Dr.Shantanoo Joshi (Palkars Polyclinic)

The first question when you greet somebody is 'how are you' and this often refers to our state of well-being. While most answers would be great, awesome or good, we usually think of how we are doing physically. While some of us may talk about physical conditions (say things like feverish, have a cold, etc.), not many would think of talking about mental health conditions. However, mental health is very important for overall well-being.

Can you think of someone who is severely depressed or anxious all the time and have a good physical health? Chances are very bleak, and if you consider the overall health as a mix of mental and physical balance, this is not possible. Read on to understand how important mental health is and why you should start paying more attention to it.

1. Improved physical health: If someone is in a stressed state, it is obvious that they would not be able to do the activities they enjoy. Being affected mentally also leads to reduced immunity and sleep disturbances, making the person prone to infections and other disorders. Stress is one of the main risk factors for chronic medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
2. Improved prognosis: Most often, doctors focus on treating the physical aspects of a person’s health. However, with recent emphasis on mental health, more and more doctors are looking at wholesome measures to improve a person’s health. Results show that when a person’s mental health is also addressed, the physical ailments respond very well.
3. Improved productivity: People with unattended mental health disorders often resort to absence from work and/or school, can have financial instability, be homeless and can fall repeatedly. Being mentally healthy provides overall changed perspective of life and therefore improves productivity.
4. Improved personal relationships: Children of people affected with mental illness are prone to neglect, abuse, rejection, and behavioural issues. There is also social isolation, which may lead into adulthood, and these children may also have emotional health problems. Others in the close circle including spouses, siblings, parents, close friends and colleagues would be clearly affected by a person who is mentally unhealthy.
5. Social effects: These people are highly prone to social crimes like rape, murder, theft, violence, etc. They may not be able to afford their treatment and/or resort to these crimes to assert themselves.
6. Improved quality of life: Life expectancy is higher in people who are mentally healthy. Even with mild symptoms of anxiety and depression, this is reduced, and the chances of a happier, healthier life are reduced.

Whatever the effect, mental health needs to be addressed as equally as we do physical problems, using medications, counselling, or lifestyle changes.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Pregnancy is that wonderful and beautiful phase that most women rejoice about. However, many may find it hard to believe that pregnancy can bring with it a condition known as ‘antenatal depression’. This is a common condition in expecting mothers and should not be ignored.

Depression during pregnancy like regular depression is a clinical condition and requires further investigation and management. Pregnancy is related to the female hormones and therefore, mood swings are common (as during PMS and menopause). However, depressed pregnant women would typically have the following associated symptoms too.

1. Altered eating habits
2. Altered sleeping patterns (too much or too less)
3. Loss of attention/ability to focus
4. Losing interest in activities which usually interest the person
5. Feeling very anxious
6. Constant feeling of sadness
7. Uncertainty about the future
8. Feeling of worthlessness
9. Suicidal tendencies

It has been noted about 25% of women can get depressed during pregnancy for varying periods of time. Some potential reasons for this are as below.

1. Strained relationships: One of the most important factors for a healthy pregnancy is a happy relationship, not just with the partner, but with immediate and close family members with whom there is a high level of regular interaction.
2. Work stress: For working women, a stressful office environment could take a toll on their moods.
3. Previous miscarriages: This can cause anxiety and depression about possible repeat incident.
4. Potential complications: If the periodic examinations showed up possibility for complications in pregnancy, the chance of depression in the mother increase.

How it affects pregnancy?

A depressed mother would not be able to care for herself and  therefore, the baby may not get adequate nutrition for its development. Additionally, the potential for nicotine and alcohol abuse increases, which also negatively impacts the baby’s growth. There could be low birth weight, premature birth and developmental delays after birth.

How it can be managed?

While the hormonal changes during pregnancy causes mood swings, diagnosing if it is depression is important. A consultation with a psychiatrist may be required for some women.

Some of the options available for treatment include support groups, individual counseling, and medications.

1. It is important to understand that this is a common condition and you are not the only one going through this. Talking to other women who feel depressed can help in mood uplifting of all involved.
2. If you are too shy about it, individual counseling could be the next best thing.
3. Stress management including light exercise, music, meditation, rest, diet, and support from close friends and family are highly recommended.
4. Since most antidepressants would reach the baby, it is advisable to avoid these less you need them as a last resort.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. The various symptoms here affect how one feels , thinks and handles daily activities . A doctor can help work out the best treatment strategy basis one's health conditions and symptoms.

Parenthood is a new phase and certainly brings a lot of new challenges and responsibilities for the couple which they may not be prepared for. At such times , one does expects anxiety and nervousness in the minds of parents - to - be because of obvious reasons.

While we all wish to avoid emotional distress due to the sense of loss and fear attached to it, we invariably become a victim of such pain at some point in time in our lives. Here the irony is that the more we want to escape pain, the nearer it comes to us, and the more intense its effects get.

There is hardly an individual around the globe who have not gone through ups and downs, but it doesn't signify that there is something wrong in the life we lead. It only manifests that we are human beings who can withstand the wrongs and hope for a better tomorrow.

Here are some coping strategies when you are down with mental agony.

1. Face the odds: When you are suffering from emotional turmoil, all the negative feelings right from anger to frustration to distress are what comprise you. You should surrender to what is taking a toll on you and accept it in a way as if you have chosen it.
2. Give yourself some time: You will need some time to drive yourself out of the darkness and accept the presence of your emotional pain. Time can help you rest, heal and recover completely from the grasp of the pain and suffering. You should be gentle with yourself throughout the process and have a faith that everything happens the way it is meant to happen.
3. Observe your pain and suffering: When you are down with emotional pain, you should suffer, but consciously. You must observe your anguish, sadness, and stream of negative thoughts. The terrible feelings that feed your pain should be considered objectively. You should never allow the pain to become a part of who you are.
4. Accept pain and let go: No one in the world wants to stay amidst pain and suffering. Everybody tries to do away with it, and in an attempt of running away from pain, we invariably fall into its trap. There are situations in which pain demands to be felt, and thus you should understand it and find out the reason behind it. This way you will be able to help it go away.
5. Spend a lot of time with yourself: When you love somebody, you tend to spend a lot of time with that person. During spans of pain, you are the one who needs to be by your side and therefore, you should give yourself quality time and help the pain to mitigate instead of becoming emotionally dependent on someone else. You can indulge in any activity that you enjoy from painting to walking to swimming to trekking. It could be anything but make sure it helps you breathe free.

Pain always comes with a message. Once you get to decipher this message, it becomes easier to find out coping strategies and ways to mitigate the pain while the pain eventually subsides.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Attention deficit/hyperactivity issue (ADHD) is a mental condition that is marked by a continuous example of inattention as well as hyperactivity-impulsivity that meddles with the working or advancement of that person. Inattention implies that a person gets distracted from tasks, lacks focus and is not concentrating on the task at hand. Hyperactivity implies that a person tends to move around continuously, especially into situations in which it is not needed. Impulsivity implies that a person makes hurried decisions without thinking about them and that may have negative outcomes or risky consequences.

Here are a few ways with which you can treat ADHD.
Therapy: Along with medicines, certain treatments can be valuable in treating ADHD in children, teenagers and grown-ups. Therapy is helpful in treating other problems as well. For example, anxiety or nervousness issue that may show up with ADHD. The types of the therapies that might be used are as follows.

• Psycho-education: Psycho-education implies that you or your kid will be urged to understand ADHD and how it affects you. It can help children, adolescents and grown-ups understand why they have been diagnosed with ADHD. It can also help you adapt and manage the condition.
  • Behavioral treatment: Behavioral treatment gives support to the caretakers of the people with ADHD, and may include teachers and guardians. The treatment includes behavior administration, which uses a group of prizes to encourage your child to attempt to control their ADHD.
  • Social skills training: Social skills training includes children or youngsters taking part in role-plays or pretending to be in certain situations. This intends to show them how to carry on in social circumstances by figuring out how their behavior influences or affects others.
• Cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT): Cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help you deal with your issues by changing the way you think and behave. A CBT advisor would attempt to change how your kid feels about a situation, which would thus change their conduct.
• Eat less carbs: Individuals with ADHD need to eat a healthy diet. A few people may see a connection between types of foods and declining ADHD side effects. For instance, sugar, food colorings, added sugars, and caffeine are frequently blamed for increasing hyperactivity.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Quarrels are an integral part of any healthy and serious relationship. However, an overdose may lead to severed ties. It bruises your memory and leaves you too distraught to engage in an emotional attachment.

If you are struggling in your relationship, you might find it helpful:

1. Empathize with your partner: The ability to empathize is what inhibits us from just going through life doing whatever we want, without any regard for others. It is what makes compromise in a relationship possible. If you realize that something you have done has hurt your partner, you will hesitate to do that again.
2. To complain as least as possible: Keep low expectations from your partner. The most common reason for conflict in relationships is the list of expectations, which when left unfulfilled leads to complaining and nagging. What you do for your partner is what'you think is the right thing, but your partner may not hold the same perspective.
3. Stop using labels: labeling is an indecent way of identifying the problem with your partner or with the relationship in general. You should neither brand yourself as something or your partner as something else. Associating critical adjectives with one another is a way of demeaning your lover and can dissuade your partner from communicating his or her viewpoint.
4. Express yourself: Express thoughts, feelings, and wishes. Resentment can build when couples sweep things under the rug, so be vulnerable and don't bury negative feelings, but try to express them in a respectful way. Opening up to your partner can make you feel vulnerable and exposed, but it is the most important part of an intimate relationship.
5. Try to rekindle the spark: Time, overburdening responsibilities or workload can make your relationship a routine affair. An element of secrecy and excitement is important. Therefore, desire should never take a backseat in your relationship. Try to fulfill your partner's desire and let him or her know about your expectations as well.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Now-a-days, the entire world along with the inhabitants have become so fast-paced that the most common matter which affects almost everyone is stress. Getting stressed is not only unhealthy for your body and has an impact on every aspect of life including fertility. You might be wondering that how stress can affect your fertility as they sound unrelated. Read on to understand. Till date, though no direct correlation between stress and infertility has been established, it has been observed that if a couple who is trying their best to conceive is under stress, there appears to be a problem. Now, have a look at few of the impacts that stress has on fertility.

How stress affects fertility?
Too much stress has an impact on the proper functioning of the hypothalamus. It is that part of the brain which has the responsibility of sending as well as receiving all type of signals from the reproductive system. The menstrual cycle is one of the most complex communicating systems between the brain and ovaries, and thus stress may affect the fertility cycle. In this manner, stress may delay the ovulation, and in severe cases, it may also prevent the women from ovulating.

Another point that needs to be mentioned is that due to stress fewer mature eggs may be available. Some of the studies focus on the point that the women, who were stressful as well as anxious regarding their IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization), possessed approximately twenty percent fewer eggs than they usually could produce that are viable for fertilization.

Dealing with stress
Different women have their way of dealing with stress. Thus, the impact this unwanted issue has on a woman might not be similar to the reactions of another woman. Many people start to gain weight in such stressful periods while some lose a lot of fat. A fact is sure that stress is not at all healthy and good for an aspiring mother.

So, now that you are aware of stress and infertility and how stress affects your fertility, the best possible course is to eliminate stress from your life as much as possible in a systematic manner. To reduce stress, you must have an adequate amount of sleep and also practice exercise on a regular basis. You may also opt for other habits like practicing yoga, meditation, prayer, seek counseling, etc.

Thus, the bottom-line is, if you are trying to get pregnant, either naturally or through IVF due to genetic or medical reasons, relieving yourself from stress is crucial. If you are willing to know more about stress and infertility and how stress affects your fertility, then you may consult with your physician who would guide to adopt necessary measures.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!