Yes !...... You also can DO this

Read More

Drone Causing Psychological Problem in PAKISTAN

 Drone Attack Vs Psychological Cause in PAKISTAN

 

By: Shoaib Mirza

Much of the debate on US drone strikes inside Pakistan revolves around the issue of its legality and violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, however little deliberation is made with respect to psychological effects of this lethal weapon on innocent population. Talking over this aspect, Dr. Mukhtar-ul-Haq, head of Psychiatry Department at Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital, said that the rate of depression is really high in Waziristan while its residents complain of living in constant fear of drones that emit a terrifying buzzing sound over their heads. 

More recently, an AFP correspondent reported that Mohammed Khan, a resident of North Waziristan, lost his eye in a drone attack, “but the mental scarring has been even more traumatic”. He strongly emphasised that no one in the victim’s family was associated with militancy yet Mohammed Khan was forced to bear the consequences.

An increasing number of people living in the tribal areas are suffering from mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, phobia and panic attacks in the aftermath of drone attacks. Mental health professionals fear that people distressed by drone terror may develop long-term ramifications of psychological trauma that could cause malfunction in their lives. The fear induced by the knowledge that a drone attack could be looming in the sky creates an atmosphere of entrapment among inhabitants of remote areas. Many of these victims develop psychiatric figures such as post-traumatic stress disorder, emotional breakdowns, anticipatory anxiety, insomnia, high levels of stress and a profound sense of powerlessness, which are all manifestations of the poor quality of life.

Drone terror has also discouraged tribesmen from participating in daily activities like attending schools and engaging in commerce, further calling into question the long-term consequences of drone strikes on the stability of the region. Weddings, funerals and community meetings have all fallen prey to the drone menace while claiming lives of many innocent victims. Locals are often afraid to offer aid to victims in the aftermath of a strike because the drones continue to hover overhead. American drones have also targeted state sanctioned anti-Taliban Jirgas, like the one set up to solve a local dispute in Datta Khel in March 2011 where 53 people, including some tribal elders, were killed.

Drone attacks have not only inflicted psychological disorders to Pakistanis in the tribal region but these strikes are also having a devastating effect on victims in other regions across Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia. Dr Peter Schaapveld, a clinical and forensic psychologist, conducted a study on the impact of drone strikes in Yemen and said the most disturbing impact of these drones was on children. His findings revealed that out of the 34 people he examined in clinics in the Aden region, 28 were suffering from full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder.

This immense psychological trauma may place America’s national security at further risk as resentment of drones victims and their families has increased in recent years. A terrorism expert views: “CIA is surely seeking to kill terrorists yet these drones are launched with full knowledge that civilians are likely to be killed along with the target.” Such disenchantment has attracted the interest of terror groups who recruit those seeking to fight back against the injustice they have suffered at the hands of the West.

Reportedly, al-Qaeda and TTP recruitment campaign witnessed a great upsurge as victims of drone attacks joined terrorists to avenge the Americans. The resultant grievances of local tribesmen have led majority of them to join hands with the terrorists, while others in anger and desperation developed negative sentiments towards the US and Pakistani law-enforcement agencies.

US officials say that the covert drone war in Pakistan involves surgical, pin-pointed strikes against known killers that cause few civilian casualties. However, the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism indicated that US drone strikes killed up to 3,581 people in Pakistan, including as many as 884 civilians and 197 children since 2004. Despite widespread condemnation, the US government remains bent upon its brutal drone strategy. Various former officials of Obama administration criticised the drone attacks, calling it a “violation of international human rights” which “abets our enemies and alienates our friends”.

A senior Pakistan foreign ministry official while talking to media said that the country was making all efforts to develop consensus at UN against the unilateral drone use for counter-terrorism operations in any country while expecting that the final UN report (use of drones on civilians) to be tabled before the General Assembly later this year would help to develop a consensus against the use of drones.

Read More

THE ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP SCALE

THE ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP SCALE

The following statements concern opinions and feelings that you may hold toward another person. With respect to the member of the opposite sex with whom you are most involved at the present time (designated as X), indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement by writing in the number that best expresses your opinion or feeling according to the key below:

1 = Strongly disagree

2 = Moderately disagree

3 = Slightly disagree

4 = Slightly agree

5 = Moderately agree

6 = Strongly agree

1. X’s presence makes any activity more enjoyable.

2. X is close to my ideal as a person.

3. I am very lucky to be involved in a relationship with X.

4. I find myself wanting X when we’re not together.

5. My relationship with X has given my life more direction and purpose.

6. I spend more time thinking about my career than I do about X.

7. I’d be extremely depressed for a long time if my relationship with X were to end.

8. If I couldn’t have X, I’d easily find someone to replace X.

9. My relationship with X has made my life more worthwhile.

10. I don’t really need X.

11. I want X.

12. I am very dependent upon X.

13. I feel very proud to know X.

14. I want X to confide mostly in me.

15. I spend a great deal of time thinking about X.

16. I want X to tell me “I love you.”

17. I feel very secure in my relationship with X.

18. X is a rather mysterious person.

19. I often wonder how much X really cares for me.

20. Sometimes, I wish I didn’t care so much for X.

21. I worry that X doesn’t care as much for me as I do for X.

22. I have great difficulty trying to figure out X.

23. I have imagined conversations I would have with X.

24. I try to plan out what I want to say before talking to X.

25. X pays enough attention to me.

26. I feel uneasy if X is making friends with someone of the opposite sex.

27. I need X more than X needs me.

28. X has been the cause of some of my worst depressions.

29. My relationship with X is stable and quietly satisfying.

30. There is little conflict between X and myself.

31. I worry about losing X’s affection.

Read More

Psychological Problem in Pakistan

 Psychological Problem in Pakistan

 By: Shoaib Mirza
www.facebook.com/mypsychologymagazine

Psychological problems include illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders. With advancement in all fields, the field of psychology has also come a long way. With the increase in the daily stressors, the mental health is affected. There is an increase in the cases of psychological distress.

‘Distress’ refers to a patient’s state of discomfort, which is felt due to some illness. It might be acute or chronic. It is the discomfort, the patient feels during and after treatment (Ridner, 2004). Psychological distress includes sadness, frustration, anxiety, and a number of other negative mood states.
Negative mood state may be of multiple ways and the levels of severity for a particular problem vary from person to person. It may be transient or persistent. It is a normal reaction towards any trauma/adversity or towards any psychiatric problem.

Various stressors and medical or psychological illnesses are prominent factors for causing distress. When severe psychological distress becomes problematic, affecting the daily functioning (e.g. school, work, self- help etc.) of the individual. In less severe cases, the individual can cope well with the stress by taking proper rest, taking a break and indulging in constructive regular physical exercises.

Psychological distress is a serious problem for both the individual and the society. According to the viewpoint of scholars, for the creation of an ideal society, the individuals of the society must be free of anxiety, depression, irritability, and fears. The psychological distress may be healthy when it is not affecting the person’s life and when it is motivating for the person to take challenges. It becomes problematic for both the individual and the society when it prevails for a long period (Eid&Diener, 2004).

However, with the increase in the problems faced by people, yet many people of Pakistan are unaware of it and consider being mentally ill as a great stigma. When given the suggestion that the person needs psychological help, she/he denies any kind of problem. On the contrary, he considers the helping person as insane.

Moreover, there have been such cases when someone seeks help from a psychologist she/he is looked down upon. The taboo of being mentally unhealthy remains with him throughout his life. That is why such acts are largely discouraged in Pakistan. People think that clinical psychologists are mental people and make fun of them..

Overall, we can conclude that clinical psychologists are just people trying to help the others facing problems in everyday life due to any kind of stress that they are unable to cope with. In addition, people should be aware of and be able to accept the existence of psychological problems.

It is not a crime to take help from another person. People should be able to ask for help when they need it. From the Islamic point of view, it is a moral obligation to help oneself and to live a better and satisfied life.

Read More

Personal Counseling from Prophet Muhammad

Personal Counseling from Prophet Muhammad

One day a stranger came nearby Prophet Muhammad(sav) and asked him “I have some questions for you regarding this world and life after”. He replied : “Ask whatever you want”

After that, the following dialogue took place between the stranger and Rasulullah(sav)

Man: I want to be the richest among the men

Rasulullah(sav) : Only if you can be content with what you have

I want to be the most beneficial among men

The most beneficial among men is whom is most beneficial to human beings, so you be beneficial to people

I want to be the most equitable among men

You can be the most equitable among men if you want for others what you want for yourself

I want to be the closest to Allah among men and be one of is royal, favorable slaves

If you remember him frequently you will be one of his favorable slaves

I want to be among the muhseen, the ones who do good deeds.

Worship him knowing that He sees you, He sees you even if you don’t see Him

I want to bring my faith into maturity

If you have good ethical manners, your faith will bring into maturity

I want to be bathed in light when I’m resurrected on the judgement day

Don’t oppress any one, you will be bathed in light when you are resurrected

I want to be the most compassionate among men

First show compassion for yourself and than for others, so that Allah(j.j) will show mercy for you

I want my sins to diminish

If you pray and beseech to Allah(j.j) for you sins, He will diminish your sins

I want to be the most generous among men

If you don’t complain about people to Allah(j.j), you will be the most generous among men

I want my livelihood to be abundant

If you keep on being clean, you’ll have abundant livelihood

I want to be loved by Allah(j.j) and his Rasulullah(sav)

Then, love what Allah(j.j) and his Rasulullah(sav) loves and don’t love what they don’t love

I want protection from Allah’s(j.j) wrath

Then, show no anger to any one, you’ll be safe from his wrath

I want my prayers be answered

Then, stay away from harams.

I don’t want Allah(j.j) to make be embarrassed among men

Then, protect your honor and dignity so you won’t be embarrassed among men

I want Allah(j.j) to hide my faults and defects

Hide your brothers’ faults and defects so Allah(j.j) will hide yours too

What will wash away my sins?

Your tears, your respectful compliance to Allah(j.j) and illness

Which deed has more virtue for Allah(j.j)?

Good ethics, humility, patience over calamities and accepting fate

What is the biggest sin for Allah(j.j)?

Bad ethics and showing parsimony and being reluctant for his commands

What soothes Allah’s(j.j) wrath, who is the most compassionate?

Giving away charity that is hidden from public and visiting relatives

Read More

Get Your Ex Back

By: Shoaib Mirza http://www.facebook.com/shoaib.mirza2

Let's face it... relationships are a mystery. You are certain that all things are working well. You are happy and content. Then without any hint, your partner drops the bomb. She is leaving you!
Why? You are clueless. What went wrong in the relationship? How can you save it? How can you get your ex back?
Of course, it is always best to prevent any relationship mishap. As medical professionals love to say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". But it is useless crying over spilled milk. What's done is done. What we need to do now is to find a way to get your ex back.
Getting your ex back requires a series of actions.
First, calm down. You were caught off-guard. You did not have any inkling that something is wrong with your relationship - that your girlfriend is no longer happy and is planning to dump you. You are in a state of shock and filled with mixed emotions. Calm down.
Second, think. What could have caused the break-up? Did your girlfriend find someone else? If yes, what attracted her to somebody else? Is your girlfriend unhappy with your sex life? Have you done something wrong? Were you misunderstood? Are you not communicating well? Did you forget any anniversaries? Is it money issue? Think and go back to the past especially moments when you had a fight.
Third, ask your ex. It is best if you can get your ex to talk and be honest with you. Make sure that you are able to handle the situation in a mature way. Tell her that you want to understand your mistakes and her being open to your failed relationship will help you process and move on. This mature talk is good for both you and your ex.
Fourth, process your thoughts and your conversation with your ex; be truthful and unbiased. This may be difficult for you but you need to face the truth to help you devise a solution to either get your ex back or move on.
Fifth, decide to proceed to get your ex back or move on. After a thorough investigation of past events in your relationship, decide if it is worthwhile to get your ex back or to move on. Do you still want her back? Are you willing to make some sacrifices? Are you willing to wait and be patient?
Sixth, take action. There are several proven ways to get your ex back and you are the best person to know what will work. Each and every break-up is unique; thus, requiring a unique solution.

Read More