Saul Pereira, a psychological counsellor based in Bengaluru, recently addressed the complexity of addiction at The Mind Matters Summit 2023, held at National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).
He identified a spectrum of addictive behaviours, including substances like sugar, alcohol, and nicotine as well as activities like internet and gaming, food consumption, job-related dependencies, and pornography. He emphasised the need for more compassionate approaches in tackling this issue.
Highlighting the pervasive impact of mobile phones on marriages and relationships, he termed them as the “third person” in these unions. This widespread issue not only affects mental health but also strains interpersonal connections. He explained how mobile phones contribute to diverse problems, including spondylitis, impersonal communication, diminished intimacy, and heightened anxiety, depression, and social adjustment disorders.
According to him unresolved childhood issues could pave the way for addiction patterns in adolescents and adults alike, as they grapple with solutions to underlying challenges. Recognising these factors is paramount in crafting effective addiction treatments tailored to the person in question.
He had an emphatic advice for the deaddiction journey: “Expect relapse every time, but do not ever give up.”
