Sex addiction is a psychiatric illness.

London: Sex addiction, in which sufferers have relentless sexual urges, will soon be formally recognised as a psychiatric disorder by American Psychiatric Association, a media report said.
The “addiction” is being discussed by experts for inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, the Daily Mail' reported. The manual is considered the definitive guide to what constitutes a genuine psychological disorder rather than an imaginary one.

Sex addiction actually became highly publicised when celebrities such as Tiger Woods and Russell Brand sought treatment for the condition.
The United Kingdom's health service is starting a preliminary project for sex addiction treatment, which experts say, could spark a boom in drug companies repackaging anti-depressants and sex-drive-suppressants.
The Priory chain of clinics say that its patients “work on themselves for eight or nine hours a day in group therapy, in individual sessions with their psychiatrists and with a wide range of trained therapists”.
Clinical psychologist and sex therapist Janet Hall said that patients with sex addiction problems now make up the majority of her clients.

Stress taking toll on mental health: Study

Psychiatric Illnesses On Rise In Urban India

Durgesh Nandan Jha | TNN

New Delhi: City life has its own trials. Stress at work and in social life have resulted in an increase in the number of people suffering from psychiatric illnesses and sub-syndromes of diseases like headache, tension and insomnia, says a survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on urban mental health.
According to the survey conducted across three cities in the country, including Delhi, 8-10% people suffer from psychiatric illnesses like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, among others.
Sub-syndrome mental illnesses — psychological problems that do not qualify as mental illness — were found to be more common. “Total 3,600 people in Delhi from different socio-economic strata were included in this study, which was conducted between 2004 and 2009. It was found that even in a city like Delhi, where medical facilities are available and there is greater awareness about psychiatric illnesses, only 10-20% receive treatment. There is a stigma attached to mental illness and people tend to avoid institutional health facilities available,” said Dr Nimesh Desai, director of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), who led the urban mental health survey in Delhi. He said focus group meetings conducted to analyse the results showed that many people – mostly young

Adults – used tranquilizers and sleeping pills.
“There appeared to be an interface between one’s physical medical condition and his state of mind. People suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and neurological disorders were found to have psychological problems in common,” Desai added.Depression was found to be the most common mental illness in the survey. “There is rift in social life of the urban populace. People communicate barely in families. Personal dissatisfaction, disinterest in work, lack of motivation, domestic problems and marital discord were major reasons behind the mental problems,” said another researcher.
It is assumed that in the next 10 years, these problems will escalate further. Lack of experts such as psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses and clinical psychologists was another big hindrance. There is a lack of beds in mental institutions, too. “There is shortage of about 8,000 psychiatrists, 17,000 clinical psychologistys and 9,000 nurses,” said Desai.
Delhi health minister Kiran Walia said the government is taking measures to fill in the gap in screening and treatment of mental disorders. “We are going to introduce mental health programme under the National Rural Health Mission. Under this initiative, doctors will make door-to-door visits and provide counselling and necessary treatment. The ASHA workers will be trained on how to screen psychiatric disorders and provide basic guidance to the people,” said Walia.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

CHILD ABUSE

“Child abuse is the intentional, non-accidental use of physical force, or intentional, non-accidental acts of omission on the part of a parent or other caretaker interacting with a child in his care aimed at hurting, injuring or destroying that child” (Gill, 1973).

Child sexual abuse is the biggest kept secret in India due to societal denial, ignorance, and silence owing to the discomfort generated out of acknowledgement. Abuse of girls is usually not reported due to family honour and “purity” related issues, while, abuse of boys is often ignored as it may be considered impossible.

Child abuse may take the form of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect.

PHYSICAL ABUSE OF CHILD- is when a child younger than age 18 years has experienced injury or risk of injury as a result of having been hit with a hand or other object or having been kicked, shaken, thrown, burned, stabbed, or choked by a parent or parent-substitute.

SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILD- is when an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for sexual purposes.

NEGLECT OF CHILD- refers to harm as a result of inadequate nutrition, clothing, hygiene and supervision.

Child abuse can have a wide range of adverse consequences as some of the commonly reported psychological disorders in adults are seen as a result of child abuse like alcohol and substance abuse disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, dissociative disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, eating disorders, etc.

Numerous researches have substantiated the link between childhood abuse and adult psychopathology highlighting the need for immediate intervention post reporting of abuse so that the victims do not develop maladaptive coping strategies.

IT IS NOT THE PERSON’S FAULT THAT THE ABUSE HAPPENED TO HIM/HER. UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABUSE IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS POSITIVE HEALTH.

COMPILED BY:

BANDNA REKHI

CONSULTANT CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

STRESS- UNDERSTANDING & MANAGEMENT

INTRODUCTION-
Stress is the way you react physically, mentally and emotionally to various conditions, changes and demands in your life. It may originate from a multitude of sources and cause a wide variety of responses, both positive and negative. Stress is your mind and body’s response or reaction to a real or imagined threat, event or change. The threat, event or change are commonly called stressors. Stressors can be internal or external. They can range from everyday hassles such as traffic jams to divorce, death of a close family member, injury or illness, marriage, loss of job, retirement etc.
EFFECTS OF STRESS-
Undesired Effects of stress- Stress reactions may disturb the adaptation to the environment in a very serious way, both at a personal and an organisational level. As such, these reactions have all kinds of undesirable and also very expensive consequences.

Individual Effects of Stress- Stress tends to lead to diminished creativity and stagnation of personal development. As such, it negatively affects work motivation, pleasure and well-being. Moreover, it diminishes the quality of social relations, resulting in conflicts and isolation. As a result, overall individual effectiveness can be greatly diminished. Ultimately, stress can lead to all kinds of psychological and physical complaints and illnesses, which may contribute to a premature death.

Behavioural responses- Overeating, undereating, anger outbursts, drug or alcohol abuse, increased smoking, social withdrawal, crying spells, relationship conflicts.

Psychological responses- decreased attention and concentration, feelings of anxiety, anger, apathy, depression, and aggression, restlessness, worrying, irritability, sadness, anger, feeling insecure, lack of focus, burnout, forgetfulness.

Physiological responses- headaches, nervous stomach, change in appetite, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, sweaty palms, irritability, anxiety, heart disease, back pain, gastrointestinal disturbances and alcohol and drug dependency, “fight or flight” response, decreased immunity, stomach upset, sleep problems. Recovery (from illnesses and accidents) will be relatively slow due to impaired physiological processes. Complete exhaustion may take place leading to sudden death.

Effects of Stress for Organisations- At the level of organisations, stress can lead to a number of effects that each can jeopardise the position and survival of any organisation (low production quality and quantity, production errors and disturbances, overlooking possible solutions and missing crucial business opportunities and chances).

CAUSES- Anxiety, Unexpected negative changes in life, Disorganization, Physical Constraints, Time constraints, Demands, Control, Lack of Support, Role ambiguity, conflict, Perception of threat or challenge, Negative thoughts and images…

WARNING SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
Cognitive Symptoms Emotional Symptoms
Memory problems Moodiness
Inattention Irritability/short temper
Poor judgment Agitation/restlessness
Negative thinking Feeling overwhelmed
Anxious thoughts Sense of loneliness and isolation
Constant worrying Depression

Physical Symptoms Behavioral Symptoms
Aches and pains Eating more/less
Diarrhoea/constipation Sleeping too much/too little
Nausea, dizziness Isolating yourself from others
Chest pain/palpitations Procrastinating/neglecting responsibilities
Loss of sex drive Use of alcohol/cigarettes/drugs
Frequent colds Nervous habits
STRESS MANAGEMENT:
Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, emotions, schedule, environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.
IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE BEING BURDENED, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!
TAKE CHARGE AND CONTACT YOUR PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRIST TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH THE SAME!!

COMPILED BY:

BANDNA REKHI
CONSULTANT CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

I JUST CAN’T HELP IT, ONCE I AM ANGRY, THERE IS NO STOPPING ME I LOSE CONTROL

WHAT IS ANGER? NORMAL VS ABNORMAL
Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life. It may vary in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage.
Anger may be caused by both external and internal events like uncontrollable situations, negative thinking, fatigue, helplessness, deprivation, competition, etc.
WHY SHOULD IT BE CONTROLLED?
The instinctive, natural way to express anger is to respond aggressively. Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats; it inspires powerful, often aggressive, feelings and behaviors, which allow us to fight and to defend ourselves when we are attacked. A certain amount of anger, therefore, is necessary to our survival.
On the other hand, we can't express our anger at every person or object that irritates or annoys us. Unexpressed anger can create problems as it can lead to passive-aggressive behaviour, self harm, psychological problems, unsuccessful interpersonal relationships, etc.
Like all emotions, anger also is short-lived; it gradually goes to a peak and settles down slowly provided you are able to distract yourself. This is a fact that usually we are not very well aware of, which makes it uncontrollable. So the next time you get angry don’t think about how you can’t control your anger, rather try out different techniques which help you resolve your anger.

HOW CAN IT CONTROLLED?
Relaxation- deep breathing or counting your breath, with full focus on breathing, imagining light pleasant scenes can help calm down anger with immediate effect.
Timeplan- Make a timetable with all your daily activities so that you are well prepared to handle emergencies. It will help in making a serious attempt to face it than lose patience, think negative, and feel irritable and finally angry.
Better Communication- Angry people tend to jump to conclusions. Leave the situation and get back to discuss once you are calm. Avoid heated discussions when angry.
Time a discussion appropriately- when you discuss things, avoid doing it when you or the other person are tired, distracted, or irritable, as it may flare up problems. An appropriate time should be sought for discussion.
Therapy/ counselling- If you feel that your anger is really out of control, if it is having an impact on your relationships and on important parts of your life, you might consider counselling to learn more technical ways of dealing with negative emotions. Psychotherapy involves the use of thinking, feelings and behaviours, which in case if maladaptive, may be modified. A certified psychologist may be contacted for the same.

By:
BANDNA REKHI
CONSULTANT CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

PORTRAIT OF ADD / ADHD CHIL/ Myths about Attention Deficit Disorder

Myth #1: All kids with ADD/ADHD are hyperactive.
Some children with ADD/ADHD are hyperactive, but many others with attention problems are not. Children with ADD/ADHD who are inattentive, but not overly active, may appear to be spacey and unmotivated.
Myth #2: Kids with ADD/ADHD can never pay attention.
Children with ADD/ADHD are often able to concentrate on activities they enjoy. But no matter how hard they try, they have trouble maintaining focus when the task at hand is boring or repetitive.
Myth #3: Kids with ADD/ADHD choose to be difficult and could behave better if they wanted to.
Children with ADD/ADHD may do their best to be good, but still be unable to sit still, stay quiet, or pay attention. They may appear disobedient, but that doesn’t mean they’re acting out on purpose.
Myth #4: Kids will eventually grow out of ADD/ADHD.
ADD/ADHD often continues into adulthood, so don’t wait for your child to outgrow the problem. Treatment can help your child learn to manage and minimize the symptoms.
Myth #5: Medication is the best treatment option for ADD/ADHD.
Medication is often prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder, but it might not be the best option for your child. Effective treatment for ADD/ADHD also includes education, behavior therapy, support at home and school, exercise, and proper nutrition


MYTHS AND REALITY
Myths about Attention Deficit Disorder

Myth #1: All kids with ADD/ADHD are hyperactive.
Some children with ADD/ADHD are hyperactive, but many others with attention problems are not. Children with ADD/ADHD who are inattentive, but not overly active, may appear to be spacey and unmotivated.
Myth #2: Kids with ADD/ADHD can never pay attention.
Children with ADD/ADHD are often able to concentrate on activities they enjoy. But no matter how hard they try, they have trouble maintaining focus when the task at hand is boring or repetitive.
Myth #3: Kids with ADD/ADHD choose to be difficult and could behave better if they wanted to.
Children with ADD/ADHD may do their best to be good, but still be unable to sit still, stay quiet, or pay attention. They may appear disobedient, but that doesn’t mean they’re acting out on purpose.
Myth #4: Kids will eventually grow out of ADD/ADHD.
ADD/ADHD often continues into adulthood, so don’t wait for your child to outgrow the problem. Treatment can help your child learn to manage and minimize the symptoms.
Myth #5: Medication is the best treatment option for ADD/ADHD.
Medication is often prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder, but it might not be the best option for your child. Effective treatment for ADD/ADHD also includes education, behavior therapy, support at home and school, exercise, and proper nutrition.
POSITIVE TRAITS OF CHILDREN WITH ADD/ADHD
In addition to the challenges, there are also positive traits associated with people who have attention deficit disorder:
• Creativity – Children who have ADD/ADHD can be marvelously creative and imaginative. The child who daydreams and has ten different thoughts at once can become a master problem-solver, a fountain of ideas, or an inventive artist. Children with ADD may be easily distracted, but sometimes they notice what others don’t see.
• Flexibility – Because children with ADD/ADHD consider a lot of options at once, they don’t become set on one alternative early on and are more open to different ideas.
• Enthusiasm and spontaneity – Children with ADD/ADHD are rarely boring! They’re interested in a lot of different things and have lively personalities. In short, if they’re not exasperating you (and sometimes even when they are), they’re a lot of fun to be with.
• Energy and drive – When kids with ADD/ADHD are motivated, they work or play hard and strive to succeed. It actually may be difficult to distract them from a task that interests them, especially if the activity is interactive or hands-on.
Keep in mind, too, thatTHERE IS NO RELATION BETWEEN ADD/ADHD AND CHILD’S INTELLIGENCE OR TALENT . Many children with ADD/ADHD are intellectually or artistically gifted.

Sourse ; www.helpguid.org

By: NEELAM UPADHYAYA

CRISIS OF COMPETITION

Competition is a form of measurement and comparing one person or team against another. Moderate competition is good, but extreme competition can devastate anyone. Parents, teachers, coaches, youth directors and other adults play an integral role in directing the activities of youth. Adults can help to channel the energies of youth so that they encounter a wide variety of experiences. Adults can play an important role in helping youth balance competition and cooperation. Temperament, culture, talent and the age of the child affect how a child handles competition. Children are not born with a competitive urge. They learn it.
Competition in itself is not a bad thing. Competition will be experienced at many points in life. As adults, we can choose to structure events and contests so that competition is a learning experience. Competition becomes negative when winning becomes the overriding goal. Competition is everywhere in the world. While it may be almost a natural part of society today, some of the negative effects on children are overlooked.
In most competitive events there are more of those that do not win than those who do. Winning can have a positive effect on a child but it has been shown that losing enhances negative thoughts and feelings more than winning increases positive thoughts. Children who fail to win in competitive situations show more feelings of unworthiness, more harmful thoughts about themselves, and decreased self-esteem. Children who do not win may feel that they have failed and have negative feelings about themselves. They may feel worthless, helpless and hopeless.
Adults can help guide youth to focus on the means (learning, obtaining goals, social contact or simply being happy with being involved) instead of the end (winning). Striving to achieve a goal is a constructive form of competition where success is measured in terms of self growth and not by a ribbon or trophy.

Children are extremely sensitive to adult attitudes about winning and losing. When positive responses follow only winning, and negative reactions following losing, youth may learn to fear failure. Their desire and motivation may be dampened in a way that limits their creativity and their desire to take chances and experience new things. Enthusiasm for learning and enjoyment in the activity may be discouraged.

Competition can be good for children. It can help children develop healthy attitudes about winning and losing. Children become competitive as they refine and practice skills and develop coordination and cognitive abilities. Competition can encourage growth and push a child to excel.

BY:
BANDNA REKHI
CONSULTANT CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST