Although there are still many taboos around it, more and more importance is being given to mental health nowadays. We constantly hear a lot of judgments and misconceptions on the subject such as I don’t t believe in psychologists, I don’t want anyone telling me what to do, that’s just for crazy people or for people with serious issues, I don’t want to depend on anybody to feel well, I can do it alone, and one that is also very common and one of my personal favorites, why should I tell my problems to a stranger? These arguments invalidate asking for help when you need it most and can also make it difficult to take the first step due to not having proper information about what really happens during a therapeutic process, and how much it can help us.
Therapy is not like going to the doctor where a drug is prescribed for a certain period of time and the symptoms or illness simply go away. Psychotherapy is practiced by psychology professionals who have the training to provide you with support, offer you the necessary tools and skills with which to identify and manage your emotions; as well as to help you develop internal resources to face life situations and increase your well-being. It is a process in which, as a client, you actively participate in your own growth, which means that you are NOT going to get something fixed, to be told what to do or to have your life sorted. During therapy, you will work on yourself, get to know yourself, develop skills, and learn to take care of yourself.
It is normal for you to have reasons for not wanting to go to therapy, such as being afraid of what might happen, not wanting to change, avoiding unpleasant sensations and emotions, feeling embarrassed about going to a psychologist, not wanting to tell your life to a stranger because of fear that they are going to judge you, or because you minimize what is happening to you and believe that it is not a big deal. But in these cases, it is worth asking yourself, at what cost are you making the decision not to go? What are you putting off or missing out on if you don’t go to therapy? At the end of the day, it is something you do for yourself and yourself alone.
So how do you know if you need to go to therapy? Some reasons might be feeling sad for no reason, not being able to sleep, feeling anxious, doing things you don’t want to do, or not doing things you want to do without knowing why, going through a loss or separation, having a hard time saying no, losing interest in things, you want to know yourself better, change habits, work on your insecurities or fears, you are very hard on yourself and others, among other reasons. Another factor to consider is when the duration of a situation that affects you on a personal, social, or work level has taken away your freedom, your peace of mind, or has become a constant discomfort. It is important to mention that you do not need to be in a state of crisis to ask for help or feel that you need it. In fact, this works just like preventive medicine! The better you feel about yourself, the better you’ll feel about others and the healthier your relationships will be.
Taking the first step can be scary because you can feel vulnerable when sharing very personal information, or because of fear of change. But those changes will be the ones you decide to make. The therapist will be there to accompany you in your process, and to offer you a space where you can be comfortable and feel safe to express yourself freely and without being judged. In addition, everything will be according to your rhythm, always respecting your learning times and with great love and compassion towards you. The duration of a therapeutic process depends on each person. Within the sessions, goals are established and once they are fulfilled, the process ends, since what psychologists really want is for the person to be autonomous and use their own resources. In case you need to go back at some point in your life, you can do so whenever you feel like it.
Going to therapy is part of our self-care habits, it is a personal investment to improve the different areas in your life. Remember, you don’t need to be on the edge of the abyss to start taking care of your mental health. If you feel that you can no longer handle a situation alone, don’t feel bad! It’s okay to ask for help. So, if you decide to take the first step, in Phillia we have a team of psychotherapists who can help you and accompany you in your process. The best adventure in life is getting to know yourself! We will be looking forward to hearing from you!
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