Mental Health Issues And Solutions With Dr Junaid Rasool

Dr. Junaid Rasool is an MBBS, FCPS (Psychiatry) Consultant Psychiatrist. He is a competent psychiatrist working with a vast range of psychiatric specialties. He performs his duties at multiple places and you can get his appointment through Marham.pk

Some of Dr. Junaid’s areas of interest are:

• Aggressive Behavior
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Autism
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Dependent Personality Disorder
• Dissociative Identity Disorder
• Intellectual Disability
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder
• Neurosis
• Paranoid Disorder
• Psychosis
• Schizophrenia
• Abnormal, Unusual, Strange Behavior
• Addiction
• Adolescent Problems
• Alcohol Addiction

Q. Is there any specific reason to experience anxiety during Ramzan?

A. There are a few factors that can make a person have anxiety during Ramadan. People who have a decreased level of frustration tolerance can have anxiety or anger episodes when they are physically stressed due to hunger or dehydration. People who smoke cigarettes or experience other addictions can have anxiety about withdrawal first 10 to 15 days of fasting. People who have chronic medical problems like diabetes or hypertension can have anxiety episodes due to medical reasons. People who are on Psychiatric medication can have anxiety if the dose and timings are not adjusted accordingly. This all can be managed effectively after with discussion with your psychiatrist.

Q. Is taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills before sahoor can increase or decrease their efficacy or can we fast while taking such medicines?

A. Most of antidepressants are prescribed once daily. Most antidepressants are to be taken on a full stomach. There is no problem inefficacy of antidepressants if used in Sehri or After. The only consideration is the sedation with some antidepressants. People can fast while taking antidepressants generally but it depends on the severity of the illness and your Psychiatrist can suggest otherwise if severe illness and if there is a risk to self and others.

Q. How can we keep children safe from COVID-19 stress and depression?

A. Children’s mental health is dependent on the mental health of the parents and other caregivers. I recommend that parents work on their own mental health if they want to improve the mental health of their children. We can provide healthy food, adequate sleep, and a fixed daily routine to the children during this time. Don’t let them see the news all the time. Give them the necessary information by yourself. Keep them busy with studies, hobbies, and physical indoor games. Anxious and depressed parents raise anxious and depressed children. Do read about healthy ways of parenting and you can get guidance from a Psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist in this if things don’t work out.

Q. What is the treatment for upsetting nightmares and what causes them?

A. Most people experience Nightmares in high-stress phases of life. It becomes a problem if it’s consistent and for a longer period of time and disturbing the quality of life. Nightmares are symbolic of the stress, anxiety, or complex traumatic events in a past life or fearful apprehension of the future. There is still a lot we don’t know about dreams and nightmares but it’s a window to our subconscious mind. Nightmares usually represent thing which is causing us stress and anxiety and is unresolved in our mind. Sometimes it’s a symptom of anxiety disorder or any other psychiatric disorder. A detailed assessment by a Psychiatrist is needed for persistent nightmares

Q. Is it possible to have dreams as a prediction of your future? Why is it that I can’t wink asleep for weeks even and when I do then I can sleep straight through the whole day?

A. I don’t think dreams should be used to predict the future. It’s a complex brain function and needs further research to have a better understanding of it. The problems with the sleep cycle represent a lot of things which include an unhealthy lifestyle, harmful addictive use of electronic gadgets, drug addiction, anxiety, and depressive disorder or any other medical or psychiatric disease. A detailed assessment by a Psychiatrist can provide possible solutions according to the diagnosis.

Q. How to cope with suicidal thoughts when you don’t want to share them with anyone?

A. Having suicidal thoughts is a psychiatric emergency and the most dangerous symptom of psychiatric disorders. One should seek help as soon as possible. The patient can share this with the Psychiatrist and any other person. It’s a life-threatening condition and it needs to be reported to save a human life. If you find any person having suicidal thoughts or behavior it should be reported to the next of kin or in some situations higher management to eliminate risk to self and other people.

Q. Can anxiety trigger asthma?

A. Yes, anxiety and stress can trigger asthma in some already-diagnosed patients who have asthma. It cannot cause asthma but can worsen its symptoms in some patients.

Q. Maladaptive daydreaming and how can we overcome this?

A. Daydreaming with positive motivating themes can be a morale booster in some people. If the daydreaming is excessive and consumes most of the day with no productive work on the themes is a problem. A detailed assessment by a clinical psychologist can point out the root cause and then cognitive behavioral therapy can help to change the maladaptive behavioral to healthy behavior.

Q. I feel like my brain never lets me rest. Even if I force myself to get into bed early my brain stays active and upsets me to an extent where I just want it to stop so I can rest. This has been my issue forever which leaves me tired and lethargic due to insufficient rest.

A. This seems to be a problem with sleep quality. This can be due to an unhealthy lifestyle or undiagnosed anxiety disorder or depressive disorder. Chronic sleep problems with no other medical disorders are due to the above-mentioned conditions. A detailed assessment by a Psychiatrist is needed.

Q. My son is having a mucus cough and also has lots of anxiety and palpitation problems… His heart beats so fast. What could be the reason?

A. Mucus and cough are signs of problems in the nose, throat, or lungs. When One has medical problems one can be anxious or depressed due to the medical condition. Some may have both conditions at the same time. increased heart rate can be due to problems in breathing and can be due to anxiety. A medical specialist and a Psychiatrist can have an assessment for diagnosis and treatment.

Q. Loud and repetitive noises mess with my head really badly. What can I do to minimize it?

A. If there is noise pollution in the area then everybody is going to get affected. There might be a possibility of hearing disorders in the future and anxiety, irritability and poor quality sleep are psychiatric issues Secondly if someone complains of irritability with the usual noise level it can be due to issues with hearing sensitivity or anxiety disorder. Ear, nose throat specialist, and a Psychiatrist can have an assessment in this case

Q. I have a very bad habit of procrastinating on a daily basis. It makes me feel anxious all the time. Why does it happen and how can I eliminate this habit?

A. Procrastination is a maladaptive habit that on deep exploration can be rooted in underlying depression, fear of the change, avoidance of the stress of the task ahead, the sometimes unconscious will to stay in the status quo ( depressive state), and many other possibilities. Detailed cognitive and behavioral work is required by a clinical psychologist to manage this.

Q. I sometimes have mood swings that I don’t seem to have control over. How can I manage them?

A. If mood swings are from early life then this is usually due to personality traits. If mood swings have started recently and are not part of the past usual personality then it can commonly be due to anxiety, depression, or mood disorder. The treatment is according to diagnosis and is done through medication and psychotherapy sessions.

Q. How is depression in teenagers treated?

A. The treatment of depression in teenagers differs from Adults as there is a focus on psychotherapy sessions rather than medications. This is the time of personality development and fine-tuning and psychotherapy help a lot. The psychological and social stressors are different in teenagers and the treatment is tailor-made according to the condition.

Dr. Junaid Rasool is actively available to respond to your queries and offer you consultation. To book his appointment you can call 03111222398 or you can log on to Marham. pk to book your online consultation with him.

Stay Happy and Healthy!

FAQs