Everyone should seek therapy at some point, even if they’re happy. A therapist is a safe space to disclose your innermost thoughts and feelings without facing judgment. Therapy can also help you develop the tools you need to get through hardships in your life.
However, most people don’t go to a therapist when happy. Most people start therapy when they have difficulty coping with an issue in their lives. The power of therapy shouldn’t be underestimated, and if you’re wondering when you should seek professional help from a therapist or psychiatrist, here are some reasons to start.
Top 8 Reasons Below
-
You’ve experienced a major life change
A prominent event in your life, good or bad, is a solid reason to seek professional help. After a life change, you need time to grieve for your old life and reframe your mindset to continue through your life. Working with a therapist can help you cope with these dramatic changes in your life. Major life changes can lead to stress, anxiety, or even depression if left unaddressed. Talking with a mental health professional can help you develop the tools needed as you progress through these changes.
-
You’re unhappy most of the time
It’s normal to be unhappy sometimes, but if your good days are far outweighed by bad, it may be time to seek professional help.
Whether you can pinpoint a reason for your unhappiness or not, a therapist can help you unearth some of the experiences leading to your dissatisfaction in life or simply offer you a shift in perspective. When something negative happens, it can be easy to get caught in the feedback loop of pessimism, and a mental health professional can help you reshape your thought process for a more positive outlook.
-
Negative emotions are interfering with your quality of life
If negative emotions prevent you from enjoying your life, it may be time to seek professional help. Many people think you have to experience some form of trauma to justify therapy, but that isn’t the case. Sometimes, ourselves is what can get in the way of our happiness, and that alone is a good enough reason to talk it out with a mental health professional. Think about it, if someone experienced pain that was getting in the way of their life, you wouldn’t say that’s not a reason to go to the doctor. If your mental health is impeding your life, getting help from a therapist may be the ticket to getting back to enjoying your life.
-
You have a negative body image
Body image issues do not discriminate based on size, gender, or race, meaning anyone can experience them at some point. A negative body image means you don’t like how you look, or your perception of your physical appearance is skewed. Body image issues can fluctuate throughout your life, so even if you felt completely comfortable in your skin a few years ago, your perception can change. Body image issues are associated with self-esteem, so a negative body image can impact your overall view of yourself. To reconnect your mind and body, it’s best to talk through these problems with a therapist to help you alter your perception and gain the tools needed to accept and love yourself and your body.
-
You’re haunted by trauma
If you’ve experienced trauma, talking with a therapist can help you cope with difficult situations you’ve had to endure. Trauma can lead to various mental health disorders, ranging from agoraphobia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and more. Getting help from a therapist can help you understand the situation you went through, help you express your feelings, and support you in developing coping strategies when those emotions inevitably present themselves. Trauma can stir up feelings of guilt or blame because you can become trapped by the negative thought pattern of believing your trauma was your fault or you could have done something different to prevent it. It’s important not to blame yourself for things out of your control and a trained therapist can help you see that.
-
You’re struggling with your sexual orientation
Sexual orientation is very personal, and unfortunately, due to homophobia and discrimination in the world, it can be difficult for people to accept their sexual orientation or cope with judgment from others. Feeling ashamed of your sexual orientation can physically manifest into other things such as depression, anxiety, sexual health disorders such as low libido or erectile dysfunction, dysphoria, and more. Many therapists specialize in helping people on the sexuality spectrum come to terms with their sexuality and talk through the negative feelings they associate with their sexual orientation. So if you’re struggling with your sexuality, a therapist who is well-versed in this area can help you.
-
You have thoughts of harming yourself or others
Thoughts of harming yourself or others are scary, and you might feel like you don’t have control over these intrusive thoughts. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is one of the potential mental health disorders leading to this kind of thought pattern, but depression and others can also be the source. Thoughts of violence should immediately get addressed by a doctor, as it can prevent you from endangering yourself or others and dealing with the consequences of actions you didn’t feel like you had any control over. Therapy is a safe space to voice your innermost thoughts, even violent ones. A therapist will quickly go into action should you need additional support and work with you to develop healthy coping strategies or interrupt those negative thought patterns.
-
You struggle with building healthy lifestyle habits
Struggling with building new and healthy habits for yourself can be challenging, but a therapist can support you in your journey. For example, if you have a food disorder, such as binge eating that’s led to a significant change in your weight, there may be something in your head or subconscious that needs to get addressed to change your behavior. Addictions are not just to drugs, you can also be addicted to food due to the release of dopamine in your brain. If your brain already faces a dopamine deficit, it learns to crave foods that release dopamine, causing you to crave that thing even more as the release becomes smaller and smaller. So that bad habit you just can’t quit may need the help of a therapist.
In conclusion
Whether you’ve experienced trauma or can’t shake off a habit you want to change, there are plenty of reasons to seek help from a mental health professional, some of which have been named here. Whatever your reasons, even if you just need a safe, judgment-free place to talk, consider working with a therapist. Your first therapist may not be the right fit for you, but persevere until you find someone you trust. The benefits of therapy have no limits, the only thing stopping you is yourself.
