Signs you Would Benefit from Starting Therapy

Making the decision to look for therapy is an important step for many. When someone decides to start counselling or psychotherapy it is usually because they are suffering or finding life difficult. There are numerous reasons why people attend therapy including, anxiety, depression, stress, work-related issues, bereavement, sexuality, illness, anger – management, addiction, relationship issues, identity, low self-esteem, trauma or any other reasons that are impacting on a person’s life.

Do not Panic

Firstly don’t panic if you feel that you need to start seeing a therapist. There is nothing to be ashamed about in reaching out for help. It is actually a strength in itself being able to ask for help and support. Therapy provides a safe non – judgemental space for clients to explore their thoughts, feeling’s,  behaviours and emotions. It is a safe place to explore your past ,focus on your present situation and look forward to a brighter future. It can be much easier to talk to a stranger instead of friends or family. People often feel that they don’t want to be worrying friends or family and decide to seek help from a trained professional therapist instead. If someone has a broken leg they wouldn’t ignore it or put off visiting their accident and emergency department. It really does make sense to treat emotional and mental health concerns with the same care and consideration. 

Firstly don’t panic if you feel that you need to start seeing a therapist. There is nothing to be ashamed of reaching out for help. It is actually a strength in itself been able to ask for help and support.

Let’s take a look at some of the signs that it may be time to start therapy…

Feeling Overwelmed

When someone is dealing with emotions that are difficult to manage, this can result in a feeling of being overwhelmed. This can greatly impact on a person’s life. It can affect a person’s ability to think and act in a rational manner making daily tasks feel unmanageable.  It is very useful to discuss these feelings with a trained therapist within a safe non-judgemental space. That feeling of being overwhelmed is usually caused by stress and demanding circumstances in one’s life. There is no, one, common cause of stress. We all find different things stressful in our lives. Therefore, it is important to reach out for help if we are feeling overwhelmed and feel it is impacting on our life. Someone might be feeling low or empty and just can’t snap out of it. Anxious or intrusive thoughts can be a problem for those feeling overwhelmed. Often the signs of emotional or mental distress are obvious but it can be difficult for someone to pinpoint what is going on for them. 

Change in Sleep/Eating Patterns

Sleep is very important for our well-being.  When we are asleep our bodies restore themselves both mentally and physically. This allows us to function in our daily lives. Having a healthy sleep pattern is important to having a healthy and well-functioning brain. However, most people, at some point in their life, experience some trouble falling asleep or getting a good night’s rest especially when feeling stressed or worried about something.  Often people may notice they are reaching out for sleeping tablets to aid their sleep. Lack of sleep results in low energy and fatigue during the day. We become unable to focus on, or, retain information.

When we feel overwhelmed with stress and tiredness, it can change our eating patterns. Some people can barely eat in times of stress while others over eat. Others may turn to substance abuse or sex as a coping mechanism to numb their feelings. With the help of a therapist, you can discuss your feelings and emotions and learn effective ways to manage your situation. Clients will also be encouraged to explore what is going on in their lives resulting in their disturbed sleep / eating pattern.

Grief

Loss of a loved one, relationship break up, divorce or loss of a job can be a long and difficult process. Grief is a natural response to loss; however, the pain of this loss can be overwhelming.   

In 1969 Elizabeth Kubler-Ross (Swiss-American Psychiatrist) proposed that there are five stages to grief:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

It’s important to note that grief is a normal experience and grief is a process. No two people grieve the same. Grief doesn’t follow any timeline or schedule. Clients may go back and forth through stages of grief; some may even skip some of the stages in their journey. 

Many people focus on the emotional response to a loss but there are also cognitive, behavioural, physical, social and spiritual responses. With the help and support of a trained therapist clients can tell their story, this is part of the grieving process. Within the safe space of the therapy room client’s grief will be normalised and worked through. 

Therapy is a great tool to help people learn how to manage their thoughts and feelings. It helps clients create change and improve the quality of their life through self – exploration and self-awareness.

Lack of Interest in Activities Once Enjoyed 

When people are struggling with emotional or psychological concerns, they can lose interest in activities they used to enjoy. This includes hobbies and socialising.  This can impact on our relationships resulting in a struggle to build and maintain relationships.  Often when in distress we can step back from important relationships in our lives and push those we care about away. Within therapy, clients can work out what is going on for them and return to a life that brings them joy and hope.

Traumatic Event

Traumatic events happen in our lives. Such events can cause emotional, physical, psychological or spiritual harm to those affected. When a traumatic event occurs, we may feel frightened or physically threatened. It is important to seek help if you feel you need to. Within therapy, ways of coping can be explored. Others attend therapy if they have a history of trauma, neglect or abuse in their lives. 

Conclusion

In conclusion there are many signs that someone may need therapy. Therapy is a great tool to help people learn how to manage their thoughts and feelings. It will help aid clients in their recovery. In individual therapy the relationship between the client and the therapist is very important.  Therapy gives clients a safe confidential space to explore thoughts, feelings, behaviours, emotions and concerns. Overall, it helps clients create change and improve the quality of their life through self – exploration and self-awareness. If you are experiencing any of the signs above, know that a trained therapist will be ready to listen with compassion and empathy and to support you as you journey on a path towards healing and recovery.