Let’s talk digital well-being
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...
The grandmothers' bench
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...
Mind the generation gap
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...
The robot will see you now
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...
Let us not get carried away by celebrations
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...
Do you remember me?
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....
Stop procrastinating and start working
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...
Don’t be too shy
“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...
An international day for doctors
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...
Living with bipolar disorder
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...
How to solve a problem
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...
What is health anxiety disorder?
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...
Coffee in moderation leads to more benefits than harm
We all remember the saying “ an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Such a maxim promotes healthy eating and encourages people to add fruits to their daily intake of food . But is a cup of coffee...
The different faces of addiction
When you hear the word addiction you probably think of someone sniffing Cocaine or injecting heroine, but in fact there are different types of addictions affecting people from all around the...
Amid good and bad news, how to stay positive?
“We are surrounded by the news from the time we wake up, some of which can damage our well-being, being mindful of this can help us stay positive.”If I asked you about the first time you access...
Focus on destination, forget the pain of journey
Last week I was watching a movie about a group of people climbing Mount Everest. I was covered in my blanket in my sofa sipping a hot cup of coco and asked what motivated those people to climb through...
Importance of knowledge about mental illness
In the summer of 2018, 11 people between the ages of fifteen and eighty years from three generations were found hanging from the ceiling inside their home in the Indian city of Delhi. They were...
A mile in their shoes
Last week a young woman in her early thirties came to my clinic with her father. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that leaves the person battling...
Lonely yet not alone
BLURB: Lonely people are more likely to develop a wide range of health problems such as stress, depression which can be severe enough to lead to suicideLoneliness is a complex emotion experienced by...
Let’s talk a walk
According to a recent study by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the Sultanate of Oman, 66 per cent of the population are suffering with obesity, the majority of them are women.The study also suggest...