Iranians in Psychotherapy

sbglobe jan

Please read Raven's blog.  "We are all together", posted  today( 6/25/09).  This is not Naz.  And "snap out of it" is ....?  You give it a name.  

Anon11111111

Thanks for your comment.  Yes, those who lack or have limited knowledge, might have difficulty understanding the significance of  of mental health services/medications in treatment of those with psychological disorders. 

I want to share a story of a beautiful young woman, whom I worked with between 1987 to 1992.  She had just graduated from Yale University.  Following her graduation, she started to exhibit bizarre behaviors.  For example she was going around, looking for a dentist who would be willing to extract all her teeth, because she thought, aliens had installed a device in her gum to control her.  She also had visual and auditory hallucinations, and was both suicidal and homocidal.  The severity of her symptoms, frequently landed her in the pshyciatric ward of the local hosptials.  Her treatement eventually enabled her to bring her symptoms under control.  When I was leaving she had received her MS in art therapy, was living independently and had not been hospitalized for 3 years.

I have seen many people similar to this young woman, who were able to put their lives back on track, because of the help they recieved.   

People who don't believe in

People who don't believe in psychiatry should hope (and pray)they never have a family member or friend with a mental illness. Yes psychiatry can be frustrating at times because we don't know which drugs will help (if any), but when a treatment becomes successful, the life of that person is changed forever. Regarding PTSD, I will never forget taking a history from a Vietnam War Vet who was brought in by the NYPD for hiding in the subway tunnels. His PTSD (or fake diagnosis as some might claim) made him crawl into the subway tunnel every time he heard a plane or loud sound. He claimed he didn't know why he walked into the subway tunnels but he just felt safe. Psychiatry is real folks and treatment (drugs and/or therapy) can make a significant difference in one's life.

I agree 100% "bani adam

I agree 100% "bani adam azaie yek peykaran...." . I am not remotely suggesting otherwise. What I was trying to say is we need to snap out of it if we cannot cope on our own with the current situation (because we have it too good). I expect more from us – I expect to be able to handle these difficult situations on our own. This should not be about how “we” feel or can cope with the situation because this is not about us who are outside Iran. This is about them the people inside Iran who are going through hell now.

Supporting each other is one thing but getting “professional physiological help” is something else - I say just snap out of it!  Actually I should really shut up - I do not know what I am talking about – I am not the expert in this matter – you are. Everything I have said so far is based on my personal experience - in summary if we do not have “naz khesh”, we most likely will not “naz" :-)

My responses

Thanks ebi.  I am working on that.

Mehdi/cezar :  I am not a pro-med mental health professional.  In fact, I do agree that most people with psychological difficulties can lead happy/productive lives without the use of med.  However, this clip is the most biased and one-sided anti-drug documentary, I have ever seen.  An utter nonsense.

sbglobe Jan, yes we do have it too good.  But as human beings we are impacted by what happens to other people, especially our hamvatans.  Have not you heard  "bani adam azaie yek peykaran...."

we should be too busy to complain

Mina jan yes the same sbglobe (if I knew any better, I would have made my user id then my real name – Shahnaz). What I was trying to say with my first comment was - so what if I am hurting, irritated, etc. etc. In fact that is good because the pain I feel helps me not to forget. Again, I strongly feel that under the current circumstances, we indeed have it too good to complain. We should be busy very busy dealing with our daily lives and doing what we can for Iran. In any case, thank you for what you are trying to do (to help Iranians)  

Thank you Mehdi for that

Thank you Mehdi for that link. I agree with you a 100% that psychotherapy is a complete hoax to get people on mind altering drugs. I have a personal friend whose life is being destroyed on psycho drugs. Sorry but all I see in this post is an opportunist who wants to use the events in Iran for personal gain.

Mina Jaan

Sepaas.

Already feel better after reading your blog.

Looking forward to reading "the coping mechanisms".

Ebi aka Haaji

I am afraid these are made-up

Here is a full explanation on how these were simply created out of thin air: 

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lglCDwifzio

Hi again, anon fish

You are right.  If you know that there is something wrong. You need to know what it is.  I do not believe, I was giving anybody a "pep talk".  In fact, I don't believe in "pep talk".  I think it is usually useless.  But, I, sure believe in awareness.

p.s.  You are not insane. Most OCD people are very smart, hard working, productive....  

yes, I see where both of you are coming from

but sometimes, some people... maybe not all... DO benefit from these "pep" talks.  I know some people who seem to need a label for what they're feeling.  It puts things into perspective for them.  I thought I was crazy until someone introduced the term OCD to me...:-).  It didn't change things but it made me feel better to know that I wasn't simply I N S A N E.  Believe me, I'm the last one to subscribe to psycho-babble, I HATE it.  But I believe that Mina is providing a very important distinction in describing these general symptoms.  I think it's because you're men and you just don't understand...:-))) 

Dear sbglobe

Are you the same sbglobe who posted the comment "I do not want to forgert"?  If you are, then I beleive that you do need the "pep talk".  Your last comment surprized me.  Very different from your earlier one.  

it is the matter of perspective

Well I am going to put it a bit differently than Medie. Given these circumstances – we have to put things in perspective. In my view we have it too good to need these kinds of pep talk (although I do appreciate what you are trying to do here)

Mehedi

PTSD is an appropriate reaction to being tortured, beaten, shot at, imprisoned et, and/or to witness such brutality.  I guess you call this "certain condition", which is fine with me.  But I don't understand the use of the word "natural".

I do agree that many survivors, are able to lead happy/productive lives without the use of med.  But almost all of them require some form of treatment . I believe, the most effective treatment modality is individual psychotherapy.   

You are free to call PTSD, whatever you want, but calling it "made up" is a sign of ignorance.

Useless psycho-babble

You are just taking certain conditions that "naturally" happen in life and giving it labels. Wow! What a great accomplishment! Currently 100 million people are taking psychiatric drugs based on these MADE-UP "illnesses." According to psychiatry today, all you have to do is take some chemicals and the problems of Iran will magically go away! Why else are they prescribing these? 

Nazy Jan

Your participation in vigils/demonstrations are defintely helpful.

Being aware of your feelings.  Embracing your sadness as a normal reaction to these events, is crucial.  Do not shy away from your pain, regardless how difficult it might be.  Allowing yourself to feel your feeling can be very healing.

if you have time, create a small short term, support/discussion group, in which the members can share their thoughts/feelings and mourn the loss/sufferings of our hamvatans.

Sign human rights petitions on behalf of Iranians living inside Iran.

Find and offer support (including financial if you can) to those who have been victimized in Iran.  

I do not know of any book which might be a suitable reading for those of us who are going through this crisis.  However, Victor Frankle's book :  "Search for meaning" might be good.

If you like painting, paint, paint, paint.

Excersise, eat healthy, and rest.

Limit your exposure to the news.

I hope I can come up with a more comprehensive list.  But I think this is a pretty good start.  

Hi Anon Fish

I am glad to hear from you. Ask your husband if he wants to talk about it.  Give him a lot of room.  If he wants to share, just listen and validate his feelings. Do not ask too many questions.  Let him guide you.  If he is not ready to be engaged, do not push him.  There is always a danger of re-traumatization.

If you want to speak with me, you can find the contact inforamtion on my web-site, minadadvar.com.

I have set up free, short term consultation for those who have been victimized by this regime.  I know that you live in OC.  We can talk on the phone.  

Thanks Mina

A timely blog. Please do tell us what to do with the sadness and desperation that has engulfed us. I think being with other Iranians helps. When I have attended vigils and demonstrations in support of Iranians inside Iran, I have been able to let go of some of my tears and feel better. I would like to know more about how to cope. Thank you.

wow

To actually see it put into words is extremely helpful.  As a by-stander so to speak, my emotions are surface emotions.  But to see my husband who DID go through the revolution suffer is something altogether different.  I don't know exactly what to do at times.  Do I just be silent and listen and try to comfort him or do I engage him in discussion which sometimes seems to cause him to get even more emotional?  Thanks Mina.  I hope you'll speak more about this.

sbglobe jan

I hear you. You do not want to abadon your hamvatans.  Believe it or not feeling understood and supported by those living outside Iran, is very important and helpful to those living inside.  I will post a blog about coping, soon.  Take care of yourself.  We all need to be well and strong to be able to help our beloved Iranians, living in Iran. 

I do not want to forget

The knot I feel in my heart and throat is a constant reminder of what is going on in Iran.  I do not want to forget about what is happening there even for a moment, even in my sleep. I will no longer talk about how hard this situation is  for us outside Iran since it is really not compare to if we were there :-(