Limerence: When Longing Becomes Pathological
“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” — Robert Frost There are few human experiences as celebrated and as poorly understood as romantic longing. We romanticise sleepless nights, obsessive thoughts and the inability to get someone out of one’s mind. But what happens when these experiences cease to be pleasurable? When thoughts become […]
Approach to Depression: From Assessment to Recovery
Depression is more than feeling sad or having a difficult day. It is a clinical disorder that can affect mood, interest and pleasure, energy, sleep, appetite, concentration, self-esteem and functioning. Some individuals may primarily present with fatigue, aches and pains or other physical complaints rather than spontaneously reporting sadness. A thoughtful and systematic approach is […]
External Posting Essentials: Part 3 – Bringing the Learning Back Home
In Part 1, thoughtful preparation laid the foundation for a meaningful external posting. In Part 2, that preparation shifted into active observation, engagement, and learning within a different clinical environment. But the learning does not end when the posting does. It ends when you have translated what you learned into something usable in your home […]
Recognising the red flag signs of suicide
Suicide remains a significant public health concern in India, with a reported burden of approximately 12.2 per 1 lakh population. Beyond the numbers are individuals who may be struggling silently, often without anyone around them realising the extent of their distress. There is no single behaviour or statement that can definitively tell us that someone […]
Never Jump to Conclusions in a Hurry
It was in the Casualty Department at CMC Vellore that I was asked to see a young 16-year-old girl, who came with discomfort, pain and an uneasy sensation in the inner aspect of her left thigh. On examination, I found absolutely nothing and having just finished my posting in Psychiatry, I grandiosely formulated many theories […]
Patient Care Starts at Home
A psychiatry resident advises a patient to maintain good sleep hygiene. An intern counsels the patient on the importance of a well-balanced diet. A physician advises the patient against smoking, alcohol, and cannabis. But then we go back to the wards; we skip our meals, we push through disturbed sleep cycles, and when we find […]
Uncontrollable Tears
Each drop as heavy as her heart,flows down her cheek. Reluctant to stay hidden anymore,for it is her choice no more. Undeniably, unforcedly, unwillingly,comes the attack onto herself after a thousand of it,felt lighter her heart. For all it counted later,was as the molecule of the ocean that mattered. Days of remorse, pain, heaviness and […]