After a few visits to Dr Qistina’s clinic, Hannah was progressing well.
Dr Qistina decided to continue Hannah’s current medications with the same dosage as before, and to see her again in two months’ time.
“Thank you so much for your time and your treatment. I’m coping better now. Unlike before, I’m now able to brush off my negative thoughts. I can concentrate on my studies, too,” Hannah said.
Hearing this feedback from her patients made Dr Qistina feel like it was a small win; not only for Hannah, but for herself, as well. In dealing with mental illness, working as a team is an essential element towards a good outcome.
Dr Qistina was about to write Hannah’s current progress in her personal folder after she left to get medications at the pharmacy when a man, in his 50s, entered the consultation room and sat in the empty seat in front of her. Dr Qistina guessed that this was Hannah’s father.
And she was right.
“Did you see my daughter just now?” he asked, in a tone that gave Dr Qistina a not-so-nice first impression of the father.
“Yes, sir. I was the attending doctor for your daughter,” Dr Qistina replied.
“I don’t understand. Why does she need to come here? Specifically, why does she require psychiatric treatment?” the father asked, sounding rather annoyed.
Dr Qistina inhaled deeply before answering his question; she had a feeling this conversation was not heading anywhere easy.
“We’re treating your daughter’s trauma with regard to her challenging experience in the past, sir. She is progressing well with our medications and clinic appointments.
“Since this is only her third visit, we will continue to monitor her progress for a few more months before tapering off her medications and rescheduling her appointments.”
Dr Qistina continued her explanation even though she could tell from his expression that this was not something he could accept.
“I can tell you that she is normal at home. We don’t have family fights. I’ve provided everything for her; a comfortable home, a good education, and even more than enough pocket money so she can spend time with her friends, go shopping, or enjoy expensive meals.
“So, what makes her unhappy? What makes her depressed? I can’t accept this!”
Dr Qistina and Hannah are fictitious names, but it’s highly likely that the questions Hannah’s father asked might be the same as those asked by others.
While most people are well-versed in other medical problems like diabetes, hypertension, or heart problems, not many can identify signs to indicate psychiatric diagnoses, such as depression, panic disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
There’s a theory known as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – a theory of human motivation that was first introduced by American psychologist, Abraham Maslow, in 1943.
This theory contains five needs and is similar to a pyramid structure.
At the base of the pyramid is physiological needs (food, home, clothing), followed by safety needs (health and financial security), love and belonging needs (relationship with friends and families), esteem needs (personal growth and achievement), and at the very top, is self-actualisation needs (fulfilment of self-potential).
One important point for us to remember about this theory is that we cannot fulfil the self-actualisation needs unless the other four basic needs are met.
While some people manage to reach to the top of their personal hierarchy of needs, others might struggle with safety needs, or love and belonging needs.
Coming from different generations might shape us to see life’s priorities differently. What Generation Z or The Millennials decide to focus on in their lives might be different than what Baby Boomers have in mind.
Perhaps in the past, our parents needed to give their all to provide adequate food and safe shelter for their family members, while the current generation have all these at their disposal without having to struggle, allowing them to shift their focus on realising their self-potential, instead.
Providing a comfortable home, a good education, and pocket money for the children is important as they become foundational needs.
But what about their emotional needs? Is there a reason to brush it off when they come to us to share their secrets or issues affecting them? What makes us step back from saying we love them when we really do?
Validate emotions. Show your affection. Spend time listening to those in need, judgment-free. You will later realise how life-changing it can be.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.