When to Ask Yourself If You Need Therapy
There comes a time in many adults’ lives where they must ask themselves a crucial question to continue their lives normally. That question is, “Do I need therapy?”
There’s stigma attached to therapy, and mental health as a whole, that keeps many individuals from seeking help, and in turn, getting better, finding more healthy coping mechanisms, and living a mindful and mentally satiating life.
For those of us that ignore all those bad feelings once they come creeping to the surface, be advised that all those bad feelings don’t go away. They might even multiply and manifest into something completely unmanageable. That said, you should probably go after them while they’re small. The longer you wait to get help, the more out of control your life could become.
Nothing is embarrassing about seeking mental health help. The more you can talk about subjects you find embarrassing, shameful, or painful, the shorter the path to healing. Whether you’ve just begun to feel depressed, anxious, or confused about those feelings, or you’ve felt a bit ‘off’ in terms of your mental health for quite some time, it always helps to talk to someone about it.
Why Therapy Is Important
Therapy isn’t just an outlet for the rich or narcissistic (though it can be that, too). Therapy, started by the almighty Sigmund Freud in the late 19th century as analysis, is a route to understanding trauma and learning to cope with it. Freud might be the grandfather of psychotherapy, but many things have changed since his time.
Many people who’ve suffered from childhood trauma don’t process those traumas until adulthood. When some of these memories or examples of triggering behavior are unavoidable, many people are at a loss at how to control them. The bad news is your feelings aren’t necessarily something you can control. The good news is you don’t have to live like this forever.
On the other hand, childhood trauma isn’t the only happening that could possess something to begin therapy. If you’ve been through any other traumatic event, such as grief, sexual assault, domestic violence, addiction, suicide attempt, or diagnosed with mental illness, therapy is one of the most valuable ways you can get through these difficult times.
How to Decipher What Kind of Support You Need
There are multiple ways in which you can seek mental health advice. While Google is great for all things research-based, there are other ways in which you can narrow down the search for the perfect therapist.
For those who don’t want to take the traditional route of sitting on a couch while a single therapist listens to you (that might work for Zach, but not for you), there are other methods in which you can seek help.
There are now apps that are specifically designed for those who either can’t afford traditional therapy, or who aren’t yet ready to speak to someone in person. There are also support groups that may discuss the topics that are most relevant to you. Whatever you do, just know you aren’t alone in this.
