~ EXPLORING MINDS ~
S ROMAN AHSAN interviews
Dr. Nasreen Haroon about the benefits of counseling
THE NATION, ‘SUNDAY PLUS’
| PUBLISHED: January 18, 2009
• Pain is unavoidable in life. As soon as we
leave the tender years of childhood and gradually move towards independence, a
never-ending sea of difficulties starts confronting us and the protective shell
of our elders begins to fade into oblivion. Those who are strong amongst us are
able to sustain the pressures of life while many just crumble under its
demands. The truth is that this life is an amalgam of joys and sorrows, but
mortal man never really accepts the thorns, that come with the flowers of life.
Whether you are rich or poor, a CEO of a private firm facing the challenge of
handling annoying employees or a person who has to carry a dozen bricks from
the ground to the top of a 10th floor under-construction building, you cannot
always flee from the negative thoughts that drain the energies of the mind. A
help sought from the right professionals does come handy, only if we realize it
in time!
‘Sunday Plus’ called
on a psychologist Dr. Nasreen who imparts counseling and psychotherapy to
people from varied backgrounds. Her strength lies in the dedication with which
she carries out her job probing the psychological problems of her patients to
rejuvenate them with a new spirit. In these days, when there is a rising trend
amongst the health experts to fleece their patients, especially in Pakistan,
Dr. Nasreen Haroon could be rightfully categorized as a savior. The paradox in
a country like Pakistan is that when a person is threatened with disturbances
of the mind, he or she is labeled as ‘mentally ill’ while in the USA, the term
‘mentally challenged’ is used instead. This shows that we need to upgrade
ourselves intellectually to several levels before we can think of competing
with the West on equal grounds.
S+: When does the
psychology of human beings first evolve?
Dr. Nasreen: The psychology of a human being starts at once
as soon as he or she is born. When a baby is hungry, it at once calms down when
given food. Similarly when it cries, the warm fondling care of its mother
pacifies it, since all it needs is love and affection. As the children grow,
they interact with other kids and a psychological process starts. When the
children get hurt, they run crying to the parents who give counseling thus
soothing them. At schools, teachers who are concerned about their students with
learning disabilities, give counseling to them. In the West, the need was felt
in the 14th century that counseling should be made a proper subject
at academic level. Normal people face adjustment problems in daily life and
counseling was mainly started for them, but later on, the need for mentally
disturbed people also emerged thereby giving rise to the vocation of clinical
psychology.
S+: What is the
significance of counseling?
Dr. Nasreen: Counseling is equally important for normal
people or persons who have any psychological disorders like depression, anxiety
and phobias. For example, obsessive-compulsive disorder is one such disorder
where a person has a tendency to repeat a certain task again and again.
Unfortunately, in Pakistan, we tend to believe that only mentally disturbed
people need counseling, where in fact it is equally important for normal
people.
There are two main professions in mind therapy:
1)- Clinical
Psychology
2)- Psychiatry
Psychiatrists are
specialists of clinical medicine prescribed for mentally disturbed patients
whereas clinical psychologists are specialists in psychotherapy and counseling.
Clinical psychologists treat social and psychological problems of normal and
mentally disturbed people with the help of mental exercises or other forms of
psychological help. They also provide training to their patients to fortify
their inner selves for their whole lives, instead of depending on medicines.
Counseling plays an effective role in education, industry and family,
especially marital relations whether the issues concern emotional or financial.
In the industry, vocational programs persist where people can face tensions
pertaining to their jobs and careers, hence a professional help can assist them
in the right direction.
S+: What sorts of
persons are more prone to psychological disorders?
Dr. Nasreen: Those who are sensitive and introvert, and
who do not share their problems with others are more susceptible to
psychological problems. These traits add negativity to their minds, thus making them burst in the end. Some of
these people become anti-social, social psychopaths or highly aggressive. In
all of these individuals, the need for appreciation is very high.
S+: What are the
factors that lead to psychological disorders in children?
Dr. Nasreen: Psychological problems are aggravated in
individuals whose parents are very demanding or such cases are also recurrent
in the off-springs of over-protective parents. Then, if the parents are always
fighting with each other, then this affects the innocent minds of their children rather negatively. As for
adults, not holding a good job and social insecurities like the current scene
of terrorist attacks, poor infrastructure like bad roads and social phobias,
all these contribute to poor mental health. Add to it the irresponsible role
played by the media like showing dead bodies and live murder scenes, and you
have the perfect recipe for psychological cases. When Benazir Bhutto’s
assassination was showed on TV, a person got a fatal heart attack and expired.
S+: What are the main
reasons for the adults to become victims of psychological disorders?
Dr. Nasreen: Some people are workaholic and are not ready
for any failures, so it is very painful for them when they fall short of their
goals making them prone to mental disturbances. It is very important to keep
both poles of success and failure in picture. Today, we have invited
artificiality in our lives, which also contributes to our problems. Some people
have post-retirement, vocational and marital problems. As an individual crosses
his or her youth into old age, low self-esteem also causes depression. Then
some people do not accept old age and still exert themselves, both mentally and
physically. Also, for those who lose their spouses, loneliness becomes a
problem.
S+: How can the adults
secure themselves against poor mental health?
Dr. Nasreen: Extra-curricular activities with a group of
friends are much indispensable. Elderly people should keep themselves active by
indulging in grocery shopping, paying bills, fetching kids from schools,
gardening and others, since such activities serve as an occupation and remove
any idle thoughts from their minds. Reading and writing
are also very healthy for the old people. For example an army officer took to
writing a book and a ‘tafseer’ of Holy Qur’an after his retirement which made
him sustain the loss of his wife. Mental or psychological exercises are very
necessary as they strengthen an individual’s mind.
S+: What are the
various psychological exercises, which you prescribe for your patients?
Dr. Nasreen: It depends on the individual need of the
patient after assessing them carefully. Deep breathing exercise, which involves
inhaling deeply and then exhaling slowly, is very essential for all people,
since it cools down their biological system. Imagination exercises are also
very helpful for removing anxiety and building confidence, which are taught to
patients by their psycho-therapists. A Proper stress-management plan is given
to the patients to help them cope with their disturbed mental cycles.
A few years back, the
movie ‘A Beautiful Mind’ based on a true story showed how a schizophrenic
Mathematician managed to achieve a Noble Prize in his later years for his
theories in spite of having succumbed to numerous phases of mania in his youth.
Mind is a powerful machine even when devoid of its full potential, but its beauty
is best reflected in positive feats. We not only need to preserve
ourselves physically, but should also make every possible effort to nourish our
minds! •
