“All about Anxiety” 30 March 2025
Q. I am 20 years old. My father died 2 years back and my mother and me have been through a lot. I am a single child and I was always pampered and loved but now because of this incident, I feel my mother never recovered and she has not paid attention towards me ever since. I feel neglected and lonely as I don’t understand whom to talk to. Sometimes there is severe anxiety, because of which I am not able to study or do anything, and at that times i think I should leave and go somewhere else. I have started smoking due to this and now I have become an addict to it. My mother was not aware about any of this and she never really showed any interest. But the other day I had an emotional outburst and felt I need help and then I finally confessed to my mom. She was shocked and shattered and started blaming me for everything. Please help me.
Ans- I am sorry to hear your story, but it is brave of you to come out honestly and seek help. There are solutions for all types of problems, if you are keen and motivated to solve them. I suggest you seek counseling which will help you manage your emotions and modify your behavior which will help you cut down on your smoking. If your mother is uncooperative, seek help from a relative, grandparents or otherwise a good friend. Your mother may have unresolved grief which may be the reason behind her neglect towards you. Please do not feel that you are alone in this world and helpless. Counselling will help both of you navigate through the current situation.
Anonymous
Q. My sister has been experiencing recurring intrusive thoughts and struggles to control her worries. We really tried to understand the cause behind this, but were not able to figure out anything. These thoughts are causing her distress and affecting her sleep and daily functioning. I believe she may benefit from professional intervention, and I’m seeking advice on how to approach the topic with her sensitively and encourage her to seek therapy. Please guide!
Ans. Please do guide her and encourage her to seek guidance from a counsellor or psychologist. Intrusive and recurring thoughts are symptoms of anxiety and may lead to obsessive thoughts. If these symptoms are seen for two or more weeks, she should consult a professional and get it treated. It is always better to treat it early on rather than prolong it, which will elevate it further and make it worse.
HS
Q. I have been feeling extremely anxious and overwhelmed lately. I am experiencing a financial crisis and hence I am constantly worrying about various aspects of my life, and it is starting to affect my ability to focus and relax. I don’t get enough sleep as I keep feeling like I am a loser. I’m unable to manage the situation. Please guide me on this.
Ans. Anxiety is an emotion that keeps you in a state of tension and fear. A better option would be looking for various options to deal with the financial crisis. You could consult various people, like, seniors in the family, friends, consultants and any one you trust. Getting into action and solving the problem will help you better than indulging in negative self-talk. Sabotaging yourself is only going to make the situation worse for you. Relax, meditate and focus on solutions which work for you. Deep breathing exercises and physical exercises will help too. Come for a session of counselling to manage your emotions better.
