author - oman observer

A young woman in her mid-thirties came to my clinic for a consultation. She is a mother, a wife, and a successful manager at a private company.She described a feeling that prevents her from enjoying...

Few weeks ago I received a text message through Instagram from an anonymous person saying that I have upset his mother who came to the clinic and I said she had a mental illness ‘just like the...

According to the English dictionary, a perfectionist is a person who ‘wants everything to be perfect and demands the highest standards possible.’ While most people associate perfectionists with...

As humans we all need to feel loved and appreciated by others, like our parents, friends and partners. Such relationships may be far from perfect so it’s normal to argue from time to time but you...

Dr Paul Kalanithi was 36-years-old and about to complete his training as a neurosurgeon when he received the shock of his life as he was diagnosed with lung cancer.In his book ‘When the breath...

A friend of mine recently expressed his concern that his contract may not be renewed as his place of work started a ‘wave of Omanisation’ as he calls it.He told me that he is having sleepless...

Suppose you have tried to follow a strict diet to lose weight or go to the gym to build your body muscles. In that case, there may be times when you feel that you are losing motivation, perhaps...

What better time than June to review one’s New Year’s resolution. It’s the middle of the year and very warm outside and people are either talking about the holiday they've been to or the one...

If I ask you how many hours do you use your smartphone or iPad in a typical day you may hesitate then give me a number that is less than you actually do.If you are interested to know then your own...

An initiative in Africa helps people to get mental health advice from trained grandmothers is considered a smart way to address stigma and overcome shortage of trained counsellorsI was recently...

When teaching medical students I can’t help noticing the differences between their ways of doing things from how we used to do it back when I was a student a few years ago.I often stop myself from...

If you have been to a hospital or a clinic you would know the sequence of events. You walk into your appointment, the clerk will register you, then the nurse will take your pulse, temperature and...

Throughout history human beings had a relationship with food that goes beyond it being a source of energy but also a way of expressing our moods and social status.When we feel sad our appetite changes...

When you meet a person after a long time and you see that they may not have recognised you, you may ask if they remembered you, sometimes you would have to give them a cue or two before they say yes....

Procrastination can have a negative impact on your mental and physical health, and here are a few tips on how to beat it.A few weeks ago, I planned to go cycling as first thing in the morning, but...

“Social anxiety disorder can be seen as an extreme form of shyness that impacts social and occupational functioning.“A few weeks ago a social media post cited an article that suggested Omanis have...

March 30th marks the International Doctors Day to celebrate the contribution of doctors from all medical fields to the health and well-being of people around the world. This was originally focused on...

Few months ago I came across a book titled ‘An Unquiet Mind’ which is written by Dr Kay Redfield Jamison, Professor of Psychology at Johns Hopkins University.The book tells her struggle with...

We meet problems on a daily basis and we often get involved in solving them without noticing the mental processes we use. Some problems are easy to solve such as deciding what to have for dinner or...

A man in his mid-forties came to the clinic with his wife carrying a think file of his medical tests and reports. He said that he has seen several consultant in the private and government hospital...