Today, mental health is in focus as we bring you the expert view on psychology.
*Dr BR Madhukar* *January 3, 2011 * I have a history of depression in my family and am very scared that I might suffer from clinical depression in future too. As a result, whenever I am blue about something, I panic and try to block out issues that cause any kind of pain. I run away from people and situations that may cause any emotional upheaval. I find it very difficult to open up to new relationships or career challenges or any kind of risk for that matter. Please help me change this. Javed Sana, Bangalore *You are very well-informed. Yes, there is a risk of depression if there is family history. But worrying about it is not the solution. It is perfectly normal for a person to be depressed because of the stress we are exposed to on a daily basis. Both genetics and your social environment play a part in this. It is important not to run away from difficult situations. Address them head on, whether a work-related issue or a relationship problem. You learn the problem-solving techniques that way. This will give you more confidence and help you overcome difficulties.* I broke up with my ex-boyfriend about a year ago. I do not love him and I certainly do not want to get back with him. But I still find myself checking his Facebook and Twitter updates regularly and feel very upset when I see him with another woman. This is affecting my life and is preventing me from moving on. How do I get over this? Anshika Sharma, Bangalore *You are going through a very difficult phase. Although we would like to think we can switch our mind on and off like a computer, our emotions don’t always obey us. I feel you still have very strong feelings which you refuse to acknowledge. The first step here is to accept that the feelings exist. And then work through what led to the break-up. There probably is a hope somewhere that things may work out again. If the relationship is worth pursuing, look at it and evaluate whether professional help can revive it. In the meanwhile, focus on your life and think positively about the future — both in terms of career and a fulfilling personal life.* I experience lack of sleep and periods of insomnia whenever I go through stress at work. Typically, I find myself falling asleep easily enough but wake up at 3-4 am in the morning and am unable to get back to sleep. Work-related problems keep churning through my mind and I get all the more stressed out. This sometimes goes on for days at a time and ends up affecting my productivity. Short of taking sleeping pills regularly, what can I do to avoid this? Jahnavi S, Bangalore *This is the most common problem in the world — sleep disturbance. We all know how stress affects our daily activities including sleep. Lack of sleep in turn plays havoc on our body. Sleep hygiene is something a lot of people find useful to cure this. You need to adopt some simple measures. Avoiding watching interesting TV shows late into the night isimportant. Use the bed only for sleeping. Having a light dinner at least three hours before going to bed improves sleep. Also physical exercise on a regular basis will help. You have to find out what relaxes you and keeps you in good mood. It could be yoga or music or even meditation. Also cut down on tea and coffee. Take these steps and see if your sleep pattern improves. If the problem persists, you may go for counselling and see if a short course of medicines help.* * Dr BR Madhukar is senior psychiatrist at St Martha’s Hospital, Bangalore. He can be reached at *[email protected] http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/comment_practising-sleep-hygiene-is-a-must_1489547-all -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
