Deciding to seek therapy can often be a difficult step. There are a lot of doubts and apprehensions that may come to one’s mind, which can be overwhelming to deal with. To ensure the best treatment it is important to calculate all the factors that make for a successful plan of action. In this guide, we will help you to decide whether therapy is right for you, some signs you might need therapy and the benefits of it.
Contents
Understanding The Need For Therapy
Human emotions are dynamic and complicated. We have daily life experiences which can have various effects on people’s physical, emotional and mental well-being. Although it is easier to approach a physician in the prospect of a physical illness, reaching out to mental health practitioner often becomes a matter of shame or embarrassment. This mostly happens due to the stigma and lack of awareness around mental health. People feel weak and ashamed to admit they are struggling mentally and resort to bottling in their feelings or indulge in unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse, addiction to material things like sex, gambling, etc. These effects further have their effects which can make an individual’s overall health worse. To avoid such drastic consequences, it is important to take note of any decline in one’s mental health and cater to them through professional intervention before it gets worse.
How To Know You Need Therapy?
Distressing events and untreated mental illnesses can bring about changes in our brain’s physiology and mental balance. These changes may be small at first, but they can quickly spiral out of control if left unaddressed. It is important to catch these changes early on and seek help before they become bigger problems.
The very first step is admitting that you are not feeling okay and need help. It can be difficult to come to terms with the fact that you might need professional help to deal with your emotions. However, it is essential to understand that therapy is not a sign of weakness, but rather a strength. It takes immense courage to seek out help when you feel like you are struggling.
Although there are no fixed criteria for who can or cannot go for therapy, some commonly observed reasons why people contemplate seeking professional help are:
- little to no motivation
- loss of interest in social activities or personal relationships
- sleeping and eating either too much or too less
- life-altering or traumatic events like new job/school, moving places, witnessing death, accidents, etc.
- rising conflicts in your professional or social or personal relationships
- constant overthinking or anxiety about nothing in particular
- unprocessed past trauma
- feeling either completely numb or too overwhelmed by emotions
- unexplainable physical difficulties like migraines, stomachaches, tense muscles and joints
If you are experiencing one or more of the above-listed symptoms then you should talk to a professional for immediate assistance.
Benefits of Therapy
Therapy can provide a non-judgemental space for you to openly express your thoughts and feelings.
It is an opportunity to explore yourself in a safe and supportive environment. Individual feels safe enough to be vulnerable about their true emotions.
It is also helpful as it helps you to learn new coping mechanisms and skills to deal with difficult situations.
Therapy offers you an entirely new perspective of situations, people, and also of yourself.
Managing issues with complex emotions like self-esteem, anger, self-sabotage, etc.
The sense of having a trusted support system boosts morale and provides the feeling of unconditional positive regard.
If you find yourself constantly struggling with the same issues, therapy can help you to break out of that cycle by teaching new ways of dealing with them.
In the case of disorders, an official diagnosis can help in managing and treating underlying symptoms and treating an individual accordingly.
Conclusion
If you are struggling with your mental health, do not hesitate to reach out for help. Therapy can be an immensely beneficial experience that can help you to understand yourself and your emotions better. Remember, there is no shame in seeking out help when you need it. You don’t need to have a mental illness to be able to approach a professional. At the very least, therapy provides you with a space to openly express your thoughts and feelings without judgments.
A Word From Therapy Mantra
Your mental health — Your psychological, emotional, and social well-being — has an impact on every aspect of your life. Positive mental health essentially allows you to effectively deal with life’s everyday challenges.
At TherapyMantra, we have a team of therapists who provide affordable online therapy to assist you with issues such as depression, anxiety, stress, workplace Issues, addiction, relationship, OCD, LGBTQ, and PTSD. You can book a free therapy or download our free Android or iOS app.
