5 Signs you might benefit from therapy
Something I have learned in my years as a therapist is the importance of self-reflection for self-growth. I have also learned how little time most people actually spend on self-reflection. We live in a world where being busy is glorified, so our minds are constantly filled with what’s next: our next meeting, our next meal, our next trip. We all get wrapped up in forward thinking rather than pausing to check in on ourselves. This is why therapy is such a helpful tool for not just those of us in a crisis, but also those of us that might be sleepwalking through our day to day life. How can this actually look for people? Let’s talk about it.
1. Persistent Feelings of Sadness or Anxiety:
How long is “too long” to feel this way?
I think we all know that feeling a moment of sadness or worry is part of living life. But, sometimes I worry that we normalize this too much. We can be very clinical and focus on the specific criteria to qualify for depression or anxiety, but the reality is we don’t all fit into a box. For example, a new mom might be grateful and blissful about her new baby, but at the same time, there might be moments of feeling completely overwhelmed or at a loss of her identity. Even if this new mom only experiences “moments” of these emotions, I would encourage her to reach out to a therapist right away to sort through all she is navigating. Being proactive can help us avoid worsening symptoms, and in this case, help this new mom confidently step into her new identity sooner rather than later.
2. Difficulty Managing Daily Responsibilities:
The link between mental health and productivity
Let’s talk a little bit more about that whole “sleepwalking through life” thing. I touched on how this can be connected to the glorification of being busy and always thinking about what’s next. Well, getting too focused on “what’s next” leads us to becoming burnt out. While this can look different for everyone, it tends to eventually look and feel like a disconnect from our values entirely. How we feel has a direct impact on what we do (or don’t do.) So maybe, we stop keeping our home as tidy as we usually do or we miss an important meeting or say “no” to a friend that we generally love to spend time with. If we don’t feel like ourselves, we stop acting like ourselves. Therapy can help guide us back to where we once were or maybe, finally, it can help us set up some long overdue boundaries and we can get somewhere better.
3. Strained Relationships:
When communication breakdown is more than a bad week
Relationships can be impacted by mental health struggles and/or mental health struggles can be caused by relationships. We all know the saying - hurt people, hurt people. When we are struggling emotionally, we often take it out on those closest to us. And this doesn’t just have to be a romantic relationship, it can be our friendships or our family as well. New life stages can also lead to our re-examining relationships. Maybe a newly married couple finds themselves at odds with their family suddenly. This new life stage might mean a need to learn new ways to communicate with their loved ones as they create their own traditions. In therapy, we can not only put a name to what you’re feeling and redefine boundaries, but we can also practice communicating these to the important people in your life.
4. Feeling Stuck or Lost in Life
Why life transitions can trigger therapy needs
What’s the one constant in life? Change. Change can be great, but it can also be hard. When things change suddenly in life, we can find ourselves feeling stuck or lost. Having a goal helps to guide us and when we finally reach that goal, we might lose sight of our purpose. Imagine a 26 year old, successful guy that has historically prioritized career by getting the best grades and getting into the best college and getting the highest paying job, but he starts to see those around him getting engaged or buying a house. He might start to ask himself, “What’s next for me?” And for the first time in his life, he doesn’t have an answer. Suddenly, laundry starts piling up and he begins avoiding his friends. When we go too long without that pause or check-in with ourselves, we might miss that internal voice that tells us that our values have shifted or it’s time for a new goal. Therapy can help us explore transitional periods and realign with our true goals and values.
5. Physical Symptoms Without a Medical Cause
The mind-body connection
Ever been sick with worry or are so stressed that a tension headache creeps in? These are some common, and usually obvious, signs of our body telling us to slow down. Now, let’s all think about this a little deeper - the last time you knew you had a tension headache from stress, how did you respond? Did you take that as a sign to slow down? Or, did you pop some Advil and keep pushing through the day? It is so important that we reflect on these things because it is all cumulative and sometimes the signs aren’t obvious. I have heard from one too many clients that they ended up in my office after experiencing chest pain or heart palpitations “out of the blue” only to find out (after a trip to the ER) that they were actually experiencing a panic attack. So whether you are guilty of ignoring those obvious signs and pushing through or have become so disconnected from what your body is telling you that you can’t see past the physical symptoms to identify that emotional cause, I encourage you to reach out to a therapist to rebuild that mind-body connection. How we treat ourselves, both physically and emotionally, matters.
If you’re reading this and found yourself relating to anything here, I hope you now see that therapy is a tool for everyone. It can help us to navigate life challenges and encourage self-growth in a supportive and safe space. Whether you are struggling with anxiety, postpartum depression, loss of identity, experiencing a life transition, or something just doesn’t feel right anymore, therapy can help. Why wait until things get worse? Don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation. One thing about us therapists, we are happy to help. And I can’t wait to hear from you.
