PSYCHIATRIC COMPLAINTS – Mental health
Health means complete harmony of body and mind. There is an intimate relation between mind and body. Physical symptoms can change one’s mental symptoms and vice versa. Mind is the mirror which replicates the physical state of the body. Good health is derived not only from maintaining good physique, but also by keeping the mind happy.
Mind – Nature and its creations have individual features and unique characters. Every man seems to be human in general, but no two humans are similar in identity, thoughts, nature and their reactions. Every man leads his life in his own way with his integral
individual characterisation. Emotional conflicts for a person can develop at any time with respect to changes in health status, behaviour, environment, happenings and biochemistry of the brain. One can become happy / angry / violent / irritable / impulsive / selfish / reserved / depressed according to the environment or happenings. One can also become more religious or immoral due to these changes.
The mind of a person can be read through his facial expressions and behaviour. No one can forecast one’s mood. Mind will be fresh after good sleep, in the mornings, in ecstasy of joy / love, etc. Likewise, mind will be dull after heavy food, stress, strain, emotional upset, etc. In case of dull mind, concentration and coordination cannot be achieved.
Psychology
It is the science dealing with the mind. Psychic refers for anything pertaining to the mind. Psychopathy refers to diseases of the mind and psychosis refers to any major mental illness.
Psychological complaints can arise in any person at any time. They can originate from mental suffering or physical suffering (functional or organic) and sometimes with genetic descent. For example, a simple conflict may bring problems of impatience, restlessness, brooding, anxiety, grief, fear, delusion, etc., with or without crying and yielding disposition. Likewise, physical illness i.e. tumours, cancers, AIDS or any other major life-threatening or cosmetic illness can cause psychological disturbances. For example, anaemic patients will have loss of interest, concentration and depression, etc. Hypertensive
patients will be (mostly) short tempered and get angry often, leucoderma or psoriasis or even recurrent pimples can cause low self-esteem.
Nowadays, stress is more common due to a strained life in this modern world. Everyone expects discipline and orderliness everywhere, but really one could not expect the same genuineness as they themselves could not be as good as expected by everyone. Everyone tries to pass their problems to others. Some suffer silently and some with anger and rage. Sleep can calm one’s mind, but no one can predict when it would get fogged again. To rule out, one should care and root out all predisposing and precipitating factors.
Every person reacts differently to situations. They need to be advised / counselled accordingly. For example, some may raise a great hue and cry for even a small thorn prick or injections, but some would go for injections daily and voluntarily (multivitamins injections) to keep themselves energetic. Here, they tolerate pain. All
this represents the mental state of the person. Likewise, some would get scared that they were having a heart attack when it would be a simple gastric problem even after doing all sorts of investigations to rule out the same. And some would neglect heart attack as simple gastritis. Both are not normal and this yielding or neglecting will create problems.
Accepting changes is the easiest way to lead a comfortable life. Trying to face all the consequences is another way. Either way, one needs to accept the end result. One can override other’s mind when a right tune is played at right time.
Psychiatric medicine has gained importance now. Treating one as mad if one goes to a psychiatrist is old-fashioned. Taking counselling is very common now as everyone accepts it just like the need for a consoling word or a shoulder to lean upon for having support during their suffering.
Here they get all the views about the problems and ways of tackling it. Right from childhood to old age, one can get support and elation from counselling (if necessary, they need to go for psycho therapy and treatment for persistent mental stress). Children can be given counselling to rule out exam fears and other fears. Patients can be given hope during emergency situations, elderly people can get a hold on life through counselling. For the right approach, counselling and proper medication should go hand in hand.
General treatment for mind-related complaints – In general, in Allopathy, treatment will be exhibited with objective symptoms (perception with examination and palpation / percussion / auscultation) and investigations. But in case of mind-related complaints, there won’t be any physical or pathological or laboratory symptoms to show it clearly. Also,
complaints will not be persistent all the time and on all occasions. So, here treatment will be opted on basis of temporary sedative or suppression, i.e., mostly with anti-depressants and sleeping pills. These should be continued for life-time leading to suffering with its side-effects too or otherwise with its withdrawal effects or negative effects. But their usage in controlling violent behaviour and saving one’s life from suicide is remarkable. When there is more violent or vigorous activity, then electro convulsive therapy will be provided. Apt and timely treatment usually helps in safeguarding one’s life and living peacefully.
In Allopathic treatment, there are drugs to benumb the brain (used as in case of epilepsy / fits, hyperactive disorders, etc.), but as of now, not for enhancing neuralgic functions or their activities (for example – for nerve damage or paralysis). On these occasions, they usually depend on multi-vitamins, minerals and physiotherapy. The common side-effects with prolonged use of psychological drugs are dry mouth, blurred vision, sleeplessness, restlessness, headache, hypotension, giddiness, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrheoa, tremors, lack of concentration, impotency, etc.
Homeopathic approach
Homeopathy revolutionised the medicine world by considering mental symptoms as the most important. Homeopathy treats the patient as a whole (in mental and physical plane together) on symptoms’ similarity. It always gives more importance to patient’s subjective feelings and sensations and for their betterment. The unique characteristic symptoms of mind will always be considered as peculiar and characteristic symptom of the patient or individual (individualisation). This striking symptom helps in finding out the right remedy for easy cure.
Homeopathy splits patient’s symptoms broadly as generals (symptoms which affect the person as a whole – for example, mind, sleep, thirst, sweat, urine, stool, menses, etc.) and particulars (localised symptom – disease symptoms for example – a boil, ulcer, etc.). Further, it splits general symptoms as mental generals and physical generals. Mental generals are usually given more marks than physical generals in Homeopathy. Also, particular symptoms / disease symptoms or pathological symptoms are given less importance in selection of remedies since they are mostly common to all sufferers. Importance will be given to sensations and modalities.
Giving paramount importance to patient’s feelings, precipitating factors, aggravating factors and ameliorating factors, if one Homeopath happens to elicit and prescribe on these redline symptoms, improvement will be miraculous, at the earliest and the relief / cure will be long-lasting. Altogether, Homoeopathy can provide cure / better relief from all sorts of mental changes with out any side-effects. Further, with Homeopathy treatment, one can regain and retain normalcy even after quitting the treatment. Of all things, a patient needs patience.
Homeopathy medicines in minute doses, always work from the higher level i.e., from the mind and brain through nerves and not through blood vessels or stomach. One could feel the well-being sensation after starting on Homeopathic treatment. For getting complete cure, one should avail of treatment at the earliest or during the start-up of the complaint itself. Homeopathy clears harboured diseases / conditions by stimulating, reviving and strengthening the mental power / will power and resistance power.
There are lots and lots of medicines in Homeopathy for psychological problems, i.e. for anger, guilty feeling, fears, depression, anxiety, stress, tension, suicidal tendency, suspiciousness, hallucinations, illusions, delusions, even for dreams and disappointment of love, etc. Homeopath usually probes the patient’s mind to find the mental make-up and constitution / temperament of a person to prescribe to the core of the case. One must express one’s feelings precisely and clearly to the doctor without hiding.
for new hope
Dr. S. Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi Homeo Clinic
24 E. New Mahalipatti Road
Madurai, TN 625 001
India
Tel: +91-452-233-8833 | +91-984-319-1011 (Mob)
Fax: +91-452-233-0196
E-mail: drcheena@yahoo.com
(Disclaimer - The contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for any health problem or medical condition.)