Nita Sharma is a counsellor in a Bangalore school. The problem she faces is not from her students, whom she has to often advise on issues related to domestic or sexual violence. Having to constantly deal with such issues has turned her into a paranoid mother.
Dreading that, like her students, her 11-year-old daughter may fall prey to sexual abuse, she constantly monitors her movements. She does not allow her to go anywhere unaccompanied. Her paranoia about her child has caused friction between the two. Now, coaxed by her husband, Sharma is being counselled by a senior psychologist.
Sonali Agarwal, attached to a non-government organisation in Calcutta, was buckling under pressure too. Every day the counsellor listened to the traumatic tales of children forced into the flesh trade. 'The gory details of the sexual tortures inflicted on them made me squirm,' she says.
She soon found that she could no longer have sex with her husband, as thoughts of sexual torture kept crowding her mind. When this led to serious marital discord, Agarwal sat up. 'I realised I need help,' she says.
With society in flux — and more and more cases of violence and sexual abuse coming out in the open — counsellors and psychologists find themselves getting bogged down by others' problems.
Mental health professionals, experts say, are especially susceptible to emotional breakdown. 'Stress and depression are common in every profession. But mental health professionals are more vulnerable since they handle people with such issues every day. Coupled with their own stress, dealing with such serious problems takes a toll on their health,' explains Calcutta-based psychiatrist Dr Rima Mukherjee.
The experts add that stress, depression and anxiety-related diseases lead to dysfunctional relationships, addiction, lifestyle diseases and, in extreme cases, suicide. 'By the virtue of our profession, we are trained to handle emotions better. But often we ourselves become victims,' rues Dr Swagata Nandi Dasgupta, a senior counsellor attached to Vasant Vihar School, Thane, Mumbai.
Counselling or psychological healing is turning into a flourishing sector in India. With the stigma attached to taking professional help for mental ailments gradually fading, there is a big demand for counsellors.
'With stress becoming a major issue with information technology professionals and others in demanding jobs, the need for counsellors is growing by leaps and bounds,' says Dr Jamuna Rajeswaran, additional professor, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore.
Many of those under pressure are people who are not trained to be counsellors. 'People with degrees from lesser known institutes or without proper knowhow of the subject are posing to be psychologists and counsellors,' Dr Rajeswaran says.
Take the case of a counsellor from Asansol. 'Without any proper training, this lady got overwhelmed by her patients' problems and had to be put under medication,' says Dr Trisith Roy, a neuro-medicine specialist in Calcutta.
Medical help for counsellors often comes too late. Deepali Saha, 35, who has a booming private practice as a psychological counsellor in the city, knows that well. Saha suffers from hypothyroidism, high prolactin levels and hypertension. She wants to conceive, but finds she can't do so.
Dr Shubhabrata Ghosh, a gynaecologist at Calcutta's Ruby Hospital, finds that many counsellors suffer from polycystic ovarian syndromes or high levels of prolactin that impedes pregnancy and leads to other problems.
Doctors explain that unchecked stress can lead to hormonal disorders, eventually affecting one's performance and personal life. 'An insulin problem might arise, leading to diabetes. Stress-related thyroid and sexual dysfunctions are common,' says Dr Abhijit Chanda, an endocrinologist attached to Calcutta's Medica Superspeciality Hospital.
The problem is compounded by the fact that few psychologists seek professional help. 'We shouldn't forget we are humans and have problems too. The attitude is: I am a psychologist, why do I need to visit another,' Dr Rajeswaran says.
But Dr Nandi Dasgupta benefited from professional help. Living in a new city after marriage, she went through depression. 'I had never been away from my mother. I was depressed and found it difficult to settle down. After sessions with my senior I felt better and started adapting to the new life.'
Some therapists feel that sharing their problems with their peers could hurt them professionally. 'Many try to analyse their own problems and take a sleeping pill or anti-depressants. But issues are not resolved and they ultimately burn out,' Dr Mukherjee adds.
It gets even more dangerous when therapists refuse to recognise they have a problem. Jayita Saha, clinical psychologist, National Medical College, Calcutta, says she once treated a trainee psychologist suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. The 23-year-old research scholar felt that her colleagues were plotting against her and were out to destroy her research papers. 'She was a sure case of paranoia. But since she knew all about disorders, she kept trying to convince me she didn't suffer from any of them.'
Psychologists also have to guard against getting overwhelmed by a patient's problems that the counsellors may also face. 'One has to learn to dissociate from the problems that people come with,' says Kumud Singh, a clinical psychologist in Calcutta.
There have been occasions when psychologists with unresolved problems have turned violent. 'A patient of mine claimed he was slapped by his former therapist. This happens when one is overworked and loses one's balance,' Singh adds.
The mounting stress can be fatal too. In 2010, a Mumbai-based counsellor committed suicide because she couldn't cope with domestic problems. 'Ironically, she had just attended an anti-suicide workshop,' says Dr Nandi Dasgupta.
Most believe that counsellors can ward off problems if they go for analysis on a regular basis. Nilanjana Banerjee, a senior psychologist attached to Calcutta's Loreto College, says it's important to consult seniors regularly. 'I still visit a senior psychoanalyst twice a month even after 12 years in this profession,' she stresses.
That professionals need regular mental screening is being gradually recognised by the medical industry too. 'We want to introduce psycho-analytical workshops for such professionals associated with us,' says Arinadam Banerjee, general manager, Columbia Asia Hospital, Salt Lake.
Exercise is also recommended. 'We gather a lot of baggage that needs periodic cleansing. I unwind by physical exercise, mostly dance,' says Tripura Kashyap, a senior counsellor associated with the New Delhi-based Creative Movement Association of India.
A hobby helps in de-stressing too and holidays are a must, Dr Mukherjee stresses. 'It's very important to have a work-life balance and see a limited number of patients in a day, since we deal with a lot of problems.'
Counsellors have to be doubly cautious about their mental health because it affects not just them but their patients too. 'If their problems escalate, the patient's problems escalate too,' Dr Rajeswaran points out.
Counsel for counsellors
• Reduce the number of patients a day
• Take regular breaks
• Go for holidays
• Eat healthy and sleep well
• Cultivate a hobby
• Exercise regularly
Professional pitfalls :
• Anxiety and depression
• Irritability
• Dysfunctional relationships
• Addiction
• Suicidal tendencies
