Know when it is time to seek professional help
People are now more aware of what mental health and well-being are. Thanks to various Media that seeking professional help for counselling is not considered a stigma any more. And with that comes a crucial question, “How to know when do I need a counselor”?
Though medication is also available for treating various mental disorders and can reduce some symptoms of mental health conditions, therapy trains people to address symptoms on their own. Thus, the therapy enables people to develop skills that last after therapy ends and may continue to improve lifelong.
Having a mental health condition is common now, but only 40% of people with mental issues get help. Consequently, untreated mental health issues lead to other negative effects like inability to study or work, difficulty in maintaining relationships, increased risk of health issues, hospitalization and in some cases suicide.
When any type of mental health issue begins to affect our daily life, therapy may be recommended. Therapy helps in learning what you are feeling, why you are feeling so and how to cope with it. Therapy provides a safe space to talk through challenges like breakups, loss, and grief, or family struggles. Contrarily it is believed that people who are forced into therapy may feel resistant to it and find it harder t put in the work needed for their betterment.
Here are a few pointers to see if you need to go to a therapist:
- You think about coping with the issue or about the issue at least an hour each day
- You feel embarrassed or avoid others because of the issue
- The quality of your life has decreased due to the issue
- Your studies, work, or relationships are affected by the issue
- You have developed habits or made changes in your life to cope with the issue
If you find any of the following emotions or feelings to the extent that they interfere with your life, therapy may help in reducing their negative effects. It is important to get help if you feel controlled by symptoms or if the symptoms could cause harm to you or others.
Overwhelm
You feel like you have too many things to do or too many issues to deal with. You might feel like you can’t rest or even breathe.
Fatigue
A physical symptom, fatigue, often results from or accompanies mental health issues. Fatigue can cause you to sleep more than usual or have trouble getting out of bed in the morning.
Disproportionate rage, anger, or resentment
It is normal to get angry at times, and even passing rage isn’t necessarily harmful. But it becomes crucial to seek help dealing with these feelings when they don’t pass, or when they lead to violent or potentially harmful actions.
Agoraphobia
People having agoraphobia fear to be in places where they might experience panic attacks or become trapped. Some people may even become unable to leave their houses.
Anxious or intrusive thoughts
It’s common to worry about things from time to time, but when worry takes up a huge part of your day or causes physical symptoms, therapy might help you deal with it.
Hopelessness
Losing hope or feeling as if you have no future can indicate depression or another mental health condition.
Social withdrawal
Many people with mental health issues feel better when they are able to spend at least some time alone. But if you feel distressed around or with others, therapy can help you understand and deal with it.