Help! I think I might need therapy…
How does one know when they actually need therapy? Is it when you lose a loved one and can’t stop crying for weeks on end? Or when you notice that it’s getting harder and harder to get out of bed each day. Or what about when something you enjoy turns into something you can’t live without and it begins to control your life? Life seems to be going just fine until one day it’s not, and you wake up and have lost most if not all of your relationships. Or you struggle to maintain your job or things from the past keep haunting you in the present. There can be many reasons as to why people seek out therapy. This article will explore just some of the reasons why you might want to look into therapy.
One of the main reasons I have had people contact me for therapy is that life is just too overwhelming which has led to them experiencing many different psychiatric symptoms such as excessive worrying, fear, sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and panic attacks to name just a few. These are symptoms of depression and anxiety and oftentimes people will start experiencing these symptoms long before they actually become noticeable. Because of the stigma culture puts on mental health, many people try to push away thoughts and emotions because they don’t want to believe that they struggle with a mental illness. The small symptoms they were experiencing have now turned into bigger symptoms that they can no longer control, and the symptoms are controlling their lives. Oftentimes, this can lead to unexplained medical concerns as the body is trying to figure out some way to release the emotions they have been trying to push down and it leaves both doctors and clients feeling frustrated because they can’t figure out what’s wrong.
Another reason I have seen people seek out therapy is because they might be experiencing stress in their relationships or struggle to set healthy boundaries for themselves. Relationships are hard work, and they can be confusing if you weren’t taught or shown what a healthy relationship looks like. Healthy communication skills may be lacking, and you may find yourself constantly arguing with your significant other in a desperate attempt to try and express your needs and desires. Maybe you have been deeply hurt from past relationships and have said you never want to be in a relationship again or maybe you struggle trusting people, so you constantly push them away until they eventually leave you.
Or maybe past abuse from childhood or adulthood or bullying you received in school keeps playing in your mind and you can’t find relief from the hurt you’ve experienced. You are constantly reliving those moments from the past and have thoughts that you are worthless and unlovable that play in your mind all day long. Fear can also come into play because you may feel ashamed or feel like or were told you deserved the abuse you received and you’re not sure you want to open up those deep wounds to someone you don’t even really know. Or maybe you’ve been able to shove all those thoughts and feelings down, so you especially don’t want to open up that can of worms because you think only negative things will come by talking about the past.
Other concerns may revolve around substance use or other debilitating behaviors and you recognize addiction has started to take over your life. Maybe you have had family members or friends tell you they think you might have a problem and you should seek help. Or maybe you’ve lost your job and are unable to maintain steady employment because of your habits.
