“Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable” – Franz Kafka
Talking about mental illness sounds pretty simple these days, but do you think that it is rare and “happens to someone else, not me!”?
WHO reports that 7.5% of the Indian population is suffering from some form of mental disorder and the treatment gap (difference that exists between the number of people who need care and those who receive care) is approximately 70%!
Given the pandemic, we can anticipate the rates to go lower. One understands this quite clearly when they face mental health issues themselves or care for others who struggle.
The most perplexing thought one has, is
“Is this a serious problem that I need to address?”
“How do I go about it?”
“Do I go to a psychologist, a psychiatrist or a counsellor?”
“Do I need medication?”.
So here is an article explaining what to do when you have troubles in handling situations dealing with mental illness or identifying the warning signs to prevent mental illness.
What is Mental health?
When you feel
I can do this
I can learn from my mistakes
I can grow as a person
I can learn from my experiences
I have the power to change my thoughts and perceptions
It reflects a healthy self-talk that allows one to bloom. Being on a continuum, moving from a state of no mental illness to severe mental illness is not impossible. Hence, none of us are confident to say “it is not going to happen to me!”.
World Health Organization defines Mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.
Warning signs
In Adult, Young Adults & Adolescents
Growing incapability to cope with daily problems
Confused thinking
Prolonged low mood
Irritability
Excessive fear or anxieties that might seem irrational
Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
Increased aggression
Social withdrawal
Substance abuse
Numerous thoughts about physical ailments
Suicidal thoughts
In Teenagers & Pre-Adolescents
Outbursts of anger
Theft, truancy, defiance of authority
Changes in eating & sleeping habits
Intense fear
Poor appetite
Substance abuse
Inability to cope with daily activities and problems
In Children
Temper tantrums
Nightmares
Persistent disobedience or aggression
Changes in school performance
Poor grades despite strong efforts
Hyperactivity
Attentional issues
Refusing to go to bed or school
Which mental health professional should I consult?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is trained in diagnosing and treatment of mental and emotional issues. They are qualified to prescribe medicines. They are trained to differentiate mental health problems from other underlying medical conditions that could present with psychiatric symptoms and monitor the effects of mental illness on other physical conditions and the effects of medicines on the body.
A psychotherapist is trained to make diagnosis and provide individual and group therapy. They need to be licenced by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). They are qualified to do counselling and psychotherapy, perform psychological testing, and provide treatment for mental disorders. They are not, though, medical doctors so they cannot write prescriptions or perform medical procedures. Often a psychologist will work in association with a psychiatrist. They also deals with mental health conditions that have developed over a longer period of time. This means a psychotherapist will work with more complex mental health conditions too, such as PTSD, OCD, and long-term anxiety disorders. On the basis of their approach, a psychotherapist might choose to use counselling techniques alongside psychotherapy as part of their treatment plan.
A counsellor generally puts focus on what’s happening to you in the present, for instance, difficulties at work/home, one specific traumatic event such as a losing your job, or even just feeling more stressed than usual. They are trained to look at immediate presenting symptoms and behaviour and how that’s impacting life, rather than delving deeper into one’s childhood or past. They tend to work with healthier clients (those experiencing surface level emotional issues) then equip one with workable, short-term tools to aid in breaking out of negative thoughts and habits. This means that counselling normally has a shorter duration, lasting anywhere from just 6 sessions, and rarely more than 6 months of treatment.
How should it feel over time?
A gradual relief from distress should result as one progresses through the therapeutic process, to develop self-assurance, and have a greater ability to make decisions and increased comfort in your relationship with others. Therapy may be painful and uncomfortable at times but episodes of discomfort occur during the most successful therapy sessions.
Sometimes treatment received does not bring about any results because it does not suit one’s specific needs. If you feel there are problems, discuss them with your therapist. A competent therapist will be eager to discuss your reactions to therapy and respond to feeling you have about the process. If you are still dissatisfied, a consultation with another therapist may help you and your therapist evaluate your work together.
- Shivangi Banerjee