The PsyCreative Column

By Nisa Panthaki (BSc. Applied Psychology,  FY) Photo by Jeffrey F Lin on Unsplash Michael Jordan once said, “My body could stand the crutches, but my mind couldn’t stand the sideline.” Sportspersons are considered to be the epitome of excellence and discipline because of the amount of hard work and training they go through to succeed in their fields, especially in today’s extremely competitive world. However, sports comes with its fair share of risks and dangers. Injuries during sports are fairly common. Some of these may be minor but many athletes face chronic injuries that require a considerable amount of rehabilitation.  Athletes are always equipped with a medical team that focuses on their physical rehabilitation before they can get back into the game. However, many athletes also experience negative emotions and psychological responses during and even after their rehabilitation process. The negative impact on the athlete, after the injury, is substantial. When an athlete...

  In recent years, the conversation around cognitive enhancers—drugs and technologies designed to improve mental functions, has gained significant traction. From students seeking an edge in academic performance to professionals trying to maximise productivity, these substances and devices are increasingly popular. However, the ethical implications of using cognitive enhancers during rehabilitation, especially in clinical settings, warrant careful examination. Understanding Cognitive Enhancers Cognitive enhancers encompass a range of substances, including prescription medications like Adderall and Ritalin, typically used to treat ADHD, as well as nootropics and other supplements marketed for improved memory, focus, and overall brain health. These tools promise to help individuals overcome cognitive deficits resulting from injury, illness, or age. While the potential benefits are alluring, the ethical ramifications are complex. The Promise of Enhanced Rehabilitation In the context of...

Note: this blog does NOT advocate or condone the use of Datura, it is just for the purpose of information.  Personally, I don't see the problem in eating flowers. I don’t like the taste but if you want to stuff your mouth full of lillies or roses, that is not my problem; you are free to explore. However, there is one particular flower that you should consider abstaining from- Datura. It goes by many names— Jimson weed, the devil’s trumpet or thornapples.  While it holds a special position as a medicinal plant in Ayurveda, if misused, it can lead to disastrous effects in the body due to its poisonous nature.  Its roots or seeds can be ingested, smoked or absorbed to obtain its hallucinogenic or euphoric effects, one of the leading reasons for its consumption. It acts on the cholinergic system in the body. Some case studies have documented the symptoms and the effects of the drug on behaviour. Based on medical findings, the case studies found symptoms like severe agitation ...

    Tanya Muscatwalla, SY  Psychiatric hospitals were established approximately around the 16 th century, mainly to hold the people who were considered mentally ill, criminal or even homeless. At what point did the purpose of these hospitals change from holding these patients to helping them? Until the 19 th century, misdiagnoses were common, which led to the experiment by Dr. Rosenhan- a psychiatrist at Stanford University- called “On Being Sane in Insane Places.” In this experiment, he sent some of his students as ‘pseudo patients’ who did not have any psychological conditions to these hospitals, with fake symptoms. All of these students were diagnosed with disorders and none of the nurses or doctors could identify the misdiagnosed patients. These students later stopped showing the symptoms, however, the doctors and nurses did not notice, and simply diagnosed them and forced them to stay in the hospital. This was the purpose of Rosenhan's experiment, to point out the ...