Starting therapy is one of the first major steps towards helping our mental health and ultimately improving our quality of life. For this reason, some may hesitate for years about going to therapy before ever stepping foot into the office of a therapist. They overthink whether or not they need mental support or if they are simply going through a rough phase in life that will pass over. Here are some signs that one should go to therapy.
Signs to Go to Therapy
Some people experiencing something life-changing may find it hard to adapt, so their coping mechanisms may not be working like they used to. At this time, they start to wonder if therapy could actually help. Some may experience constant feelings of being overwhelmed or hopeless. Others may feel like everything is fine, but they still want to maintain or enhance their well-being, as well as learn more about themselves. Perhaps, even opening this article to read and see if any of these signs apply may be a sign in itself to try to go to therapy.
Benefits of Therapy
Therapy can help improve many mental health conditions by alleviating symptoms. When going to see a therapist, people can also learn to cope with symptoms that may not respond to treatment right away. In fact, research shows that the benefits of therapy last even longer than only medication alone. Medication does have its benefits in terms of reducing some symptoms of mental health conditions, but therapy teaches people helpful skills to address symptoms on their own. Such learnt skills last after therapy ends, and in that way, symptoms may continue to improve, making it less likely that people will need further treatment.
Therapy offers a safe space to talk through life challenges, which include breakups, grief, parenting difficulties, or family struggles. Overall, therapy can help people learn about what they are feeling, why they might be feeling it, and how to cope.
Choosing to Go to Therapy
At the end of the day, no one needs to justify their choice to see a therapist to anyone. Even if one does not feel like they have deteriorating mental health, merely feeling like wanting to try therapy is already a good enough reason to see a therapist. There is no need to have a major reason. Simply, if one wants to go, they can go. Constantly checking on our mental health is important and should never be neglected, so receiving mental support is always an encouraged plus. Remember that reaching out is not a sign of weakness, but rather a significant step towards the path of self-care.