Seeking to make changes in the way you use substances like alcohol or other drugs? This can be an important step! Some people are able to reduce their substance use or quit altogether on their own or with self-help materials. But most of us need support from other people, family members, friends, health professionals, or other people struggling with substance use problems. The right help for you depends on many factors. These include the type of drug you are using, how much and how often, your health and social situation and, of course, your own preferences. Getting help doesn’t mean giving up control of shaping your own path. You are still the one who makes the final decisions about the type and degree of change you make.

People tend to use the word addiction to mean very different things. Substance use is more complicated than just good or bad. Its helpful to think of substance use along a continuum, from beneficial use to harmful use. Along the middle of the continuum, substance use may be both beneficial and harmful. You have an enjoyable night out with friends, but feel a little ill the next day. At the far end of the continuum, some people develop dependence, they need to continually use the drug in order to feel normal and will keep using even when that leads to financial difficulties, problems at home or at work, health problems, or legal problems. In general, substance use is a problem when it causes problems for you or others and how much use causes problems will be different for different people in different situations. The reason a person uses a substance influences the risk of developing problems. For instance, if a person uses a substance to have fun, only occasional social use may follow. But when a person uses a substance to cope with a long-term problem such as social anxiety, then more long lasting and intense use may follow. Managing our risk involves being aware of why we are using and what impacts our use is having on ourselves and those around us. You can connect with our experts for opinion

Psychosis is a syndrome or group of symptoms. Someone experiencing an episode of psychosis is having a break with reality. Major symptoms of psychosis are hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are sensations that are not real, such as hearing voices or sounds that aren’t real. Hearing voices is a common hallucination, but hallucinations can be experiences with any sense hearing, sight, smell, taste, or touch. Psychosis can even affect the way people move or express their emotions. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that causes psychosis, but schizophrenia also has other symptoms. And it isn’t the only cause of psychosis. In some cases, other mental illnesses cause psychosis, including depression, bipolar disorder, dementia and borderline personality disorder. Psychosis may come up during times of extreme stress, a major lack of sleep, or trauma. People who are using or withdrawing from certain drugs or medications may experience psychosis. Psychosis may also be caused by a brain injury, neurological problem, or other health problem. So while psychosis can be a part of schizophrenia, it can be caused by many other things too. Psychosis and schizophrenia are treatable. Its important to seek help as soon as possible.

Sometimes, people confuse dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, and schizophrenia. Schizophrenia does mean split mind, but the name was meant to describe the split from reality that you experience during an episode of psychosis, as well as changes in thoughts, emotions, and other functions. Dissociative identity disorder, on the other hand, does cause a split or fragmented understanding of a persons sense of themselves. Dissociative identity disorder is really more about fragmented identities than many different personalities that develop on their own. DID may not be obvious to others, and it can take a lot of time to come to the diagnosis. Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that causes hallucinations (sensations that aren’t real) and delusions (beliefs that cant possibly be true, in addition to other symptoms like jumbled thoughts, jumbled speech, and difficulties expressing emotions. People who experience schizophrenia may hear or feel things that aren’t real or believe things that cant be real, but these aren’t separate identities.

A personality disorder is a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that last for a long time and causes some sort of problem or distress. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder or OCPD is about control. People with OCPD have very inflexible thinking and expect everything to be ordered, perfect, and done their “correct” way. This happens at the expense of other important things in life, including relationships with others. Work can take priority over every other part of life, too, and people with OCPD may seem excessively dedicated, but may be unable to complete tasks due to perfectionism. They may struggle to delegate and may distrust other peoples contributions. People with OCPD may not tolerate uncertainty and may have a very rigid understanding of the world something is either right or wrong. They may also have a hard time spending money on themselves or others, and they may experience hoarding, the inability to throw away items from their homes. The conflict between the desire for neatness or order and the inability to throw things out may cause a lot of anxiety. While obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have a similar name, they are not the same illness. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder usually understand that their obsessions and compulsions are illogical and usually experience a lot of distress, even though they may not be able to stop obsessions or compulsions. Compulsions are an attempt to reduce anxiety, not to find pleasure. People with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder may view their thoughts as part of who they are, see their thoughts as logical, and may find pleasure or benefit in completing compulsive tasks. They may experience a lot of distress when they cant achieve control or the perfectionism they want. Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is one of the most common personality disorders. Treatment may include some combination of psychotherapy, medication, and self-help strategies. To find help for OCPD, talk to experts by contacting us

Stress and anxiety are often used interchangeably, and there is overlap between stress and anxiety. Stress is related to the same as Fight Flight, or Fright response as anxiety, and the physical sensations of anxiety and stress may be very similar. The cause of stress and anxiety are usually different, however. Stress focuses on mainly external pressures on us that we are finding hard to cope with. When we are stressed, we usually know what we are stressed about, and the symptoms of stress typically disappear after the stressful situation is over. Anxiety, on the other hand, isn’t always as easy to figure out. Anxiety focuses on worries or fears about things that could threaten us, as well as anxiety about the anxiety itself. Stress and anxiety are both part of being human, but both can be problems if they last for a long time or have an impact on our well-being or daily life.

You can connect with us for more detailed information.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with extra training in mental health who can choose to prescribe medications. Some use psychotherapy approaches like cognitive-behavioural therapy to treat mental health problems. Many psychiatrists work at hospitals, clinics, or health centres, and some have a private office. As they are specialist doctors, you will almost always need another doctors referral to see a psychiatrist, and fees are covered by MSP. A registered psychologist focuses on different talk therapy or counselling approaches to treatments, but they don’t prescribe medication. They have graduate degrees in psychology. There are two different ways to access registered psychologists: the public system and the private system. Registered psychologists in the public system work in some hospitals or schools. However, most people need to access registered psychologists through the private system. To do this, you can contact the psychologist yourself” you do not need a referral. TAAL+ can link you to a registered psychologist though the network. A registered psychologists fees charged by hour vary, and some offer lower fees to people with lower incomes.

Support groups are a way for people with a common experience to help each other and learn from each other. There are support groups for people with any experience of mental illness, support groups for people with a specific diagnosis, support groups for family members and friends, and more. Support groups are offered by community organizations, mental health service providers, schools, campuses, and support agencies. Here are some general resources to help you find a mental health or substance use related support group in TAAL+ network:

A psychiatrist is a specialist doctor. You can find a registered psychiatrist through the TAAL+ network. For details, contact us.

A psychiatrist is a specialist doctor. You can find a registered psychiatrist through the TAAL+ network. For details, contact us.

A psychiatrist is a specialist doctor. You can find a registered psychiatrist through the TAAL+ network. For details, contact us.

You can find a registered psychologist through the TAAL+ network. For details, contact us.

If your beliefs , thoughts , feelings or behaviors have a significant impact on your ability to function in what might be considered a normal or ordinary way, it would be important to seek help.

Challenges or problems with your mental health can arise from psychological, biological, and social, issues, as well as life events.

There are many types of mental health professionals. Finding the right one for you may require some research.

There are many types of mental health professionals. The variety of providers and their services may be confusing. Each have various levels of education, training, and may have different areas of expertise. Finding the professional who best fits your needs may require some research.

Just as there are different types of medications for physical illness, different treatment options are available for individuals with mental illness. Treatment works differently for different people. It is important to find what works best for you or your child.

When healing from mental illness, early identification and treatment are of vital importance. Based on the nature of the illness, there are a range of effective treatments available. For any type of treatment, it is essential that the person affected is proactive and fully engaged in their own recovery process. Many people with mental illnesses who are diagnosed and treated respond well, although some might experience a return of symptoms. Even in such cases, with careful monitoring and management of the disorder, it is still quite possible to live a fulfilled and productive life.

It is estimated that mental illness affects 1 in 5 adults in America, and that 1 in 24 adults have a serious mental illness. Mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age, income, social status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or background. Although mental illness can affect anyone, certain conditions may be more common in different populations. For instance, eating disorders tend to occur more often in females, while disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is more prevalent in children. Additionally, all ages are susceptible, but the young and the old are especially vulnerable. Mental illnesses usually strike individuals in the prime of their lives, with 75 percent of mental health conditions developing by the age of 24. This makes identification and treatment of mental disorders particularly difficult, because the normal personality and behavioural changes of adolescence may mask symptoms of a mental health condition. Parents and caretakers should be aware of this fact, and take notice of changes in their child€™s mood, personality, personal habits, and social withdrawal. When these occur in children under 18, they are referred to as serious emotional disturbances (SEDs).

Mental illnesses are health conditions that disrupt a persons thoughts, emotions, relationships, and daily functioning. They are associated with distress and diminished capacity to engage in the ordinary activities of daily life. Mental illnesses fall along a continuum of severity: some are fairly mild and only interfere with some aspects of life, such as certain phobias. On the other end of the spectrum lie serious mental illnesses, which result in major functional impairment and interference with daily life. These include such disorders as major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, and may require that the person receives care in a hospital. It is important to know that mental illnesses are medical conditions that have nothing to do with a persons character, intelligence, or willpower. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illness is a medical condition due to the brains biology. Similarly to how one would treat diabetes with medication and insulin, mental illness is treatable with a combination of medication and social support. These treatments are highly effective, with 70-90 percent of individuals receiving treatment experiencing a reduction in symptoms and an improved quality of life. With the proper treatment, it is very possible for a person with mental illness to be independent and successful.

It is often more realistic and helpful to find out what helps with the issues you face. Talking, counselling, medication, friendships, exercise, good sleep and nutrition, and meaningful occupation can all help.

We can all suffer from mental health challenges, but developing our wellbeing, resilience, and seeking help early can help prevent challenges becoming serious.

We all have mental health which is made up of our beliefs, thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

being physical active, choosing healthy diets, saying no to tobacco, reducing harmful use of alcohol, promoting cleaner cities, through universal health coverage.

The major NCDs are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. Physical inactivity, unhealthy diets (diets low in fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, but high in salt and fat), tobacco use (smoking, second hand smoke, and smokeless tobacco), and the harmful use of alcohol are the main behavioural risk factors for NCDs. They contribute to raised blood pressure (hypertension); raised blood sugar (diabetes); raised and abnormal blood lipids (dyslipidaemia); and obesity. Air pollution is also leading risk factor for NCDs in terms of both outdoor air pollution and household air pollution that mainly results from burning solid fuels in the home for cooking and heat.

In India, nearly 5.8 million people (WHO report, 2015) die from NCDs (heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes) every year or in other words 1 in 4 Indians has a risk of dying from an NCD before they reach the age of 70. In a report “India: Health of the Nation’s States” by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India (GOI), it is found that there is increase in the contribution of NCDs from 30% of the total disease burden- ‘disability-adjusted life years’ (DALYs) in 1990 to 55% in 2016 and also an increase in proportion of deaths due to NCDs (among all deaths) from 37% in 1990 to 61% in 2016. This shows a rapid epidemiological transition with a shift in disease burden to NCDs.

NCDs are one of the major challenges for public health in the 21st century, not only in terms of human suffering they cause but also the harm they inflict on the socioeconomic development of the country. NCDs kill approximately 41 million people (71% of global deaths) worldwide each year, including 14 million people who die too young between the ages of 30 and 70. The majority of premature NCD deaths are preventable.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are medical conditions or diseases that are not caused by infectious agents. These are chronic diseases of long duration, and generally slow progression and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behaviours factors.

Yes. Use all the preventive measures

As per Indian Government, it is mandatory to test for Hepatitis after blood donation and discarded if found positive. Also does not accept blood donations from anyone who has tested positive for hepatitis B or anyone experiencing symptoms of viral hepatitis.

The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for up to 3 weeks However, a site quoting the CDC says “According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HCV can survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature for at least 16 hours but no longer than four days.”

The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for up to 3 weeks However, a site quoting the CDC says “According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HCV can survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature for at least 16 hours but no longer than four days.”

The Hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for up to 3 weeks However, a site quoting the CDC says “According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HCV can survive on environmental surfaces at room temperature for at least 16 hours but no longer than four days.”

The hepatitis C virus is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person. This can happen through: ►Sharing drug-injection equipment. Today, most people become infected with hepatitis C by sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs. ►Birth. Approximately 6% of infants born to infected mothers will get hepatitis C. ►Health care exposures. Although uncommon, people can become infected when health-care professionals do not follow the proper steps needed to prevent the spread of bloodborne infections. ►Sex with an infected person. While uncommon, hepatitis C can spread during sex, though it has been reported more often among men who have sex with men. ►Unregulated tattoos or body piercings. Hepatitis C can spread when getting tattoos or body piercings in unlicensed facilities, informal settings, or with non-sterile instruments. ►Sharing personal items. People can get infected from sharing glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, even in amounts too small to see. ►Blood transfusions and organ transplants. Before widespread screening of the blood supply in 1992, hepatitis C was also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. Now, the risk of transmission to recipients of blood or blood products is extremely low. Hepatitis C is not spread by sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also not spread through food or water.

Chronic hepatitis C can be a lifelong infection if left untreated. Chronic hepatitis C can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and even death.

Acute hepatitis C occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C can be a short-term illness, but for most people, acute infection leads to chronic infection.

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term illness. Hepatitis C is often described as “acute,” meaning a new infection, or “chronic,” meaning long-term infection.

Yes. The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective. You need to get all shots in the series to be fully protected.

As per Indian Government, it is mandatory to test for Hepatitis after blood donation and discarded if found positive. Also does not accept blood donations from anyone who has tested positive for hepatitis B or anyone experiencing symptoms of viral hepatitis.

The hepatitis B virus can survive outside the body for at least 7 days. During that time, the virus is still capable of causing infection.

Hepatitis B immune globulin is a substance made from human blood samples that contains antibodies against the hepatitis B virus. It is given as a shot to people exposed to the hepatitis B virus to protect them from infection.

If you are concerned that you might have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus, call your health care provider or your local health department immediately. Infection with the hepatitis B virus can be prevented if you get the hepatitis B vaccine and/or a shot called “HBIG” (hepatitis B immune globulin) as soon as possible after exposure to the virus, ideally within 24 hours.

Yes. The hepatitis B virus can be found in the blood, semen, and other body fluids of an infected person. A person who has sex with an infected partner can become infected with the virus.

Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected or has not been vaccinated. People can become infected with the virus from: Birth (spread from a mother who has hepatitis B to her baby during birth) Sex with a partner who has hepatitis B Sharing needles, syringes, or drug preparation equipment Sharing items such as toothbrushes, razors, or medical equipment (like a glucose monitor) with a person who has hepatitis B Direct contact with the blood or open sores of a person who has hepatitis B Exposure to the blood from a person who has hepatitis B through needlesticks or other sharp instruments

Some people, especially those who get infected in adulthood, are able to clear the virus from their bodies without treatment. For other people, acute hepatitis B leads to life-long infection known as chronic hepatitis B. Over time, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.

Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the hepatitis B virus. Some people with acute hepatitis B have no symptoms at all or only mild illness. For others, acute hepatitis B causes a more severe illness that requires hospitalization.

Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Some people with hepatitis B are sick for only a few weeks (known as “acute” infection), but for others, the disease progresses to a serious, lifelong illness known as chronic hepatitis B.

The HIV medicines used for PEP may cause side effects in some people. The side effects can be treated and are not life threatening. If you are taking PEP, talk to your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you

PEP is effective in preventing HIV infection when it is taken correctly, but it is not 100% effective. The sooner PEP is started after a possible HIV exposure, the better. Every hour counts.

PEP may be prescribed for people who are HIV negative or do not know their HIV status, and who in the last 72 hours: May have been exposed to HIV during sex Shared needles or other equipment (works) to inject drugs Were sexually assaulted May have been exposed to HIV at work If you think you were recently exposed to HIV, talk to your health care provider or an emergency room doctor about PEP right away.

PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. The word “prophylaxis” means to prevent or control the spread of an infection or disease. PEP means taking HIV medicines within 72 hours (3 days) after a possible exposure to HIV to prevent HIV infection. PEP should be used only in emergency situations.

It is advisable that, as long as a person is at risk of acquiring HIV, one should take PrEP

When taken every day, PrEP, stops HIV from being able to multiply and take hold within the body.

PrEP stands for Pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is a combination of two ARVs, used to protect HIV negative people from HIV.

Your own health and your own HIV treatment are the most important things to consider for ensuring a healthy baby.

If you do not wish to become pregnant, and you are using effective contraception, you will be recommended the dolutegravir-based combination. Effective contraception means a modern method: condoms, oral contraceptives, injectable, implant and IUCD.

If you are already pregnant and taking dolutegravir-based ART, you will be recommended to continue on it. If you are concerned about it, then please contact your doctor and discuss about it.

The neural tube in a developing baby is what becomes the brain, spinal cord, skull and spine. The neural tube closes in the first 28 days of pregnancy – that is before most women know they are pregnant. If it does not fully close for some reason, the baby is said to have a neural tube defect. Neural tube defects vary, from very minor ones that are easily fixed, to ones that give severe disability and even death. So, the risk is taken very seriously by the department of health, health workers and patients.

There is a slightly higher rate of neural tube defects than normal in babies whose mothers become pregnant on dolutegravir. But starting dolutegravir after six weeks or more of pregnancy does not have this risk.

Absolutely yes. There a few extra things for women to consider when starting or taking ART.

ART protects your baby from HIV during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor about it.

Yes you can! you need to get a proper advise from expert/doctor.

YES!

Yes, it is safe and recommended for all mothers to breastfeed regardless of their HIV status.

It is advisable for pregnant women to be on ARVs in order to protect the baby from getting infected.

As with everything to do with your pregnancy, please ask your doctor or clinic about everything. Many vitamins of supplements especially those that you get from your healthcare provider will be fine. Some, like folic acid, are recommended.

The only way to increase your CD4 is to use HIV treatment (ART). Nothing else, including multi vitamins, supplements or herbal remedies can increase your CD4 count.

The only thing that can help a person improve their CD4 count is ARVs. If you’re on meds, you’re already doing the best thing possible.

There is no such thing as an Immune Booster. Even though companies might claim this in advertising, they just want your money. None of these products have any evidence that they boost your immune system. There is no evidence they help for HIV or any other illness. If your viral load is still high and detectable after a year, you are likely to have drug resistance. Using new HIV drugs is the only thing that will help.

It is not recommended because it is unknown which interactions “Ayurvedic/Homeopathy” has with ARVs, there might be a risk of the “Ayurvedic/Homeopathy” reducing your drug levels and this can lead to resistance. It is better to take only medicines prescribed to you at the health facility.

No, ART is a combination of drugs which suppress the virus, it does not cure HIV. A person must take ART for the rest of their life as we don’t have an HIV cure yet.

Yes you can take both ARVs and TB treatment. If newly diagnosed, you must be on TB treatment for two weeks before starting ARVs. An additional 50mg of Dolutegravir is added if you are on TB treatment and TLD.

If you are on dolutegravir-based ART you will need a double dose of dolutegravir to overcome the interaction with rifampicin. If you are on TLD FDC, you will need to add a dolutegravir 50mg dose 12 hours after taking TLD. So if you take your TLD in the morning, you will need to take your extra dolutegravir in the evening.

If you test positive for active TB and it is drug sensitive* you will start treatment with a combination of four anti-TB drugs: rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. Few ARTs have drug interaction with the TB Treatment. Your doctor will select and modify your treatment for better outcomes.

Coughing of any duration in HIV positive person, Coughing up blood, Evening rise of Fever, Weight loss, Night Sweats. If you have these symptoms, then immediately consult your doctor.

TB preventive therapy is done with a drug called isoniazid (INH), taken once a day for 6 months. You will also be given pyridoxine (vitamin B6) to help prevent peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage). TPT and ART will help to stop you getting TB.

Everyone starting ART will be tested for TB. Your doctor will advise you sputum, X-ray chest and other investigations for the diagnosis, as per their suspicion.

The main difference between generics and brand-name drugs is just the cost. Generic drugs cost much less than brand-name counterparts. The active ingredients for the generic and brand versions are both the same. Generic drugs might be a different shape, size or colour but they have the same active ingredients. They are just as effective and also have the same risk of side effects.

No, you need a valid prescription in order to be able to buy ARVs, a registered medical practitioner with training in treating HIV, can give you a prescription that is valid and renewable every six months.

One of the side effects that people experience with TLD is insomnia, switching the time of your medication will not be a problem. It is important that you find a time that works best for you.

Yes, it is safe to switch from TLE to TLD. Many countries are starting to adopt TLD as first line as it is better tolerated than with fewer side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider bout this.

Your viral load will rebound quickly (maybe within a week). Your CD4 is likely to drop, though this takes a little longer to change. The viral rebound will usually be to the level your viral load was at before you started HIV treatment.

You must make sure that your take your treatment at the same time daily in order to maintain your drug levels and prevent the virus from becoming detectable. If you forget to take them at the right time, do take them as soon as possible. Try not to make it a habit, and don’t skip does.

Yes, ART does have side effects. And they vary depending on which regimen you are on. They range from mirror to severe. The current first line regimen TLD i.e. Tenofovir, Lamivudine and Dolutegravir have been proven to have less severe side effects, but some people can experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches. These do clear after a few days. One common side effect that tends to last longer with this regimen is insomnia, which can be resolved by taking your treatment in the morning. There are also cases of weight gain with this regimen.

Everyone who tests positive for HIV, should be initiated on treatment as soon as possible regardless of CD4 Count.

Yes. TAAL+ uses third-party payment processing services to process all credit/debit card payment transactions. These payment intermediaries are pci-compliant, which is the most stringent level of certification standard that ensures all cardholders’ data is stored, processed and transmitted securely by using the industry standard encryption technology.

TAAL+ is known for its reliable services. Domestic shipments shall take between 48 to 72 hours and international shipments shall be delivered in 7 to 8 days

Replace or refund options are available only in cases when the product doesn’t meet the promised expectations.

Replace or refund options are available only in cases when the product doesn’t meet the promised expectations.

Yes, sure. You can visit us whenever you feel. We are headquartered in pune Maharashtra. The complete address is provided on the website.

We require a prescription because they are considered to be potentially harmful if not used under the supervision of a licensed health care practitioner. A prescription ensures that your treatment is monitored.