Hannah Grace
It’s totally normal to have negative thoughts and feelings sometimes. Life can’t always go smoothly no matter how much we try. Family, financial, personal, and other important matters are all human predicaments everyone has. The mind is a place where both good and bad things can enter. However, there are times when you find yourself unable to cope. Maybe you’re experiencing something more difficult than usual. Maybe you’ve been out of it for days now and nothing seems to work. Even hearing encouragement is not enough. You probably need to seek therapy. Therapy is a proven way of dealing with psychological problems.
Unlike before, ignorance surrounding psychotherapy has already decreased. People are becoming more and more aware of mental health issues and how therapy is not just for those with serious conditions. There’s no need to be afraid. If you came here asking yourself, “Do I need therapy?” read on to see if you can relate to any of the following signs:
You Can’t Control Your Emotions
Have you been lashing out at your partner lately? Do you get easily irritated by anything? This might mean you’re barely capable of reigning in your emotions. Whatever you’re currently going through is taking its toll on you. According to research, feelings such as anger, uneasiness, and even indifference not only indicate something more serious but may also come from other feelings you didn’t expect. You could be depressed if your anger is out of hand. Your short temper might be a result of a hidden frustration.
You Don’t Enjoy Doing Your Usual Activities Anymore
Hobbies and favorite things to do like watching movies, playing games, and attending social events can’t get you excited as they used to. Getting out of bed is hard. You feel like you have no strength to move at all. Productive days are suddenly rare, if not gone at all. Washing up and going outside might be the best you can do.
Your Eating Habits Have Changed (In a Bad Way)
Food is one of the most common and accessible things a person can use or avoid to ease unpleasant feelings. Whether you’re aware or not, overeating or not eating enough is an impulse that you may have when you’re in a rut. Nonetheless, indulging in such an unhealthy habit can be dangerous. It gives temporary relief which is not worth risking yourself for.
You Have Irregular Sleep Patterns
If you can’t get proper sleep or you sleep too much, it’s a sign. Extreme worries and negative thoughts can keep you up. You just can’t stop your mind from running even in the wee hours of the night. You can’t relax. Irregular sleep can cause harm to both your mind and body. You must seek help before any serious damage is done.
You’re Not Performing Well At School or Work
When there’s too much going on in your head, it’s hard to focus on anything. You can neglect your studies or give poor performance at work. Classmates, teachers, co-workers, or bosses will surely notice if you don’t seem like your usual self–sometimes even before you know it yourself. Parents and roommates can also sense when something’s off about you, especially when they see your grades or get informed by people from your work.
You Can’t Take Care of Your Relationships
Those who care for you may start pulling away because of your behavior. You might be too unavailable, distant, intense, sensitive, or clingy. You may also start pushing people away without being aware of it. Building and maintaining relationships can be impossible if you’re not in a good place mentally. You can’t have time for others when you’re caught up in your own troubles.
Your Physical Health Is Suffering
Have you ever wondered why you feel under the weather for no reason sometimes? Mental health issues can affect your physical health. From simple headaches and fatigue to more serious conditions such as a weaker immune system, lung diseases, and heart problems, your psyche has a huge impact on your body.
You’ve Developed Addictions
As sad as it is, psychological conditions can lead to addiction. Substance abuse, excessive eating, illegal drug use, etc., distract your brain from the things that bring you down. The relief you experience is short-lived though. After feeling good for a while, you have to deal with the consequences. They certainly can make you feel worse. Addictions are difficult to overcome once you’ve gotten used to them. Therapy can help. Depending on which form of addiction, psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy will be determined by a mental health professional.
You’ve Experienced Trauma
History of abuse or traumatic events you haven’t fully recovered from usually turn into strongholds. They continue to disturb you and your life even long after they happened. You can continue to hurt (consciously or unconsciously) after many years no matter how happy you are at present. Therapy and emotional support are necessary in healing these wounds.
Your Friends or Loved Ones Are Concerned
Those who are closest to you can tell the truth despite your actions. Though you might not know yet or try to deny what’s going on with you by pretending, they can see right through you. If they are showing real concern, don’t ignore them. You can’t always survive on your own. Deciding to seek proper help is a way of loving both yourself and the people in your life.
Therapy was created to help people achieve mental wellness. Although not all mental health problems are completely solved, they can be managed to make daily functioning possible. Undergoing psychotherapy is worth your time, money, effort, and patience. If ever you’re having second thoughts, simply remind yourself that you’re doing it for you. There’s no shame in that. Don’t let others’ opinions bother you. You can only make progress once you take your first step.
“Do I need therapy?” is a common, normal question many people ask themselves. Seek support if you need it. You can have someone help you know where to go, who the right therapist is for you, and keep you company as you go through your journey. There are many different kinds of therapy. Mental health professionals are capable of assessing which one you need and of understanding how it should be done for your own comfort. The therapeutic process will depend on your condition, history, and preferences. All in all, you can trust therapy. With some love, endurance, and commitment, you are set.
Can you relate? Share your thoughts below. We’d love to hear them!
