Page 49 - NAMAH-Apr-2021

Namah Notes on counselling

heads. The therapist should tell the subject felt anxiety or had the panic attacks, he felt
to first concentrate on the area where the a great lightness in his chest which actually
heaviness is spontaneously felt and then upset him for he felt that the feeling of lightness
extend the feeling of heaviness to gradually at that point was preventing the feeling of
spread over the rest of the body. Only when stability, consolidation and concreteness
the heaviness can be equally felt all over needed to enhance his confidence and instil a
the body can one say that an ideal state of sense of security. During the session, he could
relaxation has been obtained. Of course to feel the heaviness in his legs (as he had played
consolidate the gain one must then practise football extensively in his pre-operative days)
exercises for widening the consciousness. but could not feel it in his chest; he also could
not feel that his breathing was getting heavy
If done properly but the inability to feel if it was suggested to feel so.
the heaviness during relaxation is still there, It was explained to him that he had to practise
it points to the part of the body or the relaxation diligently till he could feel the
organ where therapeutic activity has to be heaviness in his chest and his breathing was
specially focused. These two cases illustrate heavy, for only then would he be able to ward
this phenomenon in a logical way: off these panic-attacks. But it was also decided
to address his emotional issues through a
I.S is a 20-year-old young man who had a counselling programme and work on his
major cardiac surgery at the age of 13 years. heart cakra so that his emotional being could
Though his cardiac problem got corrected, free itself from the blockages of insecurity.
his anxiety and panic- attacks became chronic
and actually worsened over time. He could A distinguished eye-surgeon had a sudden
not afford to travel outside his home for attack of anxiety neurosis in the middle of
anticipatory fear about impending panic his brilliant professional career after one of
attacks. As a result, he got disconnected from his patients underwent complications during
friends and also his football game which he surgery but which were actually resolved
loved. He excelled in drawing figures but he without much post-operative problems. Yet
mostly liked to draw sketches of muscular it is the nature of anxiety that at times when
icons like Spiderman or ferocious figures like it starts from real issues, it continues to be
Dracula, which was obviously compensating active even if the precipitating factors have
his masculinity that was suffering a recoil been resolved. Of course this depends on
due to inability to enjoy life (for he regretted background factors. In this case the surgeon
being unable to find a fiancée!). Initially his had strong perfectionist traits and was a
panic attacks would subside on sublingual workaholic, had never taken time off his
doses of Clonazepam but that had stopped work to pursue worthwhile leisure that
benefiting him after a while. brings completeness in life and never had
time for any introspection needed for his
He was taught to relax and was being personal growth. He was obsessed with his
instructed to methodically feel the heaviness surgical skills, which had been excellently
all over the body when he suddenly exclaimed developed. No wonder the pent-up stress
in the midst of one session that whenever he found a point of release over a trivial issue.

49