Author: Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya

In my previous blog posts, I have discussed what is PTSD. The signs and symptoms, how can you help someone who is suffering from the same, and finally, the self-help options for dealing with PTSD. In this blog post, I will discuss the symptoms of complex PTSD. Complex PTSD is not as widely known as PTSD. This is why I felt that there is a need to shed some light on this mental health disorder as well. Before I get into the symptoms of complex PTSD and how it differs from normal PTSD, let me give you an overview of…

There comes a point in one’s life when one contemplates going to a psychologist or a psychiatrist. This can either be because you are dealing with grief, recovering from trauma, or trying to adjust to a new job. However, once the decision to get help is made, the next step is to look for a good mental health clinic near you. Finding a mental health clinic In this article, I will discuss how to look for the best mental health care provider near your location. You can opt for a clinic away from your location. However, going to a clinic…

Transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS is an FDA approved treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). It works by delivering electrical impulses through coils placed on the scalp. The device sends a pulse of energy into the brain via a coil placed over the left or right side of the head. This stimulates nerve cells in the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation. TMS is also used for various mental health issues treatment. This technique is being studied for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and various other mental health related conditions. TMS therapy is completely noninvasive, it is…

Many times, the past does not stay where it belongs. Many people have reported that could never get rid of their repressed childhood trauma in adulthood. Childhood is the time when a person’s personality takes shape. When there is a huge impact on our psyche during childhood like trauma, it defines how we perceive and respond to things later in life. It has been observed that if a person has experienced trauma during childhood, they are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD later in their adult life. Why understand the significance of childhood trauma? In the United…

Many times, in public places, if a person is in distress, people generally tend to stand and observe. They do not intervene and help the person. This is known as the bystander effect. In this article, I will be discussing bystander effect, and how you can work towards overcoming this. To know more about the different psychological factors that we go through in our everyday life, how to boost your mental health, how to be more productive and positive, and finally how to lead a more fulfilling life, please subscribe to guilt free mind. Your subscription will allow me to…

Our life is a long one. It is impossible to go through all the ups and downs without acquiring some emotional baggage. Emotional or mental healing is all about reaching a state of emotional stability. This article will focus on 10 different ways of healing emotionally. You may have gone through different manners of emotional distress like anxiety, sadness, addiction, unwanted compulsions, procrastination, unproductive obsession, self-sabotaging behaviors, boredom, confusion, depression et cetera. All of these distresses that you have been through play a role in shaping your mental state. If the negativity is higher, there is more agitation, sadness, and…

Life has never been easy for anyone. It seems that every time we get through a difficult situation, another difficult situation presents itself in front of us. Sometimes, we discuss our problems with our friends, family, and close relatives. They help us find solutions. At other times, we need help from a mental health practitioner. However, whom to approach? Psychologist? Or psychiatrist? In this article, I will discuss psychologists vs psychiatrists. What is the difference between the two and when should you approach whom? If you want to lead a positive and healthy life, be more satisfied with yourself, and…

In my previous blog posts, I have discussed what is a narcissistic personality disorder and the signs that a child has been raised by narcissistic parents. In this article, I’ll discuss the effects that narcissistic parenting can have on the child. Every parent influences who their child is going to grow up to be. If the parent is a narcissist or a psychopath, the child learns attributes that would be different if the child had parents who are neither. However, before I get into the effect of narcissistic parenting on children, you need to understand what a narcissist truly is…

No one can say they have not experienced grief in their entire lives. At some point or the other, there will come a time when you will encounter grief. It can either be due to the loss of a job, the death of a loved one, or the ending of a relationship. There are five stages of grieving. These are: DenialAngerBargainingDepressionAnd finally, acceptance. Grief is something that is very personal and unique to every individual. No timeline can be defined for grieving. It does not follow a specific schedule. You can either feel withdrawn, angry, or depressed. None of these…

If you are unhappy, it is not necessarily mean that you are depressed. Depression is a term that has become very loose in its use nowadays. Most often, if people are having a bad day or a bad week, they say they are feeling depressed. Some may even go ahead and say that they are suffering from depression. However, this is not one of the signs of depression. Depressive disorder is very different from just feeling sad. In this article, I will be discussing what exactly it is and the signs of depression. If you want to know more about…