Twenty-year-old Nandini was taken by her father Harshadbhai to see a young psychiatrist from Ahmedabad. He introduced, 'We come from Rajkot. There are good doctors in our Rajkot too, but if I take my daughter to them for treatment, the word will spread. Nandini is still unmarried, if it is taken care of, she will not get a good groom.' The doctor nodded indicating that he understood the gravity of the situation. The reason for his silence was that Harshadbhai should not waste much time in formalities, but would soon come to the point. Harshadbhai came to the point, 'So my daughter is fine. You can see that she looks beautiful in face, she is also skilled in housework, she is good in everything. Well, there is only one problem, she is lost in thoughts all day long. He thinks a lot about small things. Those thoughts are more negative. Also he is always sad. You get him out of this situation. We have come to you with great expectations.' Thus, the doctor understood from this description that Nandini was suffering from depression. After a conversation with him and some inquiries, his diagnosis was confirmed. Before the doctor could suggest anything further, Harshad Bhai said, 'Sir, let me make one thing clear, I do not want to give any medicine to my daughter. I have heard that you make the patient better only by counselling.' The doctor said, 'Yes, some patients get better with just counselling, and those who need it also have to be given medicines.' 'No, sir, don't even talk about medicine.' Harshadbhai was firm in his words. 'Okay.' The doctor bowed and said, 'There are three female psychologists in my clinic. I send Nandini to one of them. It will take about two hours. You send Nandini to the next room and you sit in the waiting room.' Nandini completes the counseling session, pays the fee and leaves with her father. The doctor, immersed in his busy schedule, forgot about Nandini after a few days. After completing five sessions, father-daughter met the doctor one day. Harshadbhai's voice was worried, 'Sir, there is no improvement in Nandini's condition. Still say that day…' 'Brother, I told you on the very first day that counseling alone will not solve your daughter's problem, she will need medicines.' The doctor reminded. Harshadbhai said with a broken heart, 'Even so, sir. You prescribe medicines.' The doctor writes a prescription, with instructions, 'Take these pills for a month and then come to see me.' A month has passed. Harshadbhai brought his daughter. There was deep disappointment in his voice, 'Sir, my daughter's condition has not improved even one percent.' 'That will not happen. My diagnosis is correct. I have also given medicines well. Why not improve? You show me the medicine bill or the empty pill strip.' The doctor was very confident in his diagnosis and treatment. Harshadbhai now had to tell the truth, 'Sir, Nandini has not swallowed a single tablet.' The doctor was shocked, 'Hey! Why did he do this?' Then he turned the question in Nandini's direction, 'Why don't you take medicine? Don't you wish to be healed?' Nandini replied, 'I want to be cured sir, but without taking medicine. I am afraid that if I start taking the medicine I will get used to it. Then I have to continue it for the rest of my life. So I didn't take a single pill.' The doctor lost to this patient's stubbornness, he said, 'Harshadbhai, if you don't want to take medicine, take Nandini somewhere else. I am not a water conjurer or a tree blower, I am a man of medical science. I will treat according to my scriptures.' Harshadbhai left with his daughter. 'This man will have his turn to repent,' whispered the doctor. God knows when and how it will come!' It didn't take much time. After six months, the father and daughter came again. This time Harshadbhai also looked sad and depressed just like Nandini. The doctor asked, 'What happened, Harshadbhai? Why do you feel worried? How is Nandini? Get medicine from another doctor or not?' Harshadbhai started crying, 'Hey, sir! This would not have happened if we had listened to you. After leaving you we did not go to any other doctor. Coincidentally, in those days, requests for Nandini from good houses started pouring in. We selected the best idol and engaged Nandini. The house was also good. Got married after a month. We breathed a sigh of relief as Nandini went to her in-laws. Harshadbhai kept talking and the doctor kept listening. There was a huge difference between Nandini marrying her in-laws and other normal girls marrying her in-laws. When healthy girls go to their in-laws, their hearts are full of joy, dreams of a new life are overflowing. But Nandini was a mentally ill girl suffering from negative thoughts and ideas. His mind was constantly thinking negative thoughts. How will husband treat me? Will mother-in-law make me do a lot of work? Will father-in-law be strict? Nanand will be a snitch? Due to such thoughts, Nandini fell into depression. Her husband did not know that Nandini was suffering from depression for a long time, if he had known, he might have got proper and proper treatment. The married life began to deteriorate within two months. When the third month was not over, Nandini's husband got tired of her antics. Mother-in-law also lost courage. One day Vewai called Harshadbhai and said, 'We don't have any other problem but I don't think your daughter can walk in this house.' Nandini also said, 'Dad, take me back home. I don't want to stay here.' The father came to his house with his sick daughter. Harshadbhai comes to see the doctor these days but his talk is the same: 'Sir, please cure Nandini. I want to send him back to his father-in-law.' 'Where do I refuse? The doctor explains: 'I am ready to prescribe the medicine, is Nandini ready to take it?' 'Don't even talk about medicine, sir. Once you start taking medicine, you get used to it for life.' Harshadbhai's cassette starts playing. The belief that 'drugs become addictive' is dangerous. There are many diseases or body conditions that require lifelong medication. Like high b. P., diabetes, deficiency of certain elements, some diseases of blood-brain-bones. Doctors give advice and patients also follow that advice. Then why the reluctance or refusal to take medication for mental illness? This question is worth thinking about and solving by understanding it. – Title line : Kirit Dudhat
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
