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We have all heard the term psychopaths in TV shows or movies. When the word springs up, our first association is always towards which is something outside. It’s not wrong in thinking that psychopaths are serial killers, but along with it, there is a possibility that we are living with one. Psychopathology is a series mental health illness and needs immediate treatment.

But, how do we identify a psychopath?

Thus, below are few signs shown by a psychopath:

Manipulative:

They are highly manipulative. They will appear as charming and loving individuals, who can please anyone when they want. This charming sense of self is not genuine but to their liking. Many people can’t identify the manipulative behavior, hence fall for them.

Impulsive:

Psychopaths are prone to impulsiveness. They generally appear to be calm and composed but have impulsive tendencies. If the certain idea of shoplifting seems exciting to them, they will indulge in the act. Their sense of impulsiveness can also range from torture to serial killings.

No Empathy:

Most importantly, they aren’t empathetic at all. They can’t understand others feelings and are highly egoistic. Everything they do must be from their own liking and perspective. They don’t consider yours or anyone else’s feelings. In their mind, what they are doing is perfectly fine.

Dishonest:

They can easily lie, without blinking their eyes. It is not necessary that they will lie to get out of a situation. They will lie because they feel a certain excitement when people start believing in their lie. They find it enjoyable when people start believing them.

Prone to Violence:

These people are very violent. Their violent behavior is not triggered by any specific agent. Hence, they do not get violent when they are in a rage, but they become violent in a very calculated manner. Their violent release is from torturing or inflicting pain to animal or people.

Shallowness:

Psychopaths are very shallow people. They don’t let anyone enter their inner self, and hence they come across as cold people. Thus, they will and can make stories about their lives and in detail to just maintain the shallowness.

High Level of Intelligence:

The level of intelligence they have is very high. Intelligence doesn’t mean that they are academically good, but they pick up things very easily. Also, to portray themselves superior, they will use terms which are not common for the layman.

Arrogant:

Along with the high level of intelligence, they are very arrogant. They have a very high level of self-esteem. Which makes them think that they can never be caught for their misdeeds. Their high self-esteem can also be seen as a delusion of grandeur.

No Understanding of Morality:

Like many of us, they do not distinguish between right or wrong. Which then makes them torture animals. By doing this, they start exploring the boundaries of right and wrong.  Also, if they are “told” something is wrong, and someone does the wrong, then the right way to correct them is through torture.

Lack of Guilt:

Psychopaths do not feel guilty about their actions. For them, humans and animals are objects to play with. They do not feel any kind of remorse for their activities. Hence, they will not take responsibility for their actions.

If someone you know is showing these signs and symptoms, then please visit a mental health professional immediately.

To Learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli.

It’s very natural to feel sad from time to time. It’s a part of our human nature, and to feel is what makes us human. But, when the sadness reaches its extremes, and there is a sense of hopelessness, we fall down to Depression. Depression comes with its own symptoms, and one of the major symptoms is problems during sleep.

Many people will have lack of sleep, or insomnia while some can even have an excess of sleep. But, with depression, one will have trouble in sleeping.

Thus, below are few tips which can help you sleep better during the depression:

Bedroom for Sleeping:

A Bedroom is usually a place for distraction. People tend to engage in different activities or usually spend most of their time on the cell phone. The bedroom is full of distractions and different activities. Hence, trying to sleep among these distractions becomes very difficult. Thus, it is necessary to keep the bedroom only for sleeping and relaxing. To help you sleep, you can start playing “white noise” and make sure the room is dark. It will help your body and mind relax.

Keep a Schedule:

While suffering from depression, it’s very difficult to indulge in any activity. Hence, keeping a schedule helps. Similarly, it’s very important to keep a bedtime schedule. It’s a difficult task to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day. But, once you manage to achieve a bedtime schedule, your mind will automatically start to relate the schedule to your body. Hence, making it easier to fall asleep.

Create a Routine:

Also, there is a necessity of a bedtime routine along with a bedtime schedule. Before going to bed, you should start building a routine which relaxes your body. One-hour before bedtime you should stop doing any stressful activity and try and relax your body. It’s also important that you keep any device, electronic away from you. The light emitted from the screens increases the level of stress. It’s always good to read a relaxing book before bed.

Start Exercising:

It’s very difficult to work when you are suffering from depression. But, it is required that you start exercising. Exercise helps the body to relieve stress and gives an outlet to your suppressed emotions. Also, exercising regularly keeps the body engaged. Thus, when you go to sleep, your body is already tired and it then is easier to sleep.

Go Out Regularly:

Depression is a very tough situation. It locks the body, and one doesn’t feel like going outside. But, a daily stroll in the park or even standing on the balcony facing the sun helps a lot. The Vitamin-D given by the Sun helps elevate mood. It’s scientifically proven that there is a direct relationship between mood and weather. Thus, to go out and facing the sun helps in mood elevation. Which then leads to better sleep.

It’s very difficult to actually implement the steps which are written above. Depression is an illness which takes a huge toll on a person. But, implementing them can actually help you to fall asleep. Also, if you or someone you know someone who is suffering from depression, please contact a professional immediately.

To Learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli

Losing someone who is dear to you, be it a friend or family member, is a very traumatizing experience. People suffering from depression, leave all hope in their life and find suicide the last option. But, the problem arises when they express this to their family member or friend. The person who is approached doesn’t actually know how to address this situation. There is a genuine worry in them but, they can’t address the worry.

A mental health professional or volunteers at suicide helpline knows what to say or do. But, they are not available for them 24 hours.

Hence, below are few things you can do to help them:

Show Concern:

It’s very important to show genuine concern for their situation. But, in these cases, you need to show and express your concern about them. Expressing your concern to them will let them know that you are there for them.

Ask them:

Many people don’t ask the person because they think they will instigate the situation. But, it’s very important to ask them. One should ask how they have planned to do it, or how they are thinking about it or what time, etc. Asking them about it, will not instigate the situation, rather will give them an outlet to speak.

Don’t Argue:

Usually, the first instinct of ours is an argument. We tell them that “there is so many good” or “think about your family” etc. But, these things are perceived as an attack. Instead of arguing or giving reasons to them, be with them and care for them. Let them know, that they are not alone.

Take Professional Help:

In these cases, professional help is very important. If the person is going to a psychiatrist or a psychologist, then urge them to contact them. If not, then take them to a mental health professional. It’s very important for them to know that they have different kinds of support.

Don’t Leave Them Alone:

Most importantly, don’t leave them alone. This is the time they are feeling lonely and vulnerable. In their time of need, you should not leave them alone.

Listen to them:

Lastly, it’s very important for you to listen to them. Just listening to them empathetically and without judgment helps them a lot. Hence, patiently listen to them and understand their feelings and emotions.

It becomes a matter of great grief if we lose someone like this. Hence, if you or someone you know is suicidal; then please visit a psychologist nearby. Also, please share this blog as it can help a friend or family member helping their loved ones.

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More than 60% people in India suffer from depression. Depression is a very common disease among all the age groups. Empathetically speaking, a person suffering from depression feels very lonely and sad. But, the illness itself doesn’t live in the vacuum. It creates an effect which affects all the people who are near and dear them. How to overcome Depression?

The fear of judgment makes them feel closed up. It leaves the family members in a confusion and they don’t actually understand what is happening. Communication with the person who is suffering from depression becomes very difficult.

Ways to Help Your Friend or Family Member

Thus, the question arises, how can we help our friend or family member. Below are few ways to help them:

Educate Yourself:

It’s very important to educate yourself about the illness your friend is suffering from. It might be very difficult for you to cure them, but it will be easier if you understand their situation. Educating yourself on their situation will help you cope up with their moods, and generate patience within you.

Ask Questions:

Most of the times, a person suffering from depression will never come and tell you what they are feeling. They always have a fear of being judged or criticised for their emotions. To know and understand their position, it’s better to ask them. But, remember to ask the questions empathetically. Below are few questions you can ask them:

• When did it start?
• Do you think there is a situation which triggered it? What was the situation?
• Are you having suicidal thoughts?
• What is it that still makes you feel happy?
• Is there a situation where you feel worse?

Helping them Identify the Stressor:

Depression will always be accompanied by stress. Hence, identifying the stressor will help them and you understand their situation very well. When a person is suffering from stress, they are not able to think very well. Hence, the situation seems more complex to them. Thus, by identifying the stressor you can help them try and reduce them.

Taking Outside Help:

No matter what illness someone is suffering from professional help is always required. You should encourage your friend or family member to take professional help in curing their illness. It’s the stigma and the fear of judgment which stops someone from taking professional help. Hence, you should encourage them to break the stigma and take the help required.

Enhance their Strengths:

A person who is suffering from depression will always feel that they are not worthy. They feel like they have lost all their strength and hope in their life. Hence, it becomes your responsibility to remind them of their strengths. You need to remind them that they are incredibly strong while facing this situation. It’s always good to boost their confidence by showing them their achievements.

Be with them and Let them know it will go away:

One of the basic things you can do is to be with them. Hence, by being with them you can make them laugh. And as we all know, laughter is the best medicine. No matter what joke, or stand-up comedy, or funny movie you watch together, it’s always good to laugh. By doing this, they will know that you are there for them and are trying to make them feel better.

Also, a person suffering from depression feels like they can never get out of it. Hence, only one sentence can give them a lot of strength. All you have to say and remind them is, “it will pass away, and you won’t always feel the same way”.

Listen to them:

Most importantly, just listen to them. Listening to them without any judgment or criticism will help them a long way. Empathetic listening is one of the most important ways to let them know you are there for them. Also, it is the most important way to help your friend or family member.

Conclusion

Remember, a professional will only spend a bit of time with the person. But, no one knows them better than you. Hence, supporting them in their time of need is very important. It’s you who spends the maximum amount of time with them.

If you Need Psychologist click here

To Learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli

Depersonalization is a very uncommon disorder which happens to a very few people. Hence, many psychologists don’t understand or even know about this disorder. It becomes a very difficult experience for the person because the connection with reality becomes distorted. The person feels detached from the surroundings and the self, and it becomes a harrowing experience.

What Is Depersonalization Disorder?

Depersonalization disorder is a dissociative disorder. Firstly, dissociative, the word itself means detachment. Hence, it is a disorder which suffices on detachment. Even though this disorder lies on the lower end of the spectrum of dissociative disorders, it is still a very serious condition. Depersonalization consists of two parts; first dissociative identity disorder, and second dissociative amnesia.

Dissociative identity disorder, also famously known as, multiple personality disorder. In this, a person starts to show different types of personalities. One of the best examples is seen in the movies, “Bhool-Bhulaiya”, “Aparichit”. Also, the person isn’t aware of the other personalities present within them. Which makes it difficult to treat.

Dissociative amnesia is a condition where there is a mental gap. By mental gap, it means that for certain periods the person forgets their identity. Also, the person can even forget what happened within a period in the day or else start experiencing blackouts.

Thus, below are some symptoms of this disorder:

• Feeling of being Un-real: There is a persistent feeling in the person that nothing is real. Even their self-identity and the world around them is not real. Also, the places and friends, who used to be familiar starts to feel like “fake”.
• No Connection with Others: The person starts feeling detached from the loved ones. There is a constant feeling that the person you loved, or who loves you are unfamiliar. The person does remember them but doesn’t feel any connection with them. The person feels detached.
• Increased levels of Anxiety: If earlier the person used to feel anxious at a very low level, the intensity of the anxiety increases ten folds. Even the smallest of the situations starts feeling overwhelming. The person is gripped by constant fear.
• Suicidal Thoughts: There becomes an increase in the suicidal thoughts. The person starts wondering whether even the life is real or not. There is a constant disconnect between reality. Thus, death seems a close connection. Hence, there is an increase in suicidal thoughts.
• Can’t Focus: Due to overwhelming thoughts and worries, the person couldn’t focus. The work which seemed a lot easy, because very difficult. The person couldn’t even focus on a sentence and there is no recollection power.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Depersonalization disorder is a very serious condition. The best step to address the issue is to visit a professional immediately. Many forms of psychotherapy, like psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural has proven to cure this illness.

Hence, when addressed in time, it can be cured. So, please visit a professional if you think you are showing these problems.

To Learn more about Dr. Prerna Kohli