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Face
is the mirror of the inner heart/feelings. But, now, in this egoistic world,
people try to use their face as a mask for covering their
tension/depression/anxiety. As in a fashion parade, they keep smiling
artificially in spite of their stress levels. But the façade cannot be
maintained when their stress levels go out of control. Further, one can sink
with psychological complaints at any time with respect to changes in health
status, behaviour, environment, happenings and biochemistry of the brain. No
one can forecast mind or mood.
A simple conflict may bring problems like irritability, impatience,
restlessness, brooding, anxiety, depression, grief, fear, delusion, etc.
(with or without crying). Some suffer silently and some show rage. In the
initial stages, sleep can calm one’s mind, but no one can predict when it
would get fogged or flare up again. To rule out these problems, one should
take care and root out all predisposing and precipitating factors.
Health means complete harmony of body and mind. There is an intimate relation
between mind and body. Physical changes or symptoms can change one’s mind
and, likewise, mood changes or mental illness can affect physical health.
For
example:
- Moods may vary and
cause depression during periods or menopause (because of hormonal
imbalance) in women
- Physical illness
i.e. tumours, cancer, AIDS or any other major life-threatening disease
can cause depression
- Anaemic patients
will have loss of interest, concentration and depression
- Hypertensive
patients can be short-tempered and get angry soon or often
- Cosmetic illnesses
like leucoderma or psoriasis or even recurrent pimples can cause low
self-esteem
- Mental tension can
cause irritable bowel syndrome, mouth ulcers, peptic ulcers, etc.
- Depression or
tension or anxiety in adults can also cause loss of sexual derives
including impotency, premature ejaculation, lack of orgasm, etc.
These
examples all point that good physique can keep you in good mood and vice
versa. Finally, a man who has hope can live better than one who doesn’t.
Until the discovery of antibiotics, the medicine world presumed that mind and
body were one and the same. But now it has separated soul (mind) from the
body. When we separate disease as physical illness and mental illness and
treat them accordingly, it means that we are concentrating on disease and not
on the man. Here one should be aware that when 10 persons drink the same
contaminated water and if only 2-3 suffer, how one can blame bacteria or
virus alone as the causative factor. There must be something beyond that
i.e., our immunity, susceptibility, etc. Advanced medical science ignored
research in this aspect and got deviated deep into the study of diseases in
man instead of studying man in the midst of diseases.
Like other diseases, mind disorders are also common, i.e. one in three might
have suffered from one or other complaint in their lifetime. Some persons may
manage the condition by themselves while some others may feel disabled and
need support. Some disorders are transient, some disorders can persist and be
treated and while some others may last a lifetime and not respond to any
treatment. Among all, anxiety disorders are more prevalent in this
tension-filled world. At least 10-20 per cent people suffer from it. Among
them, most people ignore them and do not take any treatment. Further, if
circumstances are not favourable continuously, with more tension and fear,
the sufferer may sink into depression or panic disorders.
In general, any emotional stress can cause mental fatigue, tensed feelings
and sleeplessness which, in turn, can cause physical fatigue and tiredness or
exhaustion. Further emotional upsets with loss, grief after missing dear
ones, getting cheated, etc., make them very sad and dejected. In course of
time, they may develop fear, anxiety, tension, lack of confidence, etc.
Slowly, they will lose hope and feel as if they have been singled out. Under
these circumstances, unless they receive support, they may react differently
to environments: for example, it could lead to delirium, reacting violently
to kill oneself or others, etc.
With mind disorders, every person reacts differently to situations. They need
to be advised/counselled/treated 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 (multivitamin injections) voluntarily and often keep
themselves energetic. Here, they tolerate pain voluntarily. This represents
the mental state of the person. Further, someone would remain scared always
that he might have a heart attack even after doing all sorts of
investigations and it being diagnosed as simple gastritis. Likewise, some
others would neglect heart attack as simple gastritis. Both are not normal
and they both will face complications because of their mindset. Here, the
first one needs to rely on doctor’s words to lead a happy life and the second
one needs to approach a doctor to have proper care and medication. For any
illness of the mind, accepting change is the easiest way than medicines to
lead a comfortable life.
Yesterday is
history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift – Live it happily without any tension
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Mental disorders
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Mental
disorders can arise from various sources and with a combination of various
factors. For all mental illnesses, stress, tension, fear and anxiety
usually come as foundation stones. It can also arise from birth with or
without changes in brain tissues (due to development delays or for unknown
reasons). Mental disorders can be identified with two types of reactions.
- A normal
reaction to abnormal events
- An abnormal
reaction to normal events
In
course of time, both these reactions can cause more and more difference in
mind to react differently, i.e., some may get depressed with mental fatigue
and some other may react violently with anger – reacting differently to
first reaction can fade or go off slowly even without treatment (according
to nature, adaptability of person and future environment/situations)
whereas for the second one, it will usually flare up to an explosive
situation unless properly cared for, consoled, counselled or treated.
One’s personality is influenced by thoughts, characters, behaviours, nature
of bringing up and reactions to environment across situations and time.
Further, feelings also differ from person to person according to their
current status/circumstances. Normally, one can be observed as abnormal
when many others’ decision conflicts with his view. That’s why many
researchers/inventors are often shunned as mad during their initial days.
Unless otherwise they attest their findings with results, they might not
get recognition for their high intellect and will remain as ‘mad’ in
others’ point of view. So, abnormal (?) mind is often identified because of
reacting differently from others, and conflicting with the majority.
Psychiatric medicine has recently gained much importance in this
tension-filled world. Labelling someone as mad just because he goes to a
psychiatrist is old-fashioned. Taking counselling is very common now as
everyone accepts it as a need for a consoling word or a shoulder to lean
upon for having support during their period of suffering. Counselling
should be done by a knowledgeable person or otherwise the sufferer may feel
worse after the counselling. Mind disorders can be seen in all age groups,
irrespective of sex. Following are a few common mind disorders which crop
up in children.
Mind disorders in children
- Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - a
developmental disorder characterised by distraction, inability
to concentrate due to hyperactivity and sudden impulsive
behaviour.
- Autism – is
actually a syndrome where there are collection of disorders with lack
of understanding, communication, social interaction and repetitive
behaviour.
- Learning
disorders - disorders related to listening, reading,
writing, speaking and calculating ability.
- Mental
retardation - a developmental disability with lack of
daily living skills because of slow down or low intellectual
functioning.
- Phobias – are
intensified abnormal persistent fear of something which is
unreasonable. For example, getting terrified of darkness, height or
tall buildings, lifts, escalators, cockroaches, etc.
- Homesickness
- is the distress caused by a feeling of longing
with an actual or anticipated separation from home or parents. In
course of time, it will be accompanied by anxiety and depression. It
is commonly anticipated in children studying in hostel or youth
studying or working in unfamiliar environments.
- Nightmare – getting
distress with frightening dreams (with frequent awakenings)
Homeopathic approach
In dealing with children, children-friendly Homeopathy is matchless
in efficiency. It treats everyone as a different individual and treats them
according to their symptom presentations, constitutional make-up (mental
and physical) and feelings. Homeopathy can support mind disorders in
children to build attention, concentration, confidence, etc., by supporting
the nerves and brain. Homeopathy stands tall with its classical
individualisation and treatment. Homeopathy can help the brain in storing /
sharing / interpreting things in memory. Homeopathy can act as an adjuvant
and offer better stability for mind with emotional support. For any mind
disorders, treatment should be availed of as early as possible or otherwise
improvement will be very poor.
Homeopathic remedies commonly used for
- Phobias - Aspen, Arg
Nit, Ars alb, Gels, Mimulus, Nux vom, Stramoninum, etc.
- Attention
Deficit Hyperactive Disorder / Autism / Learning disorders and Mental
retardation – Baryta carb, Calc carb, Chestnut bud,
Clematis, Pineal, Pituitary, Thyroidinum, etc.
- Dullness &
depression – Baryta carb, Calc carb, Gentian, Horn
beam, etc.
- Hopelessness
& lack of self-confidence – Ambra
grisea, Lachesis, Larch, Nat mur, Gorse, etc.
- Homesickness – Acid
phos, Capsicum, Ignatia, Gels, Nux vom, Puls, etc.
These
medicines should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a Qualified
Homeopath.
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