By Chitra Kalyani
CAIRO: The January 25 Revolution, while being a liberating experience, is also one that could very well be a traumatic one, explains psychologist and neurologist Dania Danish, and founder of Tammenny.com
“Tammenny,” meaning “Reassure Me,” is a joint initiative among 25 professionals (mostly volunteers) providing an online venue for those seeking treatment for trauma following the uprising. Launched in early September, the website offers the opportunity for people to seek psychological help both in Arabic and English.
The website carries a short test to assess users’ level of trauma, and accordingly directs them to either relaxation techniques or to avenues for further help.
In more severe cases of trauma, the online audience is referred to trained psychologists, whom they may either contact over Skype or in person. The initial fee for in-person consultation is up to LE 150, but exceptions are made for those that cannot afford this sum.
Shortly after the ousting of Hosni Mubarak, Danish was approached by a known activist, who came to her aware that despite the positive outcome of the uprising, he had been traumatized.
Realizing that he suffered from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Danish offered him techniques that would allow him to relax and informed him of PTSD. In following sessions, her client resumed thinking in a rational manner, and was not as anxious, Danish observed.
Yet this incident made Danish recognize the need to address a people that had collectively endured a traumatic period. It sparked the idea for a platform offering help on a larger scale.
“Everyone was traumatised by the revolution,” said Danish. Indicators of this trauma linger in seemingly innocuous symptoms such as memories and sleep disturbances to more severe symptoms such as full-fledged depression, anger management issues, or drug use.
People who have collectively suffered “have a right to receive help,” said Danish.
As a psychologist that studied observational learning through machines, Danish proved in her studies at Cambridge that even infants could learn through interactive devices. Tammenny thus uses an interactive online platform to allow people to help themselves.
The website carries a slogan based on its mission to help empower people: “Hakkim aqlak, Ealig nafsak” (Shape Your Mind. Cure Your Self.)
Comparing Egypt to a “woman abused in marriage”, Danish said many suffer from a “learned helplessness,” having learned to think they are powerless even if they have the opportunity to help themselves.
“My job is to empower her,” said Danish, continuing the comparison, “so that she will take her own decisions. However, when she comes to my office, she complains about her [estranged] husband.”
Danish believes that “as a country, we’re at this stage,” adding many find it easier to complain about Mubarak, and seek a replacement, than organize themselves.
“Abused women are used to taking orders,” says Danish, “she does not know how to act when granted freedom.”
“Statistically, the next spouse she will choose will be an abusive, patronizing one,” said the psychologist.
Indicators of this seem to exist in media which often portrays the president as a father figure, said Danish. “Matloob Zaeem” and other such post-uprising songs and slogans call for a leader to take over the country. Danish disagrees, observing the people took charge of the country during the revolution.
The uprising overthrew a 30-year dictatorship in 18 days, whereas it took three weeks to construct Tammenny.com with professionals from within Egypt, said Danish, adding, “I believe we can build and construct a new country.”
The website was created mostly through online collaboration between professionals in web development, marketing, psychologists, and so on. “When we finally met, the differences between us were huge,” said Danish. Many had varying physical and mental abilities, “yet we all worked together.”
“That’s what a democracy should be about,” said Danish, “Respect.”
Freedom also acknowledges an awareness of one’s ability to help oneself. “You need to understand what it means to be free.” As with the abused woman, what it takes, Danish believes is to forget the past, organize the present and take steps towards the future.
“You should put everything [past] in a box and think straight, and when you’re ready, look at the box.” In the meanwhile, Danish suggested, “Organize your life.”
For more information, visit the website at http://www.tammenny.com/
Psychologist and website co-founder Dalia Danish.
