women with PMDD. They experience irritability, mood swings (emotional lability), headache, depression, and anxiety a week before the onset of their periods (menses). Physical symptoms include a sense of bloating, breast pain, joint or muscle pain, and weight gain among others. Depression in Adolescents: The symptoms of adolescent depression vary from those of adults. Missing school, falling grades and clinging to parents are all signs of distress. In older children, depression also manifests in impulsive behaviors including rash driving, sexual promiscuity, and substance abuse. The latter gives them the feeling of confidence they badly need, however transitory and false it is. However, it also perpetuates the existing depression, throwing the child into a vicious cycle they find hard to get out of. Very often, those who are going through such disorders try to somehow manage their condition rather than approach a professional. This is especially true when it comes to ‘female disorders’ such as PPD and PMDD. “However, self-management is neither helpful nor advisable here. Each of the conditions discussed above is clinically significant, and calls for professional intervention.” Lifestyle modification is a must, but it should happen alongside professional treatment (medication/therapy).

  1 Likes
  0 Comments
March 12, 2019
Girish Banwari
Psychiatrist
Mind
A professional counselor can help!

Are you feeling stressed out and your life is out of control? A professional counselor can help! Research conducted by a leading insurance company in the West states that people seeing a Counsellor cuts short their hospital visits by 30% Dubai is increasingly becoming a competitive market and environment to live. To survive and sustain in such a setting it is necessary for all of us to be mentally, emotionally and physically fit…People here are constantly bogged down with a myriad of real-life issues and challenges such as a lack of permanence, competitive work environments, isolation inability to adjust to work and family pressure, need to support family back home, long commutes, long working hours, relationship issues at home and at work are just a sampling few. Confronting and dealing with these challenges on a daily basis is tiring and impacts the wellbeing of the individual significantly. In such situations, Stress is one of the most common symptoms experienced by many. Stress left untreated can debilitate you physically and mentally and can impair your day to day functioning severely. Stress is treatable and curable if you seek the right help.” Counseling is one of those help forums that can relieve you from these symptoms, and help you to maximize your potential and make positive changes in your life. Visit a Licensed Professional counselor today to regain your life and secure your well being. How Stress Affects You? Emotionally Feelings of sadness, lack of pleasure in day to day activities, anxiety, easily agitated, restless, a sense of unworthiness, irritability, defensive, angry, argumentative, mentally tired, preoccupied, lack of flexibility, difficulty concentrating, overcompensating, avoiding dealing with problems, or denying that you have problems Behaviourally Avoidance, neglecting responsibilities, Compulsive behaviors such as gambling, heavy spending, alcohol, and sex, difficulty controlling aggressive impulses, ineptness, defiance at work, tardiness, moodiness to name a few Physically High blood pressure, weight loss/weight gain, lack of sleep, anger, lack of appetite, or anxious, palpitations and increased sweating, overeating, headaches, muscle tension and aches to name a few. Coping with stress-twofold Self-control- which is taking responsibility for reactions to a situation by getting help (seeking mental health Counselling, attending wellbeing programs and positive self-talk) Situational control- includes problem-solving, effective communication, assertiveness, conflict resolution, and time management (which can be skills learned through counseling) What brings people to Counselling From childhood through late adulthood, there are certain times when we may need help addressing problems and issues that cause us emotional distress or make us feel overwhelmed. People often come to a counselor when they face: Life transitions such as marriage, pregnancy divorce or remarriage; having, raising and launching children; life-threatening illness, substance abuse and or addiction, moving, changing jobs, schools, friends or communities; facing retirement, loss of loved ones, job conflicts, and concerns, relationship issues Debilitating Feelings such as depression or sadness, stress or anxiety, emptiness or loneliness, low self-esteem, lack of confidence in self, fear and or phobia, disinterest in work, frequent tardiness. Troubled relationships with spouse/partner, family or friends, boss or colleagues and in school /University/ /teachers Personal and spiritual uncertainties about the purpose, meaning, and direction in life and a sense of loss of one’s ability and capabilities WHEN IS TOO MUCH STRESS “TOO MUCH” Do you have difficulty sleeping at night? Do you have persistent headaches, backaches or stomachaches? Do you harbor feelings of resentment or anger? Do you feel overwhelmed by too much to do and the inability to organize time effectively? Do you find it difficult to show your feelings? Do you feel irritable and angry without cause? Do you experience a consistent lack of energy? Do you worry about the future and feel afraid of tomorrow? Do you feel isolated and alone? Do you find yourself spending less time with friends and more time alone? Are you unable to relax and laugh? Do you find you are eating more than usual? Are you uncomfortable in open (closed) spaces? Do you feel pressured in many areas of your life and unable to complete tasks successfully? Do you find yourself crying all the time or unable to cry at all? Do you have trouble making up your mind? Have you become more accident-prone? If you answered YES to two or more of these questions, or hesitated in answering NO, you may want to seek professional help to reduce your stress or anxiety levels.

  1 Likes
  0 Comments
March 12, 2019
Sailaja Menon
Counseling Psychologist
Book Now
This is a Verified Doctor. However, to get a higher chance of a confirmed appointment, look for a Premium Doctor
scroll-arrow-to-up