Do you ever find yourself debating whether you need to seek professional care for your mental health? Have you ever asked yourself, ‘do I need therapy’? A negative stigma to therapy occasionally leaves us thinking that we only need help when we’re ‘mentally ill’ or can’t care for ourselves. This is far from the truth. Getting additional support from someone other than your friends or family can help you navigate your emotions and experiences, to help you build a healthier and happier life.
Here are a few signs why professional mental health care could be beneficial for you:
Feeling stuck
Sometimes, you might just feel like you have the same pattern in life. It might be that you’re feeling a little bored, want a bit of a challenge or explore something new. Going to therapy can be a great way to learn more about your own potential, try to get that promotion you’ve been waiting for or even find a way to get more satisfaction out of life. Anything is possible.
Personal Relationship Difficulties
Relationships are not perfect - whether it is the one with your parents, coworkers, partner, friends or children. But we can work to build stronger and healthier relationships. Striving for better communication in your relationship with others can help you build a support system outside of therapy for the challenges you and the people around you experience.
Your Child Needs Helps
They say raising a child takes a village - and you’re giving a 100% of your love, care and attention to strengthen your child through their difficulties. While doing so, often parents struggle to process and take care of the intense emotions they may encounter through their experiences. Finding the right support for yourself will only help you find a smoother way to navigate both the joys and demands of parenting.
Stressful Life Events
Life is full of ups and downs. These changes can be overwhelming to deal with on our own. Sometimes, even if we have others around to support us, it’s difficult to communicate how we feel. Some examples of stressors that can affect us are losing a loved one, divorce, losing a job, suffering from injury or illness. These events can directly or indirectly affect your life, and therapy can be a way to gain support and build resilience to adversity.
Strong Feelings
Sometimes, even though we are insightful, we can’t find any explanation for the way we feel. We just feel strongly for long periods of time and these feelings are strenuous. Days of anger, weeks of feeling lonely or months of feeling under the weather, are strong signs that seeking help might be a good route to follow.
Too Much or Too Little Food or Sleep
Nobody is a stranger to sleepless nights or binge eating days. Nobody is a stranger to sleep that feels like hibernation and losing an appetite. However, when either or both of these start to interrupt the way we function daily, it can be problematic to many aspects of our lives. Finding the root of the problem and working through it in therapy can give you a healthy routine and balance to manage your life.
Excessive Drinking, Smoking or Drug Intake
A drink or two is known to some as a stress reliever. But when you continuously and regularly depend on a substance such as alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to feel better, you harm yourself and the people around you. It would be helpful to find a different method of self-soothing that helps you gain control of your behaviour. A therapist can help you assert the control you need through treatment.
Even if one of the reasons you think you need professional help for your mental health are not listed above, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek care. Book an appointment to talk to a practitioner and make your mental health a priority - you don’t need to struggle in silence.
