Yes in India , and i assume Pakistan would be simlar Javz taking any sort of treatment or even admiting to the fact that you have some psycological issue is completely taboo and frowned on!! And very sadly so , as this is very very common in our society and although we don't realise it but often your sister , your bhabhi, your aunt, or your uncle could be going through a) depression b)post partum depression c)Anxiety disorders d) post traumatic stress disorder e) Any sort of chemical imbalance etc etc etc !!!!
Around me i have come across so many people in India who went through this and got very late treatment after they had suffered a great deal.
My dear friend was in her late teans diagnosed with "bi- polar disorder". Where you go through massive mood swings !! Her parents never acknowledeged the fact that her "mood swings " were not the normal part of a personality but serious untill she started making several attempts to commit suicide. Only after she made these failed attempts did they take her for treatment. But she had been suffering from this dis-order for many years. Her behaviour was "relatively" normal so no one noticed!!
I have another very close friend who had a massive post partum (post delivery) break down. All her life she was highly insecure ,under confident, and socially afraid of people's reaction. Her behaviour was never normal but was taken as "normal" because her parents did not want people to think of her daughter as a "freak" !!!????!!! Only after the break down, the doctor said she has had this "chemical imbalance" for many years before this.
In India i have come across so many friends who went through " severe depression" for ages after they had a relationship break up, went through divorce, failed a year in school etc etc.Depression is more common than you can believe it !! The change in behavior ,the need to be by themselves for long periods, sudden self loathing etc etc are classic symptoms of depression and are not recognised by us Indians. We are told to either a) snap out of it ..........its all in your mind!!! b)Doing something to divert your mind and you will forget it! c)Do yoga and meditation to control your mind !!!!
Its very sad but your family and friends do not recognise the mental agony you are suffering!!
Very often we ourselves do not want to believe there is something wrong with us and we our told by other "you are just fine!" This is sad as most likely these things often escalate into more dangerous things in a later period, sometimes after 10 years !!
Edited by Aparna_BD - 19 years ago