By Kimberly Wallace, HER Magazine
her debut book.
Photo:Troy Romany
A counsellor in a book is a fitting way to describe Usha Ramlakhan’s literary debut A Guided Journal for Managing Anxiety. At a time when stress, anxiety and depression are at an all time high, Ramlakhan’s book helps its readers understand their emotions, symptoms and triggers and provides them with tips to manage and overcome anxiety. The book also includes a journal where persons can jot down and reflect on their personal experiences while tracking their progress.
A Guided Journal for Managing Anxiety may have only recently hit the bookshelves but the idea to create the book started germinating in Ramlakhan’s mind years ago.
During the pandemic the psychologist and founder of Dare 2 Live Coaching, spent a lot of time online with people who were struggling with stress and anxiety. While the uptick in persons trying to access therapy was encouraging because it showed a willingness on their part to get help, Ramlakhan observed that among those struggling with anxiety were persons who could not afford to see a therapist and who were apprehensive about doing so because of the stigma attached to mental health.
“So I decided to put the counsel in a book” she said.
Targeted for adults, A Guided Journal for Managing Anxiety follows a structured approach. The questions Ramlakhan would usually ask her clients in closed-door sessions are included in the book, so are activities and tips one can use to manage one’s anxiety. There is also a section designated for journaling, where one can write down thoughts as a way of processing emotions.
“This book is a guide and does not negate the importance of counselling,”Ramlakhan is quick to point out. “It is a proactive approach which can help reduce levels of anxiety and feelings of helplessness. The tips that are included will not work for everyone so it’s essential for the reader to find what works best for them. If your situation requires indepth help, it is recommended that you seek help from a professional.”
If you do see the need to seek professional therapy, keep in mind that finding a therapist that works best for you is crucial, said Ramlakhan. In order for someone to open up about their private life, they must feel safe and comfortable with a therapist that they can trust.
“This goes both ways. Not all therapists are qualified to handle all situations; a therapist may decide that they and the client are not a good fit; this is why there is a referral system in place,” she added.
As a qualified school psychologist who worked in the primary and secondary school system for years, Ramlakhan can say without a shred of doubt that our nation’s children are struggling. Anxiety as a result of exams, peer pressure, social challenges and family dynamics are reflected in poor grades, burnout, lack of concentration, a lack of healthy friendships and relationships and suicidal ideation. Some even resort to drug and alcohol abuse.
“Children are struggling but not everyone sees it that way, some categorise it as “misbehaviour,” noted Ramlakhan.
She insists that mental health education which helps children cope with challenges at home and at school should be part of the school curriculum from as early as primary school level.
“This would be a foundation that would help the child become more resilient in the face of pressures and challenges,” she said.
Ramlakhan likes to say that psychology found her. Growing up she had a natural inclination towards helping others, she was also curious about human behaviour and what makes us “tick”. But like most of her peers at the time, Ramlakhan was not sure what career path she was meant to follow. Psychology aligned so neatly with her personality and values that she quickly developed a passion for it. Apart from primary and secondary schools, she also worked as a psychologist at the University of the Southern Caribbean. She started her own private practice in 2018 and also lectures in counselling and psychology.
Ramlakhan will soon start working on another book targeting youths; in the meantime shecontinues to promote the importance of prioritising mental health.
“If we think burnout, lack of concentration, suicidal ideation, self harm and harmful habits like drug and alcohol abuse among our youths are bad now, it will only get worse if we choose to allow the stigma around stress, anxiety and depression to stop us from investing in mental health,”said Ramlakhan. “We need to make mental health a priority individually, in the education system and corporate world.
“To have a productive society, we need to have healthy minds.”
