Can’t be aggressive,girls end up in depression: Experts

Experts believe girls can be violent too but since they do not know how to handle aggression because of the way they are brought up in the Indian society,they end up with depression.

Aabha is one of the case studies with experts dealing in human psychology. According to doctors at the Government Medical College and Hospital,Sector 32,girls are two times more prone to depression and anxiety because of this inward flow of aggression.

Says Dr B S Chavan,head of psychiatry department: “Girls can be equally aggressive but they are taught since childhood to control their feelings. They end up having hypertension and anxiety twice more than boys do.”

Experts believe though care should be taken right from the beginning,it is never too late and parents play a big role in helping their child vent their feelings. “Parents should undergo counselling so that they do not knowingly or unknowingly define different levels of tolerance for a boy child and a girl child. They should realise that both need to express their feelings and for this the support of parents is very important.”

Prof Meena Sehgal from the psychology department of Panjab University says: “Girls are genetically less aggressive than boys and hence end up holding up their anger inside. We need to talk it out with them,else they will end up with several psychological problems.”

The main remedy that the experts suggest to control aggression in both girls and boys is to talk things out.

Dr Chavan says: “Parents should help children talk out their feelings. Most of us can be good at speaking but listening requires a great deal of effort and that is what parents need to work on. It is very important that they lend an ear and listen to issues without making any opinion about their children.”

The experts suggest that the parents should be equally tolerant towards boys and girls. Not letting girls speak their minds can lead to severe psychological disorders,they add.

Check aggression
* Talk it out
* Exercise. It channelises energy in a positive way
* Socialise. Those who socialise are less aggressive
* Eat healthy and regularly
* Sleep properly. Lack of sleep causes aggression