Finding a Psychiatrist in Kolkata would seem like getting biryani on a Sunday and would be as simple. That isn’t. It is rather like searching for a silent chamber during Durga Puja—technically feasible but hardly useful.

Assume you have decided to see someone. That by itself seems like a significant step. You are coping with ideas that stick like damp clothes, mood swings sharp enough to cut glass, or perhaps sleep that acts like a ghost—always disappearing when you most needed.

So you Google? Worse still, you ask family who start behaving as you confessed to have planned a bank robbery. And what are the responses? A concoction of unsolicited counsel, horror tales, and the odd “Just mediate, beta”. Indeed. Since your brain obviously overlooked the memo.

The actual work starts here right now. Choosing a psychiatrist is not like grabbing right on an app. You are not seeking for charm. You want someone who can really listen, not only nod and prescribe.

Some experts sit behind big desks and hardly blink while you talk. Others make long enough eye contact to let you know they are there. not fixated on. Different things exist. Your bones will tell you this.

Look for no magic right away. It takes a few tries occasionally before it clicks. Consider it as dating, only from the first meeting your emotional baggage is very visible. It is beautiful in that sense. Not under pretenses. Simply honest, ideally on both sides.

Geographic location? Sure, it is important. Still, would you really let a 30-minute Metro commute stop you from locating someone who could untie your mental knots? Not sure about it. Unless at 9 AM you are riding the Metro. All of the bets then are off.

Yes, there is a bit of money involved. There are sessions costing like gold biscuits. Others have more earthiness. Find out whether they provide sliding rates or bundles. You are being clever, not cheap. Mental health should not bankrupt you.

One strange habit is to look about the waiting area. Should the chairs be cozy, the books be out-of-date, and the lighting be gentle, the doctor most likely isn’t pushing people in and out like a factory conveyor belt. You might be in excellent hands if the receptionist shows the expected smile.

Remember, there is no medal for just struggling. Look for someone who sends you out the door not just drugs and does not deliver them to you. Look for someone who really waits for an answer when asked, “How did that make you feel?” That stillness? Healing starts sometimes at that point.