Ira Khan, the daughter of actor Aamir Khan, recently revealed how therapy has helped her gain a better understanding of her parents. Growing up in the public eye presented unique challenges that shaped her views on relationships. She shared her experience with clinical depression and explained how therapy has enabled her personal growth. Ira believes that therapy goes beyond just fixing problems as it also strengthens family bonds. While many people consider therapy a lesser-known topic, it offers significant long-term benefits for anyone seeking to improve their mental health and enhance their relationships with family and friends.
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“During My Depression, I Learned a Lot of Things” Ira Khan Detailed the Benefits of Therapy
For Ira Khan, therapy was a learning experience as understood her parents’ relationship. She learned from her therapist that open and honest communication is important for a healthy relationship. Ira said, “I realised that when my therapist asked, ‘What are your parents like?’ I thought, ‘I don’t really know them as people. I only know them as my parents.’ How can I have a relationship with someone if I don’t know them?” She found it both strange and interesting to get to know her parents as individuals.
Bobby Thakur, a psychologist at Counsel India in Delhi, highlights that caring for a loved one is both rewarding and challenging. He warns that over time, caregivers can experience burnout, leading to feelings of exhaustion, stress, and being overwhelmed.
What Are the Long-Term Benefits of Therapy?
The Helsinki Psychotherapy Study looked at the long-term benefits of therapy for patients with mood or anxiety disorders. In this study, 326 patients received different types of therapy, and after 10 years, 74% of the patients were free from significant psychiatric symptoms. However, more long-term benefits of therapy can improve mental health and personal growth.
- Better Mental Health: Therapy can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, making people feel better overall.
- Increased Self-Awareness: Therapy helps people understand their thoughts and behaviours better. This self-awareness helps them notice patterns that might affect their feelings.
- Improved Coping Skills: It teaches new ways to handle stress and tough emotions. These skills can help people deal with challenges more effectively.
- Healthier Relationships: Therapy encourages better communication and understanding, which can lead to stronger relationships with family and friends.
- Personal Growth: Going to therapy helps people think about their values and goals, giving them a sense of purpose and fulfilment in life.
- Lower Chance of Relapse: For people who have had mental health issues before, regular therapy can help reduce the chances of their symptoms coming back or getting worse.
- Better Control of Emotions: Therapy teaches people how to handle their feelings better, which can lead to fewer mood swings and more emotional stability.
- Improved Problem-Solving Skills: Therapy helps people think critically and solve problems, which can help them make better choices in their personal and work lives.
- Increased Happiness: Many people find that therapy makes their lives more satisfying. They often feel happier and more content with their decisions and relationships.
- Safe Supportive Space: Therapy offers a safe place where people can share their feelings without being judged. This kind of support can be very comforting and healing.
- Better Physical Health: When mental health improves, physical health can also get better. Since stress and anxiety can cause physical problems, therapy can help reduce these issues.
How Does Therapy Help Your Body?
Therapy can be very helpful for your body by improving both physical and mental health. A study published in PubMed shows that therapy helps manage pain and improve movement for different health issues, which can reduce the need for painkillers like opioids. Therapy also provides a safe place to talk about emotional problems, which can lower feelings of anxiety and depression that often affect physical health.
As mental health gets better, people may notice they can move better, have more energy, and feel happier overall. So, working on mental health through therapy can also lead to positive changes in physical health.