It’s all in the mind…
“Did you hear? He went to the psy…”
“What really? I think we shouldn’t stay too close. He could be… you know… mad.”
Those are the usual words heard, the sneers behind the smiles, you have your own friends going far away from you. The normal reaction to such an abnormal situation? Yeah, that would be it. As soon as you’ve made a visit to the psy, you’ve become mad. The logical thinking, they say.
People never try to understand you. All they do is jump to conclusions without even getting deeper. But if someday they gather the courage to dive deeper into the situation, not just brush upon the surface, those people may, emphasis on may, find their perception changing! Solely for the mentally-disturbed they say? Who ever did stick such a label to seeking professional psychological help? I agree, a psychiatrist has a high number of mentally-disturbed among his patients, but we cannot leave aside the not so insignificant percentage of “normal” people that seek his advice.
Just by going there, do they lose all normality in your eyes? Do you ever stop and reflect on the circumstances that had lead your,let’s say, neighbour to look for professional help? No, people are hasty to point fingers nowadays, but help they don’t ever extend. Let’s return to the subject, after all, I’m not here to accuse anyone. So, what are the reasons behind the need for counseling?
Some people feel the need to have someone to talk to, someone who’ll listen without trying to make him appear foolish. Usually, in such cases, the family cell, work/school environment, or even the peer, offer no such person. What’s left for the person to do? Maybe,if he follows society’s view of psys, he’ll just bear his stifling emotions, living life as a bleak hell.
But, what if he decides to change things? To give himself another chance? Would you reject him? Would you make an outcast of him, just because his will to be better lead him to a psy? Or would you have preferred his silent suffering, that may degenerate into worse issue, just to abide by narrow-minded norms?
I wonder what you selfish people would choose. Obvious isn’t it? Why would you care about someone who’s tormented enough to go to a psy. All you do care about is you and only you.
Ever wondered that behind this materialistic world existed people, with real feelings? I hardly think so, for though we are said to be ‘civilised’, people of today are worth less than the cavemen, in terms of empathy! At least they helped each other! But, today, each person lives in his own universe, oblivious of his surroundings.
Psychological counseling is meant for everyone, for we may all need professional advice, at one time or another in our lives. So, if your child one day come to you and says: ” Mum/Dad, i want to see a psy..” How would you react? Most probably, laugh his plea off, saying something like : ” Do you think you’ve got problems? Look at….”, nah? Well, I can just say this: this type of approach is inconsiderate, typical of people today. This child you refused help may sink into depression or self-mutilation. Worse, suicide may arise as his only source of deliverance.
Is abiding to society’s silly demands worth the life of a child? Is it worth his smile? Just think about it next time you raise your finger to point at someone…
Sayuka & bbZuSh
Congratulations on raising such an important issue – that is often viewed by society as a ’stigma’ –
A stigma like that of a diagnosis of Cancer – can often find those isolated – when in fact what they really need is someone to confide in…
Depression is on the increase throughout the world and unless a patient receives appropriate guidance – this can often lead to more complex case issues.
I so agree one should never be or indeed ‘Tarnish’ someone who is attending a psychiatrist or who is receiving treatment within a clinic.
Indeed some of the best brains in the world have undergone such Psychiatric support at some stage in their lives – and their status as famous authors, musicians, etc, etc – reflects on their talents not on the fact that they had attended a psychiatrist.
Well done on an impressive and thoughtful approach of what is a topic – many would rather ‘brush under the carpet’..
philosophyoflife said this on October 18, 2007 at 1:11 am
Well, that’s something I’ve actually lived… and sayuka too. And I found it really disgusting when people thought like that. My own mum. Once I told her,”You know, I think I have to go to the psy” and all she said was ” What? You are not mad… You shouldn’t go there.” That was the only time I told her this.
bbZuSh said this on October 18, 2007 at 6:48 am
Raising awareness as you have done – will hopefully educate society – and that will always be an ‘up-hill’ struggle…
Such are the blinkers within society.
Good luck
philosophyoflife said this on October 18, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Well, I do hope this is gonna mean something to others. Sometimes, people just come by to listen what you have to say but never give importance to what you are actually saying. I’m just hoping for a better society for us to live in, given the kind of people we have to meet everyday -.- It’s unbelievable how their mind works
No logic at all.
Thank you for your encouragement.
bbZuSh said this on October 18, 2007 at 12:38 pm
ban comments la bien long long ! lol .. well, its a real fact that society has put a stigma on pple going visiting a psy.. i also onced told someone i need to visit a psy, and the answer was ” psy are for mad pple, you need to see an imaam” pff how foolish and stupid. like the points well raised in the end, the question of mutilation and suicide. Thats a real sad fact that so many deaths could be prevented.. However, i learnt a few fings, we have a ” sucide prevention unit” i fink its the right name and it is found in beau bassin.. that might help, its a governmental organisation and i believe it must be a free service. we can have a look at our youth today, they became bad only with the blessing of adults. and they tell us not to get well but rather die.. some things might remain a trauma for a whole life in certain cases. and over and above all, that’s a very interesting post
keep it up folks 
its great to have such fings spoken out here 
boomparwez said this on October 18, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Well, suicide is a kinda extreme case, but it exists because of lack of psychological counseling. I didn’t know about this organisation. M kne befrienders selmen
bbZuSh said this on October 18, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Awareness is important. People don’t really think of mental illness, whether slight depression or worse, is just that, an illness like a cold or worse, like cancer. People don’t condemn others when they go to the doctor for an infection (which can be contagious), but they make comments when they go for counselling (no matter what the problem, it is not contagious). Good for making more people aware.
Dawn said this on October 19, 2007 at 6:49 pm
It’s just as you say Dawn. Really, mental illness, is just an illness, just like a cold. i wonder why people freak out when you go to a psy!
bbZuSh said this on October 19, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I think they freak out because in their small minds, when they think of psys, they think of : mad people, asylums, being interned (at brown sequard, for mauritians…)Moreover in Mauritius the problem is worse because ppl care a lot about their “reputation”. Oh my gawd, what if someone sees u going to the psy, or “hears” that un tel so garson ou so tifi in al kot psy?lol…Thats how they function here.
Deciding that you want to accept help is the right step to take and let no one tell you otherwise.
Saaya said this on October 20, 2007 at 9:28 am
Ene lot zafer vine en jeu, zt vey zafer dimun
bbZuSh said this on October 20, 2007 at 12:18 pm
[...] Offering deep psychological insight: It’s all in the mind [...]
6 months and more to go… « Ode To My Tainted Dreamz said this on November 15, 2007 at 9:57 pm