A PSYCHOTHERPIST'S TIPS TO OVERCOME ANXIETY ,DEPRESSION AND LIVE IN HARMONY

The thought of writing a book about achieving a harmonious mental state has been persisting in my mind for quite some time . Having counselled thousands of patients , I recognised and learned about the many facets of the human mind . . This wisdom was even more valuable than the knowledge I gained in my medical school . Learning is an endless process . I learn and grow as a therapist with every session I take

Life is indeed simple but it is very difficult to be simple . With increasing technological advancements , breakdown of basic human values and due to detrimental impact of the highly capitalistic and utilitarian mindset which is penetrating the minds of the current generation ; the mental health of the population is going for a toss . I am seeing young children in my practice having suicidal thoughts and panic attacks; something I did not encounter much in the past . Marriages are falling apart left, right and centre.

It is not that mental health issues have not existed in the past . A good development which has unfolded in the recent times is that the taboo associated with mental health issues and seeking help from a mental health professional has faded away .

At the same time , it would not be inaccurate to state that the mental health issues have sky rocketed in the past two decades .

Among the plethora of reasons , I firmly believe that the main reason is that we have stopped living life mindfully and finding joy in the little things . We no longer take a moment to appreciate and enjoy the cool breeze of air on a hot summer day , the beautiful fragrance of flowers , the glorious warmth of the occasional afternoon sun in the winters.We invest in mutual funds and share market which is absolutely fine but we forget to invest in relationships . We don't allow our hearts to blossom in universal love . It is all about me and mine . We want to take as much as we can from the world and give as little as possible . Sadly, even studies have proven sharing and caring cause dopamine spikes in your brain and happiness amplifies when we make others happy .At the same time , self love is important but what I see in my practice routinely is Self obsession and narcissism . Yes! We need enough to enjoy a comfortable life but the question that we all must ask ourselves is that how much of what we spend is under societal pressure and what portion of expenditure is for what our heart desires . People are constantly under the pressure to have the best branded clothes , to get the latest iPhone or take the most expensive bag to a party to show off your health . Projecting happiness and well being through your social media whilst you are battling internal conflict is most definitely not a good idea . Contriving an image of yourself is going to make your more isolated and lonely .Fearlessly express who you are and you will be amazed to discover the joy throbbing in every atom of your being.