The 183rd session of Prothom Alo Trust's free anti-drug counseling support meeting was held on October 29, 2026, at the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. The session featured Dr.
Rahenul Islam, a psychologist at the Central Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Center. The theme of the discussion was 'Disobedience or Depression: Parental Awareness.'
A Natural Part of Child Development
During the discussion, Dr. Rahenul Islam stated that as children grow, they explore the world, ask questions about various topics, and often engage in arguments with their parents. He described this as a natural process of cognitive and emotional development. He urged parents to try understanding their child's perspective before labeling such behavior as 'disobedience.'The Confusion of Labeling
The session also addressed the growing tendency to describe minor stress or ordinary sadness with heavy terms like 'trauma' or 'depression.' On this issue, Dr. Rahenul Islam said, "There is no end to words or terminologies. When we call everyday stress or sadness trauma or depression, a kind of confusion is created over the naming." He added that the clinical or medical perspective on this is different.What Parents Should Do
According to the psychologist, to determine whether a child's behavior indicates a real problem, parents should observe long-term patterns in behavior, sleep, eating habits, and social interaction. He advised seeking professional psychological help if there are any doubts. He also emphasized that a child's natural curiosity and tendency to ask questions should be encouraged, not suppressed.Prothom Alo Trust regularly organizes these free anti-drug counseling support sessions, where experts provide guidance to parents and the general public on various issues.
