After working as a psychotherapist and helping patients and their families for more than thirty years, I have come to the realization that there are many people all around us who are suffering silently because of their emotional struggles and social challenges. Sadly, only a few get the help they need.
Over the years, I have received so many unexpected emails through my website www.drsohail.com , looking for answers and insights into their personal, marital, social and family problems. Some people were pleasantly surprised, others shocked, that I responded to their emails and shared my professional opinion. Since I believe in mental health education, I took advantage of such an opportunity to guide people towards creating a happy, healthy and peaceful lifestyle which we call Green Zone Living (www.greenzoneliving.ca).
When I received these emails, I thought there must be many more, who are concerned about their own mental health or the happiness of their dear ones, but do not have an opportunity to consult a mental health professional, because they are too shy to get help, or such services are either unaffordable for them or unavailable in their area. So I thought that since I live in the world of social media, why don’t I start a blog. When I shared my thoughts with my colleagues, Bette Davis and Helene Henderson, they were thrilled with the idea and wanted to be part of it.
I hope you feel comfortable sharing your concerns and questions about your emotional and relationship issues. I will try to answer your questions to the best of my ability.
To respect people’s privacy and confidentiality we will use pseudonyms. Hopefully your courage to ask questions will inspire others and we can have an honest and open dialogue about mental health, a topic that is still surrounded by stigma and mystery in many parts of the world. It has been our hope that such a dialogue will help people to decrease their suffering and increase their emotional and relationship wellness. We all need mental health education to create healthy families and communities and improve the quality of our lives. The more we become self aware, the more we recognize our special gifts and become better human beings. By sharing our special gifts with others, we can serve our communities and join others in creating a peaceful world together. This blog is our humble steps towards achieving that goal.
Now, I am delighted to introduce you the Green Zone Blogging Team.
Peacefully,
Dr. K. Sohail
MBBS FRCP (Canada)
I am thrilled and impressed with your sensitive and positive message. Your concern for helping those struggling with a sense of hopelessness is most touching. This blog enables the creative spirit, in all it’s suffering to reach out in a “safe mode” to a professional as well as others who are feeling the same pain. This blog can bring comfort to many and let the world know we are not alone in many of these struggles.
Great job and great content. You definitely have a believer in me.
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I have joined your feed aand look forward to seeking more of your
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social networks!
I really apprreciate that you not only liked the Blog but also shared with your friends. Stay tuned for more. Peacefully, Dr Sohail
This is the right site for anyone who hopes to understand this topic.
You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that
I actually would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a brand
new spin on a topic which has been discussed for decades.Wonderful stuff, just great!
Hello There. Ifound your blog using msn. This is
a really well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return tto read more of
your usefuil information. Thanks for the post.
I will definitely return.
Dear Fat Loss, How did you come up with that name…smiles. I am glad you are going to come back . Happy New Year. Peacefully, Dr Sohail
Hello there! This is my first comment here so
I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading your articles.
Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same
subjects? Appreciate it!
Dear Domenic, Thank you for your encouraging comments. We are new in the world of Blogs and also looking for like minded Blogs that we can connect. If you discover any let us know. Peacefully, Dr Sohail
Iwas more than happy to uncover this website. I want to to thank
you for your time due to this wonderful read!!
I definitely really liked every little bit of
it and I have you book-marked to check oout new things on your website.
Dear Edwardo, Thank you for your generosity of spirit. We feel honored to have readers like you. Hope you share your thoughts in the future…Peacefully, Dr Sohail
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed
browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing
to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Dear E Commerce Site, Thank you for your faith in us. I hope we do not disappoint you in the future. Stay in touch…Peacefully, Dr Sohail
Asking questions are truly fastidious thing if you are not understanding something fully, but this piece oof writing offers good understanding yet.
Dear Rene, I am glad the message given is the same as the message received. That is the foundation of good communication. Stay in touch. Peacefully, Dr Sohail
Remarkable! Its in fact an awesome article, I have got much clear idea.
Dear New York Seo, Thanks for your appreciation. We like to write in way that even those who are not mental health professionals can understand and benefit from it. Stay in touch. Peacefully, Dr Sohail
I must thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site.
I really hope to see the same high-grade blog posts from you
in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated
me to get my very own site now 😉
Dear Isabella, It is so wonderful to see how creative people inspire each other. Thanks for your faith in us. Keep in touch. Peacefully, Dr Sohail
Dear Dr. Sohail,
Congratuations! This is a brilliant idea and a great way to make invisible feelings visible. I love to read your books and i ll keep on fallowing your works. Thank you for your support to all of us! Good luck & Best wishes.
EcKa
Dear Ecka, So wonderful to get your message. It is wise people like you that are torch bearers of peace and wisdom. Stay in touch Dr Sohail
I love this concept of Green Zone Living. I’ve read your books and become aware of when I’m entering my red zone. It’s the awareness that is critical. It’s unfortunate that more psychiatrists don’t take the approach with total healing through psychotheraphy that you take. Many are forced to seek help through expensive psychologists or psychiatrists who prescribe drugs to try to control the symptoms of depression and anxiety and not the root cause. They do this because it’s easy. I commend you on the work you’re doing and the people who’s lives you’ve touched. I will continue to support this blog
Linda Khanna
Dear Linda, Thank you for your ongoing support. You are a happy Green Zone person who inspires others to be in their Green Zone. I am glad that you will follow the Blog. Peacefully, Dr. Sohail
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I seriously enjoyed reading it,
you’re a great author.I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will often come back down the road.
I want to encourage yourself to continue your great posts, have
a nice weekend!
Dear Clement, Thank you for your support and inspiration. Dr Sohail
Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins
to help with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rahk forr some targeted keywords but I’m
not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share.
Cheers!
Sorry, I wish we knew the answer…good luck with your Blog!
Using social media as a platform for mental health not only makes it accessible to more people, but it makes speaking about these issues part of the larger conversation, instead of something lurking at the periphery. Wonderful to see the ‘stuffy’ world of psychiatry embracing new approaches afforded by technology!
Dear Aisha, Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Since we live in a global village we thought we can embrace technology to help those who could not find help otherwise. Welcome to the Blog. Peacefully, Dr Sohail
I have been a fan of green zone living for years now. This seems like a natural progression and I wish you all the best in this pursuit. I would like to see what Sohail and others have to say about the correlation between brain concussions and depression. I am a chronic depressive and in my youth had numerous head traumas. I always wondered if that was one of the causes of my condition today. Looking forward to future blogging.
peace on Earth and elsewhere, Z28
Dear Z28, Your question is very important but unfortunately it is out of the range of my expertise. Effects of head trauma would depend upon
…changes in the brain
..changes in the personality
and
…changes in the lifestyle
head traumas caused in the person.
If you want to pursue it i would suggest that you consult a neurologist and get a neuro-psychological assessment done that can answer your question. I have met many people who suffered from depression after head injury because they could not perform the way they used to perform before the head injury. They lost some of their faculties and those losses caused depression. But that is a general answer. I believe each person is unique and needs to be assessed for reversible and irreversible changes head trauma has caused. I hope it helps. Thanks for supporting Green Zone and asking a thought provoking question.
Peacefully,
Dr. Sohail
Green zone idea! 🙂
Dear Dr Craig Knight, you are one of the torch bearers. Welcome to the Green Zone Community on Blog. Peacefully, Dr Sohail
How can I convince my husband to see a therapist? We love each other and overall have a great relationship but our conflicts on certain issues have never resolved. As soon as those particular issues arise, it is as if we are two strangers and don’t even speak the same language. All of a sudden he stops understanding me and I also reach a mental block. That’s when I have a strong urge to talk to someone who is unbiased, non judgemental and understands both of us.
I want to see a therapist but my husband doesn’t. What do I do?
Dear Alicia, It is not uncommon for one spouse to realize that they need professional help but the other spouse does not. I had one such case recently. I saw the wife on my own for a few sessions and then I wrote a letter to her husband inviting him for therapy. The wife was surprised when the husband came to see me and now they are both involved in couple counseling, improving their communication and resolving their conflicts. So do not give up. You see the therapist and then ask your therapist if he/she would invite your husband.
Peacefully,
Dr. Sohail
I have not come across any blog which provides a forum to discuss psychological issues. It is an excellent idea. Am I right if one wants to discuss a specific psychological matter he will be guided?
Syed Haider Sahib, You are right. We will try to discuss psychological issues and guide those who are open to suggestions. Thanks for your interest and support. Peacefully, Dr. Sohail
I think your new venture into blogging is an excellent idea! It will reach those who are more comfortable with online communication, but require help with their mental health issues. In particular, I think your blog will be of great help to younger generations who tend to be very skilled and comfortable with this type of communication and may hesitate to seek out help in more traditional ways. As a high school teacher in the public school system, I see many teenagers who suffer from various mental health issues but resist seeking help from people they know because they are not comfortable discussing their problems face to face. I believe the statistic is staggering… 1 in every 5 teenagers suffers with some type of mental health illness. Your blog is an excellent way to reach those young (and older) people who need the help, but are reluctant to find it outside of their homes.
Dear Michelle, Thank you for sharing your insight regarding younger generation. We are hoping to help those who are looking for help but help is not available in their communities…
Peacefully,
Dr. Sohail
Dear Jahanzeb, Thank you for your positive comments about ‘positivity’. Frederick Nietzche as well as Albert Ellis believed that the more we think positive the more we feel positive and the more we feel positive the more we think positive,
discover our real and creative self and create an authentic lifestyle.
Peacefully, Dr. Sohail
Thank you Dr. Sohail for an article full of positivity. Keep them coming.
This is amazing. Great way to help those who suffer with mental health problems every day for years and never have the courage to ask for help. They don’t want to be called crazy by those who don’t understand the significance of psychotherapy themselves. Look forward to learn from your blog and other people’s experience so I don’t feel alone in my struggle.
Dear Rose, Thank you for your thoughtful comments. You got the essence of the Blog. Let us hope more and more people find the courage to have an open dialogue about their struggles, that are invisible but real. Socrates as well as Freud believed dialogue helps us find our truth and truth liberates us. Peacefully, Dr. Sohail
Dear Dr Sohail
Good to read your blog.I personally feel that this blog will help people deal with their social,psychological issues in a professional and creative manner.Good luck
Best regards
Ameer
Thank you Ameer for your support and inspiration. Peacefully, Dr. Sohail
Congratulations 🙂 keep the good work going.
Great Idea, many people shall benefit.
Thanks a lot
Thank you, I’ve recently been searching for info approximately this subject for ages and yours
is the best I’ve discovered so far. But, what in regards to
the bottom line? Are you certain concerning the source?
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you happen to
be working with? I’m experiencing some minor security issues with
my latest website and I’d like to find something more safe.
Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Rosalina, Bette and Helene, members of the Green Zone Blogging Team here…we are newbies in the Blogging world and are finding our way as well. We use WordPress as our website publishing platform which is encrypted. And of course, we have a consultant to help us. Hope this helps! Good Luck with your Blog!
Yours in the Green,
Helene and Bette