Psychologists say mental wellness is achievable

Two practitioners said the global worrisome rise of mental health disorders and challenges are solvable.

From the files of Aster Clinic (Discovery Gardens & Bur Dubai) clinical psychologist Asra Sawar is a success story, to illustrate.

From recent remote interviews with Sawar and Al Zahra Hospital (Dubai) clinical health psychologist Dr. Mona Youssri on whether ego, pride and narcissism - the worst of it is hubris - are mental illnesses, both underscored of ways how to embed “healthy self-confidence.”

They were asked because the 1948-established World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), pushed for October as the “World Mental Health Month” in 1992.

Moreover, the existence of psychological problems have become exceedingly obvious since the lackluster 2020, the gruesome aftermath of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), with the fashionable social media as the monstrous contributor.

WFMH which works closely with the World Health Organisation is composed of volunteers, former patients and professional societies from across the globe.

Sharing the success story Sawar has categorised as that which “stands out,” she commented that mental illnesses “definitely existed before COVID-19. But I have seen a noticeable increase in the past five years. The pandemic amplified feelings of uncertainty and isolation. People naturally turned more toward social media for connection and validation.

“For executives, remote work blurred the line between personal and professional life, heightening burn-out and making performance-related self-worth issues more apparent. So while these patterns are not new, they have certainly become more visible. People are now more open to seeking help, particularly men.”

The success story for one, is about a finance male executive who had constantly grumbled about emptiness since “nothing ever feels enough” albeit reaped successes at age 38. With the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy (ST), explored was how “his self-worth was tied to almost entirely to achievement and external validation.”

CBT is the “structured, practical approach focused on how our thoughts, emotions and behaviours influence each other teaches tools to healthier, more balanced ways.”

ST is the “blend of cognitive, emotional and experiential techniques,” against deep-seated traumas which may have been concealed since childhood.

Meanwhile, author of “Ask Pastor John,” Tony Reinke noted that being an influencer is being a Christian. Until the pleasure and desire to influence outranks “the pleasure sought in being of service.”

On the success story, Sawar continued: “Over time, he learnt to set realistic limits, prioritise relationships, and find fulfillment outside of work performance. He is still in the same organisation today but with a different perspective. He is more balanced, grounded, and emotionally present both at work and at home.”

On the other hand, Sawar and Youssri classified ego, pride, narcissism and hubris as mental wellness deterrents.

Youssri explained: “Ego is how we view ourselves. Pride is feeling good about achievements. Healthy pride motivates. Hubristic pride and arrogance create problems. Narcissism, the extreme case of which is Narcissistic Personality Disorder, is excessive self-focus and need for admiration.”

“It is all about balance. We need an amount of pride and self-confidence to go forward. So healthy ego is even protective for mental health. But extreme narcissism or hubris, can become risk factors for mental health when they affect relationships and cause stress,” she also said. The SOS signs are bloated confidence combined with name-calling, work problems and constant domestic conflicts, the fear of rejection and criticism, and legal issues.

“Think of healthy ego as a stable bridge that safely carries you across life. Narcissism or hubris is like a rocking bridge exciting at first but risky and unstable,” Youssri continued.

Sawar’s youngest student-patient is 13 years old. All her patients in this group yielded for assistance to cut out their miseries concerning “comparisons, self-doubt, anxiety, not fitting in, and body image pressure to maintain an idealised online persona.” Girls outnumbered the boys at 60:40.

Important is the application of the “authentic self” and “genuine self-worth” whereby the self is far removed from the normalised desire for fame and glory leading to “humility, empathy and true confidence.”

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter