About Me
The guiding stars of my career, a helping nature and inborn empathy in emotional and behavioral matters, have been very helpful for me in treating the patients.
I did my Masters in Psychological Medicine , held the post of Lecturer in cosmopolitan Bombay's bustling BYL Nair Ch. Hospital, Psychiatry Department before joining the Ministry of Health Psychiatry Services in Saudi Arabia in 1984 at Madinah Psychiatry Hospital and retiring in 2017 from Jeddah Psychiatry Hospital. The experience here was very interesting. I had the opportunity of meeting and treating patients from many nationalities and cultures with some unique experiences.
On returning back I joined IT Super MultiSpeciality Hospital and Citizen’s Clinic in Aligarh.
My fields of interest include psychotherapy, anxiety, sleep disorders,depression, obsessive compulsive disorders,psychotic disorders,epilepsy and old age issues related to failing memory and behavior.
The experience and skills in my profession give me immense satisfaction in helping those who are struggling with their thoughts, emotions and behaviors or of their loved ones.
The tales of patients getting back on track with all the ups and downs inherent in human lives,relations, hopes and achievements are indeed at times extraordinary. A tribute to human spirit and resilience.
Helping the needy in returning back to normal functioning and moving ahead is truly gratifying.
Covid-19 has burdened the entire world with 30-40 percent increase in levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
With Covid-19 in full rage I have started an online consultation service for the patients to consult from the safety of their homes.
- Dr. Shabih Ahmed Siddiqui, MD Psychiatry
Psychological impact of occupational hazards with useful references
Everything in life exacts a price. One of the earliest goal imbibed as we prepare to leave school and its priceless impact on us we are a step close to studying for careers and eventually jobs.Work occupies a very important position in our individual and societal life.It provides a financial independence to base or lives and dreams upon, our usefulness to ourselves and to our society.It is essential for our establishing our personal and social identity, family and social bonds, self esteem and confidence, physical and mental health ,access to routines of life, services and goods.
It is natural that a place where we spend nearly quarter of our active time its environment, composition, interactions with others, level of safety standards and updated technologies to mitigate the negative and harmful effects on our physical and emotional health.
Occupational hazards are personal threats and injuries that occur in the process of production and labor.Each and every occupation is associated with its own level of stress and effect on both physical and mental health of the individual in particular and his environment.
I in 3 of a billion workers earn less than 2 USD per day. (Ref. WHO)
Jobless numbers not reliable for political reasons.
Only 1/3 countries have health programs for the workers (funds and efficiency?)
Prevention in early stages saves a lot of late detection harm especially in unprotected, exploitative lawless environments like mines and some illegally set chemical, garment ,dust and fungal rich environments.
THE COMMON PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES SEEN AS WORKPLACE HAZARDS.
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Effort - reward imbalance
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Exploitation due to scarcity of jobs
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Lack of supervisor and colleague support
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Long working hours
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Lean production and lay offs
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Emotional labor
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Work life balance
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Job insecurity
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Precarious nature of job
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Anxieties
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Depression
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Post traumatic disorders
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Violence at place of work
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Burnout
THE COMMON PHYSICAL ISSUES RELATED TO WORKPLACE HAZARDS
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Respiratory
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Cardiovascular
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Neurological
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Musculoskeletal
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Poisoning
The 5 common workplace hazards grouped into:
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Safety
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Chemical
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Biological
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Physical
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Ergonomic
Job stress refers to people’s response under physiological and psychological pressure caused by the imbalance between occupational needs and individual resources, needs, abilities, and knowledge.
With the development of society and the increase in life pressure, people bear more and more pressure from society, work, and life. Job stress has been regarded as the crisis and illness in modern society and life. Factory workers and miners were the occupational group with high demands, low reward, and low job control ,and their working environment was full of dust, chemical factors, physical factors, and biological factors.Excess psychological stress could decline psychological function and cause negative physiological responses, leading to emotional fluctuations and psychological health problems.
Common hazards which if untreated lead to severe and permanent disability, loss of productivity and job with severe financial, physical and emotional burdens.
Factory workers and miners belong to a special professional group, who work in a special environment of high temperature, high pressure, darkness, or dust but have low income and social status. Some studies have already proven that people living in harsh environments have a higher risk of developing mental illnesses and the special environments affect the degree of job stress Research showed that 47.35% and 38.27% of factory workers and miners suffered from job stress and mental health problems, respectively, suggesting that the status of occupational mental health of factory workers and miners should be paid more attention.
The influences of occupational hazards on the job stress of factory workers and miners are statistically significant, and the risks of job stress increased 1.30 times, 1.25 times, and 1.39 times with exposure to asbestos dust, benzene, and noise, respectively.
Coal dust, asbestos dust, benzene, and noise were the risk factors for psychological health problems of factory workers and miners, and the risks of psychological health problems increased 1.19 times, 1.58 times, 1.28 times, and 1.23 times compared with those who had no exposure.
Minimizing or eliminating workplace hazards need not be time-consuming or even expensive. Being aware of possible hazards can increase productivity, prevent illness, reduce days off and save lives.
Early diagnosis and proper treatment for lung cancer, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders especially in our Asian countries is a very costly and often unaffordable.
Elsewhere the Health Insurance is a potentially mitigating factor.
References:
Specializing in Mental Health
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety, is a normal and healthy emotion. It keeps us alert and helps improve our focus and attention for better performance
Depression is quite a common but serious mood disorder. Feeling depressed or lack of pleasure in previous enjoyable activities is a hallmark.
Anxiety disorders appear to be caused by an interaction of bio-psychosocial factors, including genetic vulnerability, which interact with situations, stress, or trauma.
Mood Disorders
When a person had significant swings of mood between elation and depression it was called manic depressive disorder.With ongoing classifications and refinements it is now called Bipolar Disorder.
Type 1 has manic episodes may or may not be followed by a depressive episode.
Type 2 has a major longer lasting depression along with hypomania or mild to moderate mania
Relationships and Marital Counseling
Marriage counseling, also called couples therapy, is a type of psychotherapy.
The negative feelings and behavior present within a marital relationship are addressed. It's a talking therapy that allows you to talk about your problems and feelings together in a secure, supportive and dependable way.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which causes significant distress for the individual, their family members, and friends.
If left untreated, the symptoms of schizophrenia can be persistent and disabling. The outcomes are generally unfavorable.
Post Traumatic Disorders
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a terrifying traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.
PTSD can occur in all people, in people of any ethnicity, nationality or culture, and any age. Women are twice as likely to be affected as males.
Adolescent Therapy & Substance Abuse
A medical condition with impairments in health, social functioning and control over the use of the substance.
A compulsive drug seeking behavior or difficulty in controlling ( prescription medicines for genuine medical condition)and giving it up,in spite of its harmful effects.
Childhood Conditions & Mental Disorders
Mental illness in children can be hard for parents to identify. As a result, many children who could benefit from treatment don't get the help they need.
There are serious and significant delays or disruptions in developing age-appropriate thinking, behaviors, social skills or regulation of emotions.
Geriatric Psychiatry
Geriatric Psychiatry, a psychiatric sub specialty, focuses on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of complex mental disorders uniquely occurring in late life.
There's a stigma surrounding loneliness, and older people tend not to ask for help. The availability of better health facilities, along with longer life expectancy has contributed to a sizable age in population in the developing countries.
Psychological impact of occupational hazards
Everything in life exacts a price. One of the earliest goal imbibed as we prepare to leave school and its priceless impact on us we are a step close to studying for careers and eventually jobs.Work occupies a very important position in our individual and societal life.It provides a financial independence to base or lives and dreams upon, our usefulness to ourselves and to our society.