Blog

Pregnancy is the first and foremost step for women entering motherhood. She realises that she is carrying someone inside her. It becomes a joyous occasion for the parents of the unborn child. But, along with pregnancy comes various physical and mental health issues.

It is normal to be worried about your pregnancy, and how it is affecting your body. It brings out different physical and hormonal change for the person. Thus, affecting the mood of the person. Due to which the person faces various mental health issues.

Thus, below are few Mental Health Issues Related to Pregnancy:

Depression:

During pregnancy, a lot of women suffer from depression. There are certain body changes which the woman is unable to understand or process. Also, depression can happen because of the surroundings and circumstances.

Stress and Anxiety:

It is general to feel a bit stressed while you are pregnant. But, the woman starts taking extreme stress because of the unknown which induces anxiety. Sometimes, the combination of anxiety and stress lead to panic attacks.

Bi-Polar Disorder:

Very few women face bipolar illness during pregnancy but it still happens. It happens because of the hormonal changes as well as the mental change. Which then increases the range of mood swings to depressed to manic. But, it is also to note that pregnancy induces a certain level of mood swings. But, a person who is suffering from bipolar disorder will show frequent and extreme mood swings. Read More about Bi-Polar Disorder.

These problems can occur because of the reasons mentioned below:

• Past history of any mental health problem.
• Feeling that you lack support from your surroundings.
• Having an unstable relationship with your spouse or your environment.
• Currently going through abuse or any past experience of abuse.
• Addiction to any kinds of drugs, alcohol or nicotine.

When you are pregnant it is always advisable to keep a check on your mental health. There may be times where you are feeling of ups and downs. Seeking a mental health professional is not a sign of weakness.

Below are the symptoms you can look out for to know it is time to seek a mental health professional:

Feeling Sad Constantly:

As mentioned above, feelings of ups and downs will occur during pregnancy. But, if you are constantly feeling down for more than 2 weeks, it is advisable to seek counselling.

Unable to Function:

If negative thoughts and feelings are constantly plaguing your mind. Hence, you are not able to function or do your daily work.

Symptoms of Depression:

If you are showing signs and symptoms of depression like loss of interest or hopelessness. You can read more about the symptoms of depression here.

Anxious/Worried:

You are constantly feeling anxious or worried about something or the other most of the times.

Symptoms of OCD:

You are constantly plagued by negative thoughts inside your head and to stop them you are indulging in the same activity over and over again.

Accepting help from others is not a sign of weakness. Counselling can help in various other ways, which will make the experience of childbirth a smooth and happy process. Also, if you or someone you know is suffering from any of the above symptoms then please visit a mental health professional immediately.

Learn more about Dr Prerna Kohli

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.

To know more about Dr Prerna Kohli

After any traumatic event, it is normal to experience upsetting memories, trouble sleeping or doing daily activities. These feelings take time to go away when we have experienced a traumatic situation. After few weeks the person starts to feel better and get back to normal routine. But, if this feeling stays over for more than few months, then it is possible that you are experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

PTSD is a stress disorder, where the person keeps on getting flashbacks of the traumatic event. These events/memories, start evoking anxiety within them. The memories of the event become very stressful for them and they become unable to resume their daily work.

Thus, below are the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:

Flashbacks:

Someone suffering from PTSD will start to relive the moment over and over again in their mind. The memories will be represented as nightmares or constant thoughts. Thus, it will give the feeling that you are stuck at the moment.

Avoiding:

You will start avoiding moments or situations which remind you of the event. Also, you will start to ignore the person who is related to the moment. Thus, avoiding the situation completely; even talking about it.

Negative Feelings:

You will start to experience negative thoughts. These thoughts can be about guilt or shame. Also, your perspective on the world will start changing and you will find it difficult to trust yourself and others around you. Thus, being happy about situations will start becoming more difficult.

Always on Alert:

You will start assessing situations very deeply and will always be on the lookout for danger. Hence, this can start hampering your sleep and concentration. Thus, making you feel vulnerable and irritable most of the time.

Also, Along with PTSD, there can be additional mental health problems.

Below is a list of other problems associated with PTSD:

• Depression or Anxiety
• Drinking or any other addiction

  

• Feeling of guilt, shame, hopelessness and despair.
• Physical symptoms like pain in head, stomach etc.
• Relationship Problems
• Employment Problems

PTSD can happen to anyone. Usually, these symptoms start coming up right after the event. But, sometimes it can also appear after months or years after the event. They may come and go but will keep on hampering your life.

PTSD is not a sign of weakness. It is an illness which needs to be treated. Hence, if you or someone you know is suffering from PTSD then please visit a mental health professional immediately.

To know more about Dr Prerna Kohli

Sometimes we have witnessed people, either in television or real life, where people are stealing things. The things the person steals are not of value or sometimes even of use, but yet they steal those things. This particular condition is known as kleptomania.

Definition

Kleptomaniacs derive thrill and pleasure out of stealing these things. The objects they steal are of little or no value at all. Also, after they have stolen the objects they either discard it, hoard it or even give it away. Kleptomania involves a lot of tension before stealing and a certain pleasure and gratification after they have stolen the object.

Also, kleptomaniacs do not steal the objects after a well-planned heist. It is in the moment they feel they want to steal and hence, they answer to their impulses. A person who is suffering from this condition doesn’t steal because of hallucination or personality disorder or conduct behaviour. They steal because they work according to their impulse. But, after they have stolen the object, they feel an insufferable amount of guilt and even depression.

Symptoms:

As mentioned earlier, people who are suffering from kleptomania are working according to their impulse. The objects they steal are not planned or even of monitory value. Kleptomania is different from shoplifting, as shoplifting involves a planned procedure. Shoplifters pick up objects because of their financial situation. But, Kleptomaniacs work according to their impulse. Thus, below are the symptoms of kleptomania:

Impulses:

They are unable to control their impulses constantly. Thus, making them steal every time their impulse tells them.

Tension:

Before they are about to steal anything, their tension level increases. Hence, acting according to their impulse to control their tension.

Feelings During:

At the time of the theft, they start feeling a certain kind of gratification and relief. Thus, helping them to control their tension.

No relation to Psychosis:

Kleptomaniacs do not have symptoms of psychosis. That is hallucinations or expressions of revenge or anger or even antisocial personality. As mentioned, it is an impulse.

Kleptomania is not a very common mental health issue, but it is still prevalent. It can occur at any age, to children, adolescents or even late adulthood. Also, the reasons for kleptomania can be many, and most of the time it occurs with other mental health issues like depression, bipolar or OCD.

But, it is curable with psychotherapy and medication. Hence, if you or someone you know is suffering from this disorder, then please visit a mental health professional immediately.

Learn More about Dr Prerna Kohli

Alcohol addiction affects both personal and professional lives of people. It hinders with the person’s family as well as friends. But, it comes down to the person only when he/she wants to actually stop alcohol addiction. But, the loved ones can still take certain measures to at least highlight the problems. Thus, helping them in their fight with addiction.

Hence, below are few ways to help someone overcome Alcohol Addiction:

Communicate:

It’s very important for you to communicate with your loved one who is the addict. If you are concerned about the person the only way to let them know is to have a conversation with them. It may be difficult for both of you, but it is necessary. Hence, with proper and concrete examples you can let the person realise the damage it is doing. If the person understands your concerns then it will be the first step.

The Underline Cause:

Most of the time, people drink because there are some other reasons behind. These reasons can be depression, anxiety, fear etc. Hence, it is important for you to make them comfortable to talk about these reasons. But, you shouldn’t accuse them of their problem or not judge them. You should listen and acknowledge the issue gently and understand it with empathy.

No Ultimatums:

Often when we try to confront someone with addiction we have a tendency to provide them with ultimatums. But, a person who is an addict will always choose alcohol over the ultimatums. This happens because the ultimatums will increase their stress, hence they will start drinking more. Instead of ultimatums, you can provide them with solutions or programs that you think will help them recover.

Present with Resources:

One of the most difficult steps is the first step in stopping any kind of addiction. The person doesn’t know where to start with. Hence, it is important for you to help them take the first step. You can either enrol them in different programs or group therapy sessions. Also, you can make them meet people you know who have successfully quit any kind of addiction. Thus, by using your own resources you can present them with different resources for the first step.

Don’t Drink Around them:

It is important for you to not drink around them, especially when you have voiced your concerns. It will give them mixed signals along with wanting them to drink more. Also, they might think that your concerns were not meaningful. Thus, they will resume their habit.

Tough Love:

It is difficult for anyone to show tough love. But, it is necessary. Instead of defending them in situations and bailing them out you need to show a boundary. Hence, making them understand what they are doing is harming themselves and others around them. Also, if you constantly keep helping them with their daily chores which they can do themselves, they will always stay dependent on alcohol. This behaviour is also known as enabling them. Hence, instead of enabling them one needs to show some tough love.

Continue to Be Supportive:

It is always a tough battle against an addiction. Sometimes it takes years to fully recover from it. But, if you show that you have stopped caring about them they will understand it and stop the process. Hence, it is important to be supportive of the person throughout. If the person receives proper care and support throughout the period, then the person will be able to recover faster.

Alcohol addiction is a long battle within oneself and the people around them. If you or someone you know is an addict then along with the above steps please take them to a mental health professional immediately.

Learn more about Dr Prerna Kohli

Opening up about going through sexual abuse as a child or as an adult is very difficult. But, if someone is opening up about it to you, then you need to understand that the person is putting an immense amount of trust in you. Hence, it is important that you listen to them.

But, then the question arises, “What should I say to them?”

Hence, below are few tips on what to say to a sexual abuse victim:

Believe them:

It is already very difficult for the person to share this experience. But, when they do, most people don’t believe them. Hence, it is very important to believe what they are saying and sharing with you. You can simply say, “I believe you” if you are not able to find any words.

Acknowledge Them:

It is a very traumatic event for the victims. Thus, it takes double the amount of courage to fight their feelings of guilt and shame and talk about you. You should always acknowledge their courage and appreciate them for opening up. Hence, you could say to them, “I understand, it took a lot of courage from you to tell me about it”.

Remind them It’s Not their Fault:

The victims of sexual abuse have a tendency to blame themselves. They will constantly run the scenario in their head and think if they had not done the thing they have done. Hence, it is up to you to constantly remind them and tell them that it’s not their fault. It is never their fault, instead, it is the fault of the perpetrator and no one else’s. You can reassure them by saying, “It’s not your fault”, or “You didn’t do anything wrong“.

Appreciate their decision:

As mentioned earlier, it takes a lot of courage for them to trust someone. Hence, you should appreciate their decision that it is you they have decided to share with. Hence, you should be able to empathise with them and understand the horrific experience they have gone through. You can say, “I am here for you and I care about you, and ready to help in any way I can”.

Communicate Empathy:

People who are opening up to you are not seeking sympathy or your opinion. Hence, it is very important to empathise with them. They should know that you are able to understand them, rather than judging them. You can say, “This must be really tough for you” or “I understand what you are going through and thank you for sharing it with me and trusting me”.

While talking to someone who is sharing anything, it is very important that you provide an empathetic ear rather than judging them. Also, if you really care for them, then it is important that you support them in their decisions. But, if you feel they need professional help, you should encourage them to seek professional help.

Hence, if you or someone you know is facing mental health illnesses because of sexual abuse, please consult a mental health professional immediately.

To learn More about Dr Prerna Kohli

It is a well-known fact that there is a direct connection between the body and the mind. The body gets hurt and the mind reacts. Similarly, when the mind is hurt, the body reacts. Thus, when someone is suffering from depression, the body starts to wear down, and sleep starts to evade. But, it is not a fight to be won just with medicines, or therapy. Hence, it is important to use all the resources available to us to fight depression.

One of the biggest resource available to us is food. It is understandable that, when someone is suffering from depression, the hunger fades away. But, it is important to keep your body energized with proper nutrients. Also, proper well-balanced food can actually help fight depression.

Thus, below are seven foods that help fight depression:

1. Yoghurt:

Yoghurt helps in elevating the mood. It directly affects the gut, and the gut has a direct connection with the brain. Hence, yoghurt with probiotics helps release serotonin, which helps fight depression. Thus, adding yoghurt to your meals can help you elevate your mood.

2. Cashew Nuts:

Cashew nuts are high in magnesium, and magnesium helps in mood elevation. Low magnesium in the body increases the chances of depression. Hence, adding cashew nuts in your daily diet will help you fight depression.

3. Broccoli:

Broccoli contains many nutrients and nutritional benefits. It is the only vegetable which provides more nutrients than any kind of meat. Also, it is the only vegetable which contains the highest amount of chromium. Chromium helps in the release of serotonin and norepinephrine, the two chemicals which most of the anti-depressants contains.

4. Carrots:

We have all heard that carrots help with better eye-sight. But, it is a very less known fact that carrots also help elevate mood. Carrots contain a nutrient known as lutein, which is an antioxidant. Thus, lutein helps in elevate mood and even control the waistline.

5. Spinach:

One of the most nutrient filled vegetable is spinach. We have all seen in the cartoon, “Popeye the Sailorman” how spinach provides him with an immense amount of strength. Similarly, it provides you with an immense amount of strength to fight depression as it is filled with lutein, fibre, Vitamin A and K, and many more. All these nutrients have a direct relationship with brain and elevating mood.

6. Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are full of folic acid and alpha lipoic acid which are one of the strongest fighters of depression. Presence of folic acid helps prevents the secretion of chemicals which causes depression. Hence, adding tomatoes to your diet will help you elevate your mood and generally make you feel happy.

7. Apple:

Lastly, we have all heard the phrase, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. This same line goes for depression. An apple contains high levels of anti-oxidants which if taken with other foods mentioned above can help you elevate your mood.

While eating food, there is one thing we actually skip out on.

So, apart from these seven foods, there is one additional tip below:

Water:

Usually, people forget to drink the required amount of water to regulate the purities and impurities within the body. Hence, water becomes the most important drink in fighting depression. Beverages which contain soda or sweeteners increase the intensity of depression, as it increases the levels of sugar inside the body. Hence, being rehydrated with water keeps your body healthy and helps you control your mood.

Filling your diet with proper nutrients and right levels of protein can help in the fight with depression. But, along with proper food intake, it is also necessary to take proper treatment. Hence, if you or someone you know is suffering from depression, please visit a mental health professional immediately.

To Learn More about Dr Prerna Kohli

In a world statistical survey, it is seen that one in three girls and one in seven boys are sexually abused as a child.

Often more than less, it is done by people who are around us and not someone strange. The person can be the trusted servant, the maid, the cook, the cousin brother or sister, step-father, the uncle and sometimes even by the father and/or the mother. People we love, we cherish often break us and our trust.

The touch begins as play, and it is difficult to understand as a child, the why. Most of the times the child doesn’t even understand what is going on with them. Until it is too late for them to know. All these leave a dreadful memory as an adult, and the person is clouded by shame and guilt.

Many times, survivors of sexual abuse wish that the person who abused them would have been a stranger. Thus, making it easier for the others to understand what they went through, and moreover make others believe them.

But, sadly around ninety percent of time children are molested and abused by someone they loved, admired or were close to.

Most often than not, people who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse suffer from serious mental health issues. Some are constantly haunted by the memories, and some become paranoid about situations. But, most people are afraid to open up about their experience. It is after all their loved ones who did it, and no one believed them then, so why would they believe them now.

Hence, due to all these thoughts most survivors never open up. But, it is important to know and understand that it is nothing to be ashamed of, and it was not your fault. Talking about the experience helps you to heal from it, and taking help to heal yourself doesn’t mean that you have done something wrong.

The feelings of guilt, shame and sadness follow the person who is a survivor of sexual abuse. Hence, it becomes a struggle of their own pain and nightmares, and trauma and troubles related to sex or fears related to parenting. Talking about the experience is waging a war against these feelings and the whole experience itself. There have been several instances where sexual abuse survivors have successfully fought against their abusers, thus simultaneously fighting with their own feelings and guilt.

It is a very difficult and traumatic experience for the child, and fighting for your own truth and justice makes it even more difficult. But, fighting with your feelings of guilt and shame is what someone must do.

No one deserves to go through such experience and re-live it again and again.

Thus, opening up about it is the first step anyone can take.

Recently, there have been many famous celebrities who are coming forward with their own experience. People who are survivors can muster and gather strength from these reports and come forward and open up about their own feelings.

The problem faced by many survivors is not that they don’t know who abused them, or where they are now, but the underlying shame of not being able to protect themselves or others and going through the horrible experience of abuse. They feel guilty about having been innocent, naïve, gullible, exploitable and incapable of defending oneself.

Hence, if you or someone you know has gone through the similar experience, it is time to open up.

Don’t be afraid, because you are not at fault.

Also, the implications of the abuse suffered, results in various mental illnesses. Thus, it is important to speak up about it to a mental health professional as soon as possible.

To Learn More about Dr Prerna Kohli.

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.

Learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli

Feeling sad is very common. We all feel it on a regular basis. But grief is an intense emotion that one experiences when they lose something or someone of significance to them. The loss could be of someone close to you due to death or separation otherwise, an object of personal significance, job, loss of financial stability, loss of health, retirement etc. Coping with this loss can be extremely difficult for some, and the pain experienced due to this loss, overwhelming.

There is no one correct method of grieving. Everyone has their own process of grieving. However, some might user healthier ways to grieve the loss and overcome the pain than others. Doing so would require the following:

• Acknowledge and accept the loss.
• Understand that the loss can trigger a varied array of emotions and thoughts.
• Recognize that grieving process is unique for everyone.
• Seek the support of the people around you to help you cope with the loss.
• Understand the difference between grief and depression.

The most famous theory on Grief has been proposed by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross in 1969. According to her, people experiencing grief might follow the progression of stages given below. However, not everyone might go through each stage or in the specific order. :

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

   

Although we all experience grief at some point in our lives, it is important to realize when this grief has such a debilitating effect on our lives that it becomes complicated grief or depression. Complicated grief is when one’s grief becomes the center stage of their life, overtaking all other aspects of functioning. As a result, one is unable to resume functioning normally. While depression and grief share a lot of symptoms, grief is an amalgamation of more than one emotion. Unlike depression, it involves both good and bad days. psychologist also help you Coping up with Grief

Learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli