Student Support Centre

What does therapy involve? What will happen during my sessions?

Talking to someone who is trained to listen, guide, and treat is known to be an effective way to address many emotional, mental, and physical challenges. It always helps to get another perspective on our thoughts from a neutral trained professional. The nature of sessions depends on the individual therapist and your requirements, and you should always talk about your comfort or discomfort openly to the therapist. If deemed necessary, the therapist might recommend relaxation sessions or group sessions. Again, the choice to be there, to seek any help offered to you, is always yours.

What sort of help will I get?

Your well-being and comfort is of prime importance to us. We could help you meet a therapist or a doctor, or put you in touch with relevant departments in KMC. Please let us know your concerns and we will do our best to address them.
You can expect the following from us:

• Complete confidentiality
• Friendly, warm, non-judgmental atmosphere, and minimal paperwork
• Sessions with trained and competent clinical psychologists
• Consultations with visiting psychiatrists, when required and with your consent, in the comfort of a private space away from the hospital
• Any guidance or referrals you need for other health services offered to students at Manipal

Most importantly, we are here to assure you that you are not alone.

What if my friend is in distress?

• Talk privately. Take your friend aside, share your concerns, and ask them directly if anything is troubling them.
• Trust your instinct. If you feel that your friend is distressed, they probably are. Reach out to them or enlist the support of others. If you feel that your friend may be at risk of harming themselves or others, ask direct questions. Mentioning the word ‘suicide’ does not plant the idea in someone else’s mind.
• Listen. Sometimes just having someone to vent out to can do wonders. Listen attentively and with sensitivity.
• Do not judge. Your friend’s problem may seem insignificant to you, but to them it’s real. Acknowledge that and do not undermine their pain.
• Seek help. Encourage your friend to seek professional help and point out that seeking help is a sign of strength and courage, rather than weakness or failure. If your friend is contemplating suicide, don’t promise to keep it a secret. Reach out to other mature adults who can help. If the danger to self is imminent, do not leave them alone; seek help immediately.
• Recognize your limits. You can offer support but you may not be able to solve your friend’s problem. Ensure that you clarify expectations and maintain clear boundaries. If you feel overwhelmed, enlist the support of others.

Won’t people look at me differently if they know I visit a therapist?

There is no denying that there is peer pressure and social judgment around any mental health difficulties, but there is also no denying that this needs to be questioned and that the situation is fast changing. It is a sign of strength, not weakness, to ask for help. Everybody has some form of anxieties and everybody struggles at some time in their life. Surely this is reason enough to treat psychotherapy on par with any other treatment we seek for our health. The stigma is more self-perceived than in our surroundings. However, acknowledging the difficulties of visiting the hospital and in an effort to be sensitive to your concerns about privacy, SSC has been set up in a separate and private building.

How do I know when I am addicted to alcohol or drugs or any other substance?

Nobody drinks, smokes, or takes recreational drugs in order to be an addict. In fact, most will insist they are in control and they can stop anytime they want. However, pleasure can easily lead to dependence, and just as easily to addiction. Once addicted, the substance is in control, and one requires professional intervention, personal motivation, and a support system to return to holistic wellness.

If you identify with any of the following statements, you should definitely seek professional advice.

• I frequently feel that I absolutely have to take the substance.
• I cannot control my compulsion to take the substance, nor how much of it I take.
• I cannot function properly when I’m abstinent.
• I feel that I need more and more each time to get sufficiently high or be completely satisfied.
• I seem to be neglecting or losing interest in all other activities.
• Sometimes I need a drink as soon as I wake up to feel alright.
• Other people have told me that I have a substance abuse problem.
• I understand that my substance use is harming me and/or others.
• I want to decrease my substance intake but I’m unable to.
• I feel guilty about my substance use.