Mental health

'Counseling for mental illness, or counseling!' Or 'Counseling for mental illness is useless, medicine is working!' Sleeping pills'. This is the idea of ​​most psychiatric relatives.

People seeking treatment for their own or their relatives' mental problems, but rarely hear such comments and self-motivated advice. On the one hand, there are many superstitions about mental health and disease, there is no end to the confusion about its treatment. At one end of the confusion there is malpractice — Panipara, Telpara, Kavach, Jadutona, Ojhar Jharfunk etc. At the other end is the propaganda about mainstream medicine. Sometimes the confusion among the highly educated, the less educated, the rich, the poor, the urban, the rural, the people of various professions about the treatment of mental illness, in turn, causes harm to the mentally ill. And the damage is even greater when patients hear about it from a trusted person.

But it is also a disease

Remember, mental illness is also a 'disease'. Like other diseases, this disease causes changes in the human body and mind. Just as we have a body, we also have a mind. One of the most important functions of the mind is the mental process. Thinking, feeling, remembering, managing emotions — everything but the mental process. And these mental processes are controlled by certain chemicals in the brain বলা called neurotransmitters. At the same time, these mental processes are controlled by the executive work of different parts of the brain.

Mental processes control all our behavior. When someone has a mental illness, their neurotransmitter deficiency or excessive mental processes, emotions and behavioral changes occur. This is the place where medicine works. Medications often cure or control mental illness by balancing neurotransmitters. With mental illness, neurotransmitter deficiency or surplus is important as well as social and developmental factors. That is why the importance of psychotherapy or counseling in the treatment of mental illness is not less. Just as medication restores the chemical balance in a mental patient's brain, psychotherapy or counseling encourages rational belief and behavior by consolidating his mind.

Everyone needs to try

Treatment of mental illness is a team effort or teamwork. Which is called bio-psycho-social or psycho-bio-social method. Medicine works on chemicals or neurotransmitters, psychotherapy or counseling works on cognitive development (cognition), behavior and mind formation. At the same time, social support gives extra security and special incentives. These three processes are essential in the treatment of mental illness. However, some processes become more important and vital in the pathogenesis.

Relationship complexity, adaptation problems, family conflicts — all these factors can create stress on the mind

There are two types of mental illness

There are two types of mental illness. In a type of mental illness, the patient can understand for himself that he has a mental problem, such diseases are relatively less serious. Such diseases were once called neurosis; Such as mild anxiety, mild depression, relationship tensions, etc. In another type of mental illness, the patient never understands and does not even admit that he is having a mental problem. These diseases are somewhat serious, called psychosis; Such as schizophrenia, severe depression, bipolar mood disorder, etc.

The role of drugs in the treatment of this type of serious mental illness or psychosis is much greater. Because, in these diseases, the balance of chemicals in the brain is greatly disturbed. So it is almost impossible to treat such diseases without medicine. And some special psychotherapy can be given if the condition improves at one stage with medicine.

On the other hand, mild mental illness, where the patient is aware of his or her problem and changes the environment, is mainly due to mental illness রোগ some medications are given to reduce the acute symptoms, but counseling or psychotherapy is also very effective. One such group is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which requires long-term medication, as well as the necessary psychotherapy.

Relationship complexity, adaptation problems, family conflicts — all these factors can create stress on the mind. In these cases, psychotherapy or counseling is a priority to reduce stress. But if there is a tendency to harm oneself from stress, then medicine is needed again.

How many days of medication or therapy

There is no end to the confusion about how long to take mental illness medication, or how long to take psychotherapy. Patients with diabetes or high blood pressure have taken over, his medication can't be stopped easily, people with eye problems have taken over, he can't walk without his glasses. But in the case of psychiatric medications, this field of acceptance has not been created. The answer to most relatives' questions, 'When will the medication stop?' Is that mental illness medications sometimes have to be taken over the long term. Lifetime for some diseases. This issue must also be accepted. Physicians will also explain the matter to the patient. Even in the case of psychotherapy or counseling, this service has to be taken for a long time. One or two sessions should not be closed. There is no benefit if you do not complete the treatment.

Some psychiatrists cannot be treated at home. They do not want to take drugs, do not take normal food, have a tendency to harm themselves, sometimes have a tendency to commit suicide or even attempt. In those cases, he must be admitted to the hospital for treatment. If the patient does not want to be admitted voluntarily, according to the existing Mental Health Act-2018, the unwilling patient can be admitted to the hospital with the consent of the parents.

There are unreasonable fears about the side effects of psychiatric medications. Medicines for mental illness are used in all countries of the world. The rule is to inform the side effects of the medicine while applying the medicine. And there is a risk of danger if the medicine is suddenly stopped by someone other than the doctor. Sometimes there is a tendency to magnify the side effects of the drug, remember that side effects do not mean drug poisoning. Medicines for all diseases are given by accepting the side effects. Any medication, even the most common paracetamol or antibiotic that everyone buys from the store, can have serious side effects. If you feel that there is any reaction to the psychiatric medication, you should contact the doctor and change the medication or modify the dose. Decisions cannot be made on their own. You have to take the disease into consideration and continue the treatment without being afraid of mental illness medicine.

Psychiatric treatment must be remembered

The role of medicine in the treatment of mental illness is very important

Some mental illnesses require medication as well as psychotherapy

If the symptoms are severe, the patient must be hospitalized, even if the patient is reluctant

Stopping the medication on the advice of someone other than a doctor can be dangerous

It is important to focus on curing or controlling the disease without fear of side effects

It is the right of the patient and his relatives to know what kind of mental illness the patient is suffering from and what will be the pace of treatment. It is the professional responsibility of the physician to explain that. So ask questions, find out. Neighbors, do not listen to the words of friends. Try to find out for yourself.

Do not spread undue fear about mental illness and its treatment. Most of these diseases are controllable, do not deprive the patient of the right to receive treatment.