DEREK’S DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional, neither am I giving any medical or legal advice. If you are seeking help from a doctor or an attorney, please consult said professionals. These are my personal thoughts and feelings on the subjects discussed, and my blog is my own personal experiences and journey with mental imbalance. Thanking you in advance!
Welcome back, my friends! Today we are going to explore when it is time to seek therapy when things are getting too tough for you to handle. And remember, there is no shame in our game!
They are just WORDS!
Let me start by saying that the terms “psychiatrist” or “psychologist” or even “therapist” may sound scary or even shameful to a lot of people, particularly if there is a suggestion that one needs to seek professional help. I say that these are just WORDS, but it is understandable, again, that these words can be triggering to some. In other words, people may take offense or even be frightened at the thought of seeing someone for professional help. So, look at it as simply going to talk to someone about your problems. Just you and that professional who is there to help, listen, and guide you. Not tell you what to do, but simply provide some tools to help you with whatever you are going through.
I was talking with a friend the other day about the benefits of therapy. He told me that he had lost his lover way back in 1992 after a 13-year relationship, as well as losing two brothers — all to AIDs. He was swimming in a pool of loss and despair, loneliness and depression. And he didn’t even realize it.
It wasn’t until he spoke with another friend who told him that perhaps he should see someone professionally. At first, he balked at the very idea that he needed to seek outside help. But he also realized that living alone in his house, his inner demons were speaking to him day in and day out. And this went on for years.
Once he realized that he was in dire need of help, he got it. And he began to cope with his losses. However, others do not realize they need help or they do, but feel they can’t afford it, which is understandable.
The Shame and Stigma of it all!
It is a shame that in this country, we do not have Universal Healthcare. It is also a shame that we do not recognize that mental illness is a MAJOR problem here in America. Just imagine instead of treating people with mental health issues as if they are criminals or freaks or scourges or outcasts, you treat them with kindness and compassion and understanding. Things would be vastly different.
And I might add there are a LOT of people walking around who think they are okay, but who could really benefit from therapy or simply talking to someone about what is really going on with them.
So, let’s see if we can take the stigma out of not only mental illness, but asking for professional help or seeking therapy, too.
Only Human
First of all, it is okay to NOT be okay. That’s right. I said it. Let’s face it, we are not – I repeat – we are NOT going to be 100% tiptop, superman/superwoman/super nonbinary all the freaking time!! Everything is not going to be okay and perfect every single day of our lives. If you do believe that, then you don’t reside on the same planet the rest of us do.
I am not at all saying wallow in it, but what I am saying is we are human. I don’t care what religion or belief system you hold, we are all still HUMAN!
Secondly, it is definitely okay to ask for help. But when should you?
- When whatever you are facing or going through just becomes absolutely unbearable.
- When you realize that your problems are affecting your life, your job, your work, your family, your activities, YOU.
Check out the link below that goes more in depth:
I’ve Been There
Again, I am not a doctor. But I will tell you I have, myself, sought therapy for anger issues in the past, and I found it beneficial. I learned the root cause of some of my anger and how to effectively manage and deal with it. (I sense another blog post!!! LOL)
And yes, I even sought help for my intrusive thoughts and found it helpful, as well. I am even considering seeking help yet again.
The above friend I mentioned stated that he found it helpful just to talk to someone about what he was feeling. And sometimes that is all a person needs is to just talk to someone and have them listen.
Crisis mode
In the research that I have done, if you feel you are in severe crisis mode, i.e. you are contemplating suicide, it is best to contact a crisis or suicide hotline first before delving into therapy.
I recently learned that someone who was in extreme crisis, actually checked himself into a mental health facility for about a month. He said it helped him tremendously. Again, there is no shame in our game.
Now, before I go, if you feel that therapy is for you and you are not in immediate crisis, then click on the link below. And you can do the therapy sessions in the comfort of your own home!
And in the meantime, and as always, please be mentally well!!
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: There are products on this page. By clicking on the links, you will be redirected to that page at no cost to you. However, I will receive compensation if you purchase something (which I hope you do 😊).
