The need for Psychotherapy is growing in India, even more so in a metropolitan city like Bangalore. In olden days, there were closely knit joint families where there will be at least one member in the family, the old and the wise, who was the caretaker of the family members' emotional state. Today's individual is separated from their loved ones in a nuclear family, in another city, earning to surv
ive in a competitive world. The stress levels in the current environment are so high, and is coupled with lack of emotional support, that we get into patterns of negative thought and feeling very often. Over time, the mind grows unwell. In Indian culture, there has always been a lot of shame and apprehension in addressing one's own mental health. "What will people say if they know I am consulting for my mental health?" "I am not a psycho, why should I go to a psychotherapist?" This stems from wrongly associating mental health to mental asylum and madness. People usually consult only at the point where they cannot bear their state anymore. Many even suppress their mental unrest and this causes the body to develop illness and diseases. So here are some information about Psychotherapy in the form of FAQs to dispell this myth and urge more people to take help with a therapist:
Q: What is Psychotherapy? A: Psychotherapy is a process of empowering an individual through increase of their Emotional Intelligence, and expanding their positive sense of self. With the required period of therapy, one gets to know oneself more closely and all disturbing parts buried deep in one's mind would make peace. The person emerges as a peaceful, happy, free individual. A psychotherapist does NOT use medicines for the cure of mental health. Q: Why is Psychotherapy important? A: The body gets sick or hurt and at those times it requires attention. The same goes true for the mind. Mental makeup of an individual is decided by all the experiences faced from prenatal (in the womb) stages to the current moment, and also some genetic influences. Limiting aspects of those inputs will show at different phases of our lives as problems and difficulties. Psychotherapy is the means to address these issues and resolve them at the core of the being, in an environment of understanding, acceptance, and total confidentiality. Q: How do I know I need Psychotherapy? A: The mind and body gives indications of the internal discords through feelings of negative emotions or bodily discomforts or even just as a sense of "Not-OK-ness". External discords manifest as life going out of control. Some of these symptoms are listed; these are by no means a complete list:
- Cognitive (Thought): Stress, Tension, Confusion, Blankness, Futility, Negative thoughts
- Emotional: Excessive Fear, Sadness, or Anger; Numbness of mind (Not able to feel)
- Somatic (Bodily): Migraines, Ulcers, Sleeplessness, Incessant crying
- Social: Problems in relationship, Feeling to Isolate oneself
