Telepathy is a phenomenon under the broad Umbrella term of Extrasensory Perception(ESP) as defined in Parapsychology.

Clairvoyance, clairaudience,  are similar to the phenomenon of Telepathy.

Telepathy is communication of a message from one mind to another without any medium. For example, you get a call from a friend the moment you think of him; Though you were out of touch with him since long. This is beyond your learned knowledge and intellect.

Research cannot establish the occurrence of  Telepathy; but science has confirmed that you are made up of frequencies, vibrations, and molecules. Your frequency can be transmitted to another person provided you have shared a physical space at some point in your life.

It is not possible to measure, control or observe an event like Telepathy and hence the limitation in Research.

These could be some of the possible explanations of Telepathy:

• You have Neurons in your brain, called Mirror neurons which act as mirrors;  hence you would have noticed some people can read other people’s mind better. Research has shown that you can even understand the emotions and intentions of the other person automatically. If you have higher levels of oxytocin, the chances are that you would be better at understanding and reading these social cues.

• Research in this area has also demonstrated that you might be more Telepathic than your friend. A brain-imaging study done on a Telepathic person’s brain showed more activation in the right parahippocampal gyrus(Area of the brain).
• The more dopamine you have in your brain, the greater are the chances of unfounded beliefs ( this is not an indicator of any pathology). Studies have indicated a genetic difference in dopamine transmission of Telepathic people.

Although, we do not have any substantial research in this area, It is interesting enough to explore and know more about Telepathy.

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Stuttering is a  childhood-onset disorder of speech in which the person repeats sounds, words, syllables, takes time to utter a sound and has an interrupted speech known as ‘block’.The person is aware of what he has to say but has trouble producing the normal speech flow.

The speech distortions are often accompanied with problem behaviors like lip tremors or rapid eye blinking. Stuttering makes your communication difficult with others and can affect your quality of life and interpersonal relationships. Stuttering often becomes worse when speaking to a group, talking on the phone and might reduce while reading, singing or speaking alone.

Speech production process

When you speak, there is a series of precisely coordinated muscle movement which involves voice production, breathing, movement of throat, tongue, palate, and lips. The entire process is controlled by the brain.

Although stuttering can affect you at any age due to Trauma, head injury, severe stress; It is most common in children from 2 to 6 years of age when human beings enter the language producing age. Almost, all children stutter at some period which could last from a few weeks to years. Some People continue to stutter even after their childhood and throughout life.

Is stuttering Psychological?

Earlier Stuttering was believed to be only a Psychological phenomenon but recent research shows that it is more often a Developmental disorder than a psychogenic problem. Brain images show a difference in the brain of a stuttering and a non-stuttering one. Developmental stuttering occurs when the child’s language abilities do not meet the child’s verbal demands.

Although,if you stutter you will eventually suffer from a lot of related Psychological problems like:

• Shame
• Anger
• Guilt
• Severe Embarrassment
• Confusion
• Panic and Anxiety
• Frustration
• Social phobia
• Social Isolation etc.

Therapy

Therapy could help young children prevent developmental stuttering and increase their speech fluency while maintaining positive attitudes. It could help adults by understanding, acceptance and overcome the psychological side-effects of stuttering. If you find your child stutter for 3-6 month s, take him to a health professional to be evaluated.

Do these for your child:

• Make sure you have a relaxed home environment in which your child can speak freely. Set aside some time for your child to talk one to one with you and make sure you hear when the child is excited and wants to share a lot.
• Pay attention to the meaning of what your child has to say and focus on the message rather than how he is saying it.
• Do not interrupt your child when he/she is speaking
• Speak in a relaxed and slow tone so that the child is not under the pressure of time
• Do not complete the child’s sentences and be patient in hearing him. Make him understand that a person can communicate effectively even if he stutters.

• Talk openly to your child about stuttering if he wants to and let him know that it is alright to have certain disruptions.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can happen to adults as well as children. The amount of trauma experienced by an adult can be experienced by a child too. But, their reaction to trauma differs with age.

Thus, below are few symptoms shown by a Child having PTSD:

Bed Wetting:

Even after learning how to use the toilet, the child starts to wet the bed. This event usually happens because of nightmares about the trauma. Also, the child doesn’t realise about this issue and keeps on wetting the bed.

No Talk:

Mostly, children become unable to or in extreme cases, stop talking. They forget how to talk and express their emotions. Also, in some cases, the child becomes unable to talk. Thus, becoming mute.

Acting Out:

The trauma caused by the event is very scary for them. But, as they are unable to express themselves, they start acting out the trauma. This usually happens during their play or when they are indulged in other activities like drawing, painting etc.

Become Clingy:

They will start to cling to a parent or a guardian who they are close to. The fear of the trauma scares them to an unimaginable extent. Thus, making them cling to a loved one for safety and comfort.

Destructive Behaviour:

Sometimes, the child starts to act in a destructive manner. As they are unable to explain what is going on with them, they will start becoming angry and destructive.

With age, the symptoms are shown by a child also evolves. Thus, children of different age will exhibit different symptoms.

Thus, below are the symptoms shown by child, age-wise, suffering from PTSD:

Under Age 6:

Children under the age of 6 will usually show the symptoms mentioned above. They will cling to a parent or start acting out in their play.

Between Age 7-11:

Children between the age of 7-11 start showing symptoms similar to above. They will have nightmares and will start avoiding school or school work. They might isolate themselves or start acting out in an aggressive manner. Their drawings or paintings might become an expression of the trauma.

Between Age 12-18:

Children between the age of 12-18 will usually show the symptoms which an adult will show. This may include, and not limited to, depression, anxiety, acting out, substance use or even constantly running away from home.

PTSD can happen to anyone, regardless of age. If you or someone you know is suffering from PTSD then please visit a mental health professional immediately.

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We have recently lost two very famous celebrities, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, to suicide. Similarly, we have lost many famous people who committed suicide including Robbin Williams and Chester Bennington. This shows the severity of the illness, which is ignored by many and shrugged by others. Depression. It is real and takes away everything from us.

Most of the people are aware of what depression is, yet we are ready to ignore what is lost. Sometimes, it comes hidden inside our smiles, and sometimes behind the silence. We become aware and unaware at the same time and close our eyes and wish it will go away. But, it doesn’t. We wish for riches, we wish for fame, for love but even when we receive them we are not able to grab hold of the happiness we wish for.

Depression comes in various forms and it engulfs us.

Few of the common symptoms of depression are:

Lack/Excess of Sleep:

A person who is suffering from depression will start exhibiting insomnia or hypersomnia. That is, the person will not be able to sleep at all or, will be sleeping too much.

Loss of Interest:

The person will lose interest in all the activities he/she loved to do. Hence, the person will not be able to take interest or pleasure in the activities they used to love.

Change in Appetite:

Depression takes away everything, including our desire to eat. Or, in the other extreme, we start eating too much. Thus, gaining or losing a lot of weight.

Irritability:

There is a constant irritability with-in the person. The person is not able to understand what is exactly happening with them. Hence, when someone starts questioning them they start becoming irritable. They are not able to handle all the questions inside them. They will start crying without reason or start getting angry.

Thoughts of Suicide and Death:

The thoughts of the person keep revolving around suicide and death. They become obsessed with those thoughts, and even in some cases they even try and commit suicide. They feel that there is no need for their existence.

The above symptoms should not be overlooked.

The person is maybe trying to say something, we need to be there to listen to the person.

In today’s time, we are indulged in social media and news of someone passing away affect minds and provides the extra push everyone is looking for. It is noted that after the suicide of Robin Williams, the suicide rate increased to 50% more. We need to understand that suicide is not the solution.

Also, suicide is not easy. It takes a lot of courage, it drains out all the energy of the person to just make one decision. But, as mentioned it should never be the answer.

We need to start taking steps, start acknowledging. Depression doesn’t look if you have money or fame or anything. It needs to be de-stigmatized. It is something we need not run away from, but something we need to acknowledge. A simple question, “how are you?” or “are you fine?” may do wonders for many. It doesn’t matter if the person is posting 100 photos on Instagram every day or appearing on TV shows or movies, it can be anyone.

In today’s fast-paced life, we have put on so many masks. Waiting. For someone to take off those masks. Be the person to remove those masks, provide help and if need, ask for help or seek help. Thus, if you or someone you know is suffering from depression, please seek professional help immediately. Remove the stigma. Win the Fight against Depression!

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From time to time, we all get angry at someone or something. Anger is one of the basic human emotion, but it is seen in a negative light. It’s not something to look down to, but how you manage your anger matters. Management of anger can be done in a negative or a positive way. Sometimes it becomes necessary to express your anger, but other times it is also necessary to control it.

Thus, below are few tips on anger management:

Knowing the Triggers:

Firstly, it is important to know what makes you angry. If you already know the triggers then it becomes easy to avoid them. But, if the situation is unavoidable then you will be prepared for the situation.

Notice the Physical Signs:

When anger starts to rise, it is important that you start noticing the physical warning signs. For example, racing heart, teeth grinding, tightness in chest etc. Once you start noticing the physical signs, it becomes easier to defuse the situation.

Think Positively:

Often in anger, we are unable to control our thoughts, which escalates the situation furthermore. Hence, it is important to start thinking positively when you start getting angry. One of the best ways is to keep a pocket diary with you where you jot down the positive thoughts. So, when you start becoming angry you can refer to the diary and calm yourself.

Time Out:

When you start getting angry, it is best to take some time out for yourself and get back to the matter at hand for discussion later on. You can either go for a walk or just sit in peace. This way you will be able to give yourself space and time to think.

Distraction:

In today’s time, there are many distractions one can fall back to. When you are getting angry, try distracting yourself. Thus, listening to music, watching TV, exercising, talking to someone can help you distract from the situation.

Relaxation Techniques:

Using relaxation techniques can help you calm your mind. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, grounding, progressive muscle relaxation etc help you to focus your mind and calm yourself. You can learn these techniques online.

Assertion and Aggression:

Usually, people believe that to be assertive one has to be aggressive. It is a very common misunderstanding. Assertiveness is presenting yourself confidently and boldly in a respectful manner. While, being aggressive means to intimidate, humiliate or disregard the other.

Rehearsing the Anger Management Techniques:

It is important to practice the anger management techniques when you are not angry. Imagining a scenario and practising the skills will actually help you manage your anger in real situations.

Other Underlying Emotions:

Anger sometimes is a reaction to other underlying emotions. One must first acknowledge these emotions. This can actually be scary, but, acknowledging these emotions will help you connect your feelings and manage your anger.

Professional Help:

A psychologist can help you understand and process your emotions. Thus, controlling your anger. Hence, if you or someone you know is facing anger management issues; then please visit a professional.

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Art therapy is a modern form of therapy.  It replaces the traditional therapy model by making use of imaginative structures. It is generally combined with other forms of psychotherapy. Although more beneficial for children, especially those who have trouble expressing their emotions, art therapy can be used with adults as well. Everyone can be creative in some form or the other. Therefore, what art therapy aims to do is, provide people the opportunity to think and act creatively. For this purpose, it uses a variety of modalities such as clay, paint, paper, color pencils etc.

It has the following benefits –

• Self-exploration: Art therapy offers a means of catharsis, by providing an insight into feelings that one might not have been previously aware of.
• Self-worth: The entire process (creative and analytical) involved in the creation of an artwork and then seeing a tangible end product provides a sense of fulfillment.
• Empowerment: Art therapy allows one to express one’s emotions and fears that one might not have been able to verbally. Thus, by allowing a sense of control over one’s feelings, it provides a sense of empowerment.
• Brain connectivity and plasticity: By encouraging creative thinking, art therapy simulates the process of creation of new pathways in your brain.
• Stress buster: Artistic and creative activities help you forget your problems and calm down. It provides you a mental escape and helps you connect with yourself better.

• Mental health: Art therapy improves the mental health of people suffering from other illnesses or traumatic experiences as well. Art therapy has benefits for – cancer patients; survivors of violence; substance abuser and addicts; people suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other emotional issues. It also helps people deal with relationship issues.
• Rapport Formation: It serves as a great tool for ice breaking, especially with children.

Psychologist is explain more about the Art therapy

Art therapy is not a tool for aiding healing, but an instrument for promoting mental well-being.

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Bully Daughter-in-law?

Yes, it is possible that your son’s dear wife is bully. Hence, it is your misfortune that you daughter-in-law is a bully. She resents you, her mother-in-law, and as a result of that, in covert or not so coveted fashion she is bullying you. So, nothing you do is correct, even when you help her raise her children or help in the kitchen. Thus, in her attention, your focus is always on her husband and you are always trying to destroy their relationship.

More often than not, people don’t realize that their daughter-in-law is a bully. People often shrug off this idea by rationalizing that it is her who is feeling difficult to settle down and you are the one who is not able to understand her. Even when you try and discuss this with your son, he dismisses the idea by saying, “she is doing whatever she can do”. Here, it is first important to know, what is bullying? Bullying is an unacceptable act or behavior among children. Hence, bullying is the use of force, threats, coercion, intimation and/or aggressive and dominant behavior to subjugate the other.

The following seven points are indications that your daughter-in-law is a bully. If you observe these behaviours in her; it is a good opportunity to talk to an experienced psychologist:

• She prevents you to make a contact with your son or grandchildren.
• Refuses to have any contact with you, what so ever, thus skipping on opportunities to communicate
• Makes snide comments about you, in presence of other family members, trying to belittle you
• She will not allow you to visit your son
• Makes you feel as if you are a burden in the family and always trying to destroy your relationships.
• Manipulates her husband and you by crying, misbehaving or pouting till everyone agrees to her demands.
• Saying hurtful and mean things to you.

If you feel that your daughter-in-law is a bully, then the first person you need to talk to is your son. Thus, it is his duty also to sort out the situation and act as a buffer and medium between the two of you. If you find the stress dealing with a “bully” daughter-in-law is taking a toll on your mental well-being it is an excellent opportunity to meet with an experienced counselor.

Also, Read – Seven Signs Your Mother-in-law is a bully

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Incidents like an older, taller boy troubling the shorter boy of his class or a junior by snatching away his tiffin or tripping him are fairly common.

We have all been a part of bullying at some point in our childhood. Whether it was as a survivor, a perpetrator or a bystander. Although these incidents in retrospect or from a distance may seem very trivial, bullying is a very serious act that can have grave consequences both in the short-term as well as the long-term for the survivor as well as the perpetrator. Possible effects for all three parties involved are mentioned below –

For the Survivor

• Bunking or dropping out of school
• Social and emotional withdrawal
• Loss of self-confidence
• Having nightmares; trouble falling asleep
• Loss of appetite
• Adverse impact on academic performance
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
• Anger outbursts
• Developing mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, depression or PTSD as a result of the trauma experienced in extreme cases
• Engaging in self-harm
• Increased risk of committing suicide

Dr Prerna Kohli India’s Top Psychologist Talks about Effects of Childhood Bullying

For the Perpetrator

• Difficulty forming relationships due to lack of empathy or style of relating with others
• Engaging in high-risk behaviors
• Increased risk of substance abuse and also developing an antisocial personality disorder

For the Bystander

• Increased risk of substance abuse
• Constant fear of becoming the target, therefore skipping school
• Increased risk of developing an anxiety disorder or depression

It is important to realize that a bystander makes an active choice when he/she decides not to do anything about witnessing bullying. They then are doing any one of the following three things – 1) they are either choosing to ignore the situation because it does not affect them directly, 2) they are too scared to report the matter, 3) they are actually deriving sadistic pleasure by seeing someone else suffer. Not intervening when one witnesses bullying is a way of encouraging the bully to carry on with his behavior. Whichever be the case, observing and not intervening in such situations is not only the wrong thing to do but also has harmful effects on the bystander.

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As human beings, we all have feelings of aggression in us. But, as adults, we know how to control our behaviour and manage the aggression. However, a child doesn’t understand how to channelize their aggressive behaviour. Hence, they start to indulge in activities like hitting, biting, kicking etc. As a parent of the child, it becomes a duty, to make the child understand how to express these behaviours in a positive manner.

Thus, below are few tips for parents who have an aggressive child:

Set Limits:

One of the most important factors is setting rules and limits. It’s always a good option to set the limits for a child and let all who take care of the child know about these limits. If the child indulges in kicking or biting, they should understand that this behaviour is wrong along with why this behaviour is wrong.

Different Channels to Express:

A child doesn’t know how to deal with anger. Hence, it is our duty to make them understand about different ways of expression. Anger can be expressed through words; this message needs to be conveyed. Also, the positive behaviour of the child should be praised. They should be exposed to environments where they see a fight being resolved peacefully.

Teach about Self Control:

A child doesn’t know or even understand about self-control. The parent should teach the child about self-control. Through a parent, the child can easily modulate their feelings and understand about self-control. Hence, through self-control, they will understand to think before they act.

Don’t encourage Toughness:

Many families, especially for the boy child, encourage the “tough” behaviour. Hence, the child starts to act violently and indulge in kicking and biting to win their parent’s approval.

Don’t Hit the Child:

Most importantly, don’t hit the child. Many parents start hitting their child because they feel that it will correct their behaviour. Instead, the child learns from this behaviour and understands that it’s ok to act violently towards others if they don’t like their behaviour. Hence, avoid corporal punishment under any circumstances.

Control Yourself:

Usually, children learn from parents. If you can’t control your own aggressive behaviour then they will also be not able to. Hence, it is important for you to express your anger in reasonable ways.

Aggression in children is an expression of self, and the parents should understand what they are trying to say through their anger. But sometimes, their anger seems uncontrollable. In those cases, it is advisable to visit  child psychologist to understand the child’s behaviour.

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