Trauma has this capacity to hijack our brain—we are either worrying about the past or living in the fear of the future. The world is suffering deep losses in the COVID-19 pandemic, a global economic disaster and there has been a mass trauma the likes of which we’ve never seen before. For almost everyone, there is anxiety, fear, and, a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. It has led to serious financial despair, illness, and death. Thus, a range of emotional responses including grief, loss, and mourning can be seen and felt. The “normal” has changed. People have been manifesting all kinds o ..read more

Routines are quite essential at every stage of life—from early childhood and adolescence to adulthood. They help us cope with change, create healthy habits, improve interpersonal relationships, and reduce stress. A balanced circadian rhythm maintained through practical lifestyle habits, such as regular sleep patterns and consistent daily routines have far-reaching mental health benefits, from alleviating emotional health problems and preventing dependence on the substance to managing the symptoms of other mental disorders. Routines help cope with anxiety. It’s important to be able t ..read more

Together make Mental health care for all a reality By Dr Roma Kumar and Amit Bose October 10, 2021 (IANSlife) Mental and emotional health problems have reached pandemic levels. Today, perhaps 75 percent of Indians are suffering from stress, anxiety and depression. India has the highest rate of suicide per million population. Student suicide is on the rise. Verbal and physical domestic abuse of women continue unabated. The long school closure has created severe emotional distress and learning loss among children. Our youth population, which is supposed to give us a huge demographic dividen ..read more

Turn The Frown Upside Down On certain days, it’s normal to feel low or anxious. It could be work-related pressure or a personal problem that is not in your control. The mood you are in can be influenced by factors like stress, the external environment, poor sleep, genetics and nutritional deficiencies. In such a scenario, ensuring a proper diet can not only help your immune system and heart function better, but can also improve your mood, sleep and proper digestion. Food plays a major role in our life – from aiding overall health to keeping your well-being in check. While following a routine ..read more

From resilience building to shifting focus on to the things that are within your control, a psychologist tells you *exactly* how to cope in these trying times.  2021, the new year brought with it the promise of a better, safer tomorrow—owing to the widespread roll-out of the vaccine and a sincere attempt to ‘break the chain’. However, it wasn’t long into the year that the nation found itself submerged under the second wave of the pandemic, deadlier and more contagious.  “The unforeseen spike in COVID-19 cases across the country has caused chaos and distress. While doctors a ..read more

Anger is a normal emotion experienced by everyone at different times. It is, in fact, a natural response to a threat, helping prime ourselves for protection or stand up for ourselves. It can also be useful to motivate people to meet challenges or make changes. It happens as a reaction to thoughts or emotions – hurt, frustration, worry, jealousy, confusion, rejection, embarrassment or powerlessness. Whatever the reason behind it, there’s nothing wrong with feeling angry. What is important is how we cope with, and express angry feelings. Anger that isn’t managed well can have an impact on relati ..read more

With the pandemic increasing levels of anxiety and stress, people are turning to apps to get expert advice or simply breathe easy. The Covid-19 pandemic has been an eye-opener not just for physical health issues, but also for mental well-being. For many, the past year has been a period of financial distress, changing relationship dynamics and lack of human interactions, which have given rise to a plethora of mental health issues, including stress, anxiety and depression. Consequently, along with the rise of telemedicine, at-home fitness options and digital therapy, there has been a surge in th ..read more

Ashdin is joined by Dr. Roma Kumar, a Clinical Psychologist, with over 30 years of experience. She is the Vice Chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi and at Max Super Specialty Hospital Gurgaon since April 2012. She has devoted much of her career to helping people find the necessary mental health resources for their needs. She is also the Chief Psychologist and Co-founder at Emotionally.in, an online portal therapy platform for corporates and individuals looking for therapy. On this episode, Ashdin talks to Dr. Roma about how she got into this world, s ..read more

Along with the pandemic came many changes and uncertainties. How can one overcome this? While the world continues to battle the coronavirus, adolescents and college students are struggling with virtual graduations, postponed internships, competitive examinations, college admissions, social distancing, companionships, loneliness, stress, suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression. Many students live in unstable environments and are struggling with financial hardships, as well as struggling with the lack of a ‘normal’ routine. The sense of ‘possibility’ that drives young people through their earl ..read more

We asked experts about the psychology behind hoarding and why it’s important to purge. Here’s what they had to say Many of us either have it or know someone who does—the love for hoarding. It’s very common to see full-to-the-top storage rooms, cupboards bursting at the seams, filled with articles. But if you were to take a closer look at all the belongings, many will realise or already know that perhaps most of it is unnecessary. A hoarding disorder can be mild or severe. In mild cases, hoarding does not have much impact on the hoarders’ lives. Whereas, in severe instances, hoarding leads to c ..read more