Many people are not sure what warrants therapy. But in reality, most people wait until their symptoms are unbearable.
LAHORE: This is with reference to Juggun Kazim’s article ‘Addicted to misery’ published in your esteemed newspaper a few days ago. I can relate to the importance of seeking mental health care as my only brother is suffering from depression and is under treatment of a psychiatrist.
People do not hesitate telling acquaintances about a trip to their dentist or physician, but most stay quiet about their therapy appointment. That is because there is still stigma attached to seeking therapy. Many people feel embarrassed or ashamed of their symptoms because our society places illogical taboos on mental health issues over physical conditions. My brother has been struggling with depression and our family take a two-step approach by educating others about mental illness and leading by example.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, my brother lives with depression successfully and has a meaningful life. Choosing to tackle issues head on is the opposite of weak or ‘crazy’. It is courageous.
Many people are not sure what warrants a therapy session. But in reality, most people wait until their symptoms are unbearable. For instance, many couples do not see a therapist until their issues are deeply entrenched. That is usually when partners attack each other or withdraw from the relationship. It is advisable to seek help when you first feel like you are ‘not yourself’ or have noticed mild to moderate symptoms that are interfering with your life such as difficulty sleeping, irritability or increased dissatisfaction with your relationships. A therapist will assess your symptoms and determine severity. Then the therapist will talk to you about treatment options. In other words, they will provide you with a map to work through your issues. Again, many are unsure how or where to start. To someone who has never been, therapy may seem to many like a strange, foreign land. It is possible that therapy can actually be a source of energy, not a drain.
When you consider the fact that therapy invites a distressed person to reveal, discuss, and wrestle with the most difficult issues in their life, you will realise that it is no different from other forms of medical treatment. We need to stop getting embarrassed about getting medical attention of any kind. Our society has stifled us by a hundred different kinds of taboos, forcing us to live to please others. We need to start living for ourselves.
Salma Tahir
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2014.
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