Taboos AND STIGMA

HOW TABOOS SHAPE OUR SILENCE

- - Sandhya Krishnan is a Psychologist, Child and Adolescent Counsellor.

Throughout my career I have met different types of people, and one common thing I have heard multiple times is that “people will brand me mad if they know I am going to a psychologist”. I have had instances where a woman who is taking online sessions with me has sent me my fees in tiffin box through her driver and told me if my in laws know I am seeking a psychologist’s help they will say I am a mad woman and use that as a basis to file divorce.

At this day and age it’s really painful to see many people not seeking help due to the naming and shaming that happens. For some it’s the society and for some it’s they themselves who shy away from seeking help.

Imagine spraining your ankle and not going to a doctor? Or say, you are persistently coughing and refusing to get it checked? We may never do that, because physical pain is easily explainable and with persistent coughing people around us will push us to visit a physician, but at the same time when it comes to someone looking upset and wanting to seek professional help, what is told to them is, eat well and sleep off, you will be fine.

So why is mental well-being treated any differently?