Talking to your loved ones ─ be it your parents, spouse, relatives, friends or colleagues ─ about your mental health concerns can be tricky. You might feel ashamed, anxious or unsure. The reactions that you might get could be nerve-wrecking as well. The reason is obvious. A large section of our society is yet to consider mental illness with compassion; they treat it as a stigma.
Dr Deepak Raheja, the best psychiatrist in Delhi,strongly advocates that mental disorders are nothing different from physical illnesses like heart problems, diabetes or eye infections, and thus, must be dealt in the same way. Lack of awareness or knowledge, and misunderstandings can add to the stress and anxiety of a person dealing with such problems.
Dr Deepak Raheja further suggests that people must openly voice their concerns, opinions and views about mental health issues. The idea is to break the myth and get rid of taboos associated with mental illnesses before it gets too late.
For those combating with such fears, talking it out could be one of the best ways to deal with the situation. However, there is a way to go about it. Whether you choose a close family member or a friend to talk about your situation, the following tips might just help you:
Choose a person who you think can understand you and your thoughts. Mutual respect, compassion and confidentiality are extremely important.
Timing plays an important role. Pick a good time to pour out your heart. Make sure that the person you wish you talk to about your mental stress isn’t really busy or preoccupied.
You can plan your speech in advance. Think about the points you want to put across and the instances you wish to share. Planning and practicing can make the encounter much easier for you.
Be expressive. Tell your loved ones that you need help, support and love. Being vocal about your problems and asking for help is the way to go.
Don’t be disheartened with the response. Prepare yourself for it. The one you are sharing your problems with would take some time to deal with his or her feelings regarding the matter. Give them some time before panicking at their response.
Do not just share the negatives. Do some research beforehand and share how positively people can come out of situations as yours with medical and emotional help.
With Hope Care Foundation, a leading psychiatric centre and mental-wellness organization, Dr Deepak Raheja and a team of experienced psychiatrics aim at lending support to those who are troubled by mental disorders.
If you or any of your loved ones arefacing problems related to mental health, simply visit http://www.hopecareindia.com/ and book an appointment with our mental health specialists.
Hope Care established under the guidance of Dr. Deepak Raheja, is a Psychiatric Centre of excellence that endeavors to restore hope and well-being to individuals and families afflicted by mental ill-health through comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation services. Hopecare seeks to set benchmarks in innovative programs in treatment, care, and education.
