COUCH THERAPY

ONE DOESN'T NEED TO BE A RAVING LUNATIC TO VISIT THE PSYCHIATRIST, ‘JUST’ DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY ALSO NEED HELP, SAYS NITA KULKARNI  

FIlm lore suggests that people seeking Psychiatric help are either so violent that they need strait-jacketing, or they are idiots unable to take care of themselves. While most of us know that this isn't quite true, we might still be surprised to know of the broad ‘spectrum of behavior requiring psychiatric treatment. It's not just illnesses like schizophrenia and obsessive- compulsive disorders that need treatment but also depression, anxiety, panic attacks, addictions, eating and sleeping disorders, and borderline personality disorders.

Not all sufferers seek help, either because they feel they can cope or they think that going to a psychiatrist is a sign of weakness or...madness. This is far from the truth. "Most people who visit a psychiatrist function as normal, respectable citizens in society," says Dr Bhupesh Velaskar, psychiatrist. The important thing is to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment before there are unpleasant consequences.

It's possible to recognize the tell tale signs. For example, if a person feels low and disinterested in life, isolates himself from people and has thoughts of death, he needs help. At times a person may be consumed with powerful emotions like violent rage, racking guilt or intense jealousy and the inability to Control these emotions result in a Conduct unacceptable in society» All this emotional distress can result In a lack of concentration and judgment.

IF A PERSON FEELS LOW AND DISINTERESTED IN LIFE, ISOLATES HIMSELF FROM PEOPLE AND HAS THOUGHTS OF DEATH, HE NEEDS HELP

"When relationships work are affected, behavior is bizarre. judgment in social situations is off the mark, and you perceive things which others don't, you need help,‘ says Dr Velaskar. Psychological problems can manifest intn physical symptoms too. "Aches, pains and severe exhaustion can mean depression," says Dr. Harish Shetty, social psychiatrist.

People who have never had a psychological illness are the last to realise that they need help, specially if the distress they suffer is triggered by an external event like loss or trauma, or is caused by another person's behavior. "Some -psychological problems are caused by loss of a loved one through death, separation, divorce, loss of expectation (cannot have a baby), loss of job or because of physical incapacity due to illness or accident," says Ameeta Shah, psychotherapist. When people resist recognizing that they need help they can make their situation worse with use of escape measures like addictions, feelings of body and headaches or projecting their problems on others.

"If the symptoms endanger the well-being of oneself or others,if the person has suicidal thoughts, is unable to eat, rest or work then he needs medication, and a psychiatrist," says Shah. Psychiatrists not only provide psychotherapy, they carry out diagnostic evaluations, assess physical problems, prescribe medications and arrange hospitalization , if needed. "A mental illness is always an interplay Of the genes. environment, age,type of stress and the support System available," points out Dr Shetty.