February 26, 2022

Why Are Women More Depressed Than Men?

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories Depression individual counseling mental health professional help psychotherapy therapy

The awareness about mental illnesses is still quite scant throughout the globe, and especially in countries like India. The taboo associated with mental disorders is way harder to overcome than curing the actual disease. According to conventional thinking, men face more mental health issues than women since the suicide rates are higher than women. However, deep study and detailed statistics reveal that the scenario is quite opposite. The mental health burdens of women are way more than what men go through, in their lifetime.  

Gender plays a very important role in mental health. While mental health issues are important in both men and women, certain factors cannot be denied which lead to a great divide as far as one’s well-being is concerned. WHO or the World Health Organization confirms that the leading mental health problems that are seen in adults are essentially a greater mental health burden on women. These problems include dementia, depression, organic brain syndromes, etc. Several reasons lead to women having more mental health issues such as medical factors, patriarchy, physical abuse, etc.

  • Social Reasons 

The mental health burden on women is major because of the social factors that differentiate between a man and a woman on parameters other than the biological ones. Women have always been oppressed and have not been allowed to live a life of free will. Their aspirations have been ignored and their actions restricted. They have always been dependent on their male counterparts for their financial requirements since they were unable to sustain their livelihood. 

  • Medical Reasons 

The medical factors might include the lower secretion of serotonin in women, which can lead to signs of depression when the circumstances are conducive. Moreover, health conditions like menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, etc, result in a lot of hormonal changes in a woman’s body. Therefore, a wide plethora of leading mental health diseases are quite common in women, when their body goes through such conditions. 

  • Sexual Abuse 

Molestation and rape need to be mentioned in this regard as well. A major mental health burden in women throughout their lives is the burden of sexual abuse. Statistics show that 1 in 5 women in the world go through rape attempts or are rape survivors. Such people often suffer from PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental health disorder that occurs due to the trauma attached to such incidents. With numbers as heartbreaking as these, it’s not surprising that mental health illnesses are more commonly found in women. 

It’s time we start acknowledging these issues and treat them effectively, instead of brushing them off and normalizing them. Mental health is as important as one’s physical health if not more and it needs to be catered to. Not everybody is comfortable talking about their issues and whenever you feel you can help someone simply by listening to them or being there for them, don’t step back.

February 24, 2022

Difference Between ADHD And ADD

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories ADD ADHD individual counseling mental health professional help psychotherapy therapy

Do you find it difficult to concentrate in your online classes? Do you lose interest in conversations or forget things easily? Do you fiddle with your lips or your fingers unconsciously? In all probabilities, you have Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD. The term ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder refers to the same disorder, excluding the hyperactivity that’s associated with ADHD. Earlier, both of these were referred to as separate ideas but now, ADD is considered to be the inattentive type of ADHD. 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves issues relating to inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. These three major factors have several specifications. These are: 

  • Inattention

This refers to the problems of concentrating or focusing on something. People suffering from ADHD are not able to manage time and work under deadlines. They keep forgetting stuff and are extremely messy and disorganized. 

  • Hyperactivity

If you constantly fidget with different things, including your hands and legs, without even realizing that you’re doing so, you have hyperactivity symptoms. Such people face difficulty in keeping still. 

  • Impulsivity

This refers to impulsive actions and decisions that are not thought about before they’re acted upon. As a result of the suddenness, more than not, these decisions are not right. Thus, they have negative implications. 

ADHD can be broadly classified into the following three types. 

  1. ADHD Inattentive Type or ADD 
  2. ADHD Hyperactive-Impulsive Type 
  3. ADHD Combined Type 

What Is ADD?

People with ADHD Inattentive type or just Attention Deficit Disorder exhibit no symptoms of impulsivity or hyperactivity. They are mostly shy and introverted people who have severe issues paying attention and following regimes. The symptoms of ADD are: 

  • Forgetfulness in day-to-day tasks and functions. 
  • Lack of focus and attention to detail in regular jobs. Intense study and analysis are not carried out. 
  • Ignorance and inattentiveness in conversations. Showcase of disinterest to those who want to communicate. 
  • Irregularity and insincerity concerning being on time and meeting deadlines. 
  • The inability of sustaining attention for long periods and frequent zoning out. 
  • Incapability to own up to mistakes and losing belongings, frequently. 

ADD Vs ADHD: Which is Common?

Studies have shown that since women are mostly associated with a tender and calm nature, ADD or inattentiveness is mostly found in them. On the other hand, most men are known to have a hyperactive side to them and ADHD is predominant in them. There are exceptions to both of these facts. Since the rate of diagnosis of ADD is lesser than ADHD, it is given that ADHD or Hyperactive-Impulsive type is a more common phenomenon. 

The curing process of ADHD or ADD can be catalyzed by certain steps taken by patients. These include adequate amounts of sleep, consumption of a proper, balanced diet, effective physical workout, and lessened usage of smartphones, laptops, computers, etc. Yoga and meditation are also proven methods of reducing the symptoms of ADHD. 

February 22, 2022

What Is High Functioning Anxiety?

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories high functioning anxiety individual counseling mental health professional help psychotherapy therapy

This condition refers to symptoms that are opposite to those of conventional anxiety. Anxiety usually involves secluding oneself from others and staying aloof. Anxiety makes you want to stay away from people and gatherings and parties. On the other hand, high functioning anxiety means to outwardly maintain a happy and calm demeanor which is way different from the actual, inherent insecurities. While suffering from this disorder, one may pretend to socialize and fit in but secretly wants to discard all kinds of social events and meetups. They try to maintain a false image. 

People become overachievers due to their constant questioning of their self-worth. However well they do, they’re never good enough for themselves. This is because they feel that they’re not entitled to make mistakes or do anything less than what can be called perfect. They feel that they would be judged, humiliated, and disregarded by others, otherwise. Thus, they become more and more conscious of themselves and what they do. Following are the symptoms of high functioning anxiety. 

  • Overworking

This refers to draining oneself in work to stay occupied. This results from the need to meet self-assumed expectations and deadlines. Patients feel that they don’t deserve a break or even a tad bit of relaxation before they complete the work that they’re doing. They focus solely on one thing at a time. Before the completion of something that’s near to perfection, they have breakdowns and panic attacks, caused due to stress and anxiety. After prolonged hours of work, pangs of unproductivity hit hard and this is the worst time for high functioning anxiety patients who find it difficult to cope, during these times.

  • Inability To Say No 

People having high functioning anxiety feel the constant need to please people and work according to their expectations, even if that means, taxing their health. They go out of their way to be there for them and make them feel comfortable. This is also a kind of defense mechanism because they don’t want other people to go through what they feel. They don’t want to face their thoughts. 

  • Overthinking

The question of “what if” is the most commonly asked question when it comes to high functioning anxiety. People think about all how things could go wrong and turn away from their favor.  They are unable to consider themselves good enough for anything and thus, the obsession with work and exemplarity. It might not show in their faces but when something happens that they had not anticipated, it bothers them. They have a hard time accepting changes and coming to terms with those.

January 8, 2022

How Can Therapy Sessions Improve Your Business?

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories counseling health mental health professional help psychotherapy therapy

Beginning and running a new business is like giving birth to a child and nurturing it. It is an extremely rewarding experience and comes with a lot of positive impacts but at the same time, it comes with a lot of challenges as well. Studies have shown that businessmen go through a greater deal of stress and anxiety than those belonging to other professions. Entrepreneurship can get extremely burdening and overwhelming, even if you’re experienced in the field. From talking to investors to signing deals and keeping a check on employees, entrepreneurship has too much in it’s realm and the uncertainty attached to the job is the reason for a lot of mental health issues such as stress, depression, and anxiety.  In this article, we are going to talk about how therapy can help improve businesses and the problems of entrepreneurs. 

  • Preventing Burnout 

Burnout is a common term for people who are associated with a corporate way of living. If you have been working late nights and messing up your sleep schedule, there are chances that you’re very burnt out. This happens when you let your work overpower your health and well-being. If you feel you are facing problems in maintaining a work-life balance, you should begin therapy. Therapy would help you set realistic goals that wouldn’t involve compromising on your personal time. The key is to be consistent in what you do, instead of letting work pile up. 

  • Regulating Procrastination 

Procrastination is one of the main reasons why work gets piled up and you end up rushing through it all when the deadline is near. To avoid this, you should be consistent, instead of keeping something for a later date. If you’re procrastinating too much, there are chances that you’re bothered by something else or you simply need a break. The best way to reduce procrastination is to begin therapy for the same. Your therapist might ask you to take frequent breaks while you’re working. If you treat yourself while you’re working, work would become more interesting and your procrastination would reduce by default. 

  • Setting Boundaries 

Setting certain healthy boundaries is extremely important, not only for businessmen, but for everyone. If you don’t learn to set some boundaries, you will always end up working more than you’re supposed to. You should be able to say no in situations that require you to do so. If you keep saying yes, you are bound to be burnt out sooner than you think. You should always prioritize yourself and work only as much as you can. If you’re unable to set boundaries, therapy is going to help you with that. Your communication skills would improve and you would learn to set boundaries in a way that wouldn’t usually offend anyone. 

December 8, 2021

What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy?

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories DBT fitness health mental health professional help psychotherapy therapy
Practicing Core Mindfulness

Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT was initially meant to treat patients with BPD or borderline personality disorder but with time it has been modified to cure certain other mental health disorders as well like PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, or substance use disorders. It is a branch of CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and its main goal is to mend the way people view their relationships with the people who surround them, improve the way they communicate and deal with stressful situations, and how they choose to carry themselves in the present time. 

Important Techniques Of Dialectical Behavior Therapy 

  • Distress Tolerance 

This is a way of therapy that allows patients to handle themselves effectively in crises. The key to maintaining sanity is the ability to accept situations and act according to them, without disrupting your mental balance. You would be coached to deal with extremely intense emotions that tend to overpower you. You would learn to stay calm and have a positive attitude, no matter what. Some very important ways of distress tolerance are self-assurance and belief, distraction, and thinking about objects or people who make you feel at peace. 

  • Core Mindfulness 

One very important aspect of DBT is the development of mindfulness in an individual. Practicing mindfulness would enable you to live in the present and experience moments as they come to you. It would help you focus on yourself and your emotions in accordance with whatever happens around you in a way that wouldn’t harm anyone, including yourself. This is a technique that’s capable of preventing impulsive decisions and actions that people subject themselves and others to, as a coping mechanism. 

  • Interpersonal Effectiveness 

More often than not, people face issues in their relationships because they’re unable to speak their hearts out to the other person and showcase their true feelings. They tend to normalize bottling up their emotions to avoid problems. However, this is a very unhealthy way of dealing with problems. Interpersonal effectiveness is a part of DBT that enables individuals to stand up for themselves and express their views while maintaining peace. It would help you respect your own as well as others’ opinions more than you used to. 

  • Emotion Regulation 

This is a way of being able to identify your own emotions and the root causes of those emotions, to regulate them in difficult situations. Once you’re able to recognize and analyze your actions as a reaction to certain emotions, you would be in a better position to deal with them.

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