In life, everyone faces struggles. Whether it’s work-related stress, grief from the loss of a loved one, or difficulty with relationships, it’s normal to experience periods of stress, anxiety, and low mood. However, there are times we can get through with the help of friends and family, and times when professional help is needed.
Many people are under the impression that you should only get therapy if you have a serious mental illness, but in reality, anyone could benefit from seeing a licensed therapist. Therapy is a helpful tool to grow as a person, heal emotional pain, and learn how to think in a more positive way. These are things that even people who feel they have good lives could benefit from.
So how do you know when therapy is necessary? Here are some signs that you may want to contact a therapist in Prairie Village.
You have unexplained physical symptoms.
Many people go to therapy when they are experiencing symptoms such as back pain, digestive issues, and difficulty sleeping without any medical explanation. They may go to their doctor and receive test after test to no avail. Psychological problems often manifest physically as a way for your body to communicate to you that something is awry. If you can’t explain your health concerns, your doctor may recommend therapy.
You always go to the worst case scenario.
Do you tend to assume the worst? You go on one bad date and immediately assume it means you’ll never meet someone you like ever. You don’t get a job and it means that you will be destitute and never employed again. This is referred to as “catastrophizing,” and it is highly correlated with depression and anxiety. If you are a catastrophizer, going to therapy may help you regulate your thoughts around this issue.
You are always mean to yourself.
If you said the things you say to yourself to someone else, would it be considered abusive? Many people privately deal with horrible thoughts that tell them that they aren’t good enough. You don’t have to live like this. If you are constantly beating yourself up, therapy can be a powerful way to help you challenge these thoughts and replace them with more realistic ones.
Your emotions feel out of control.
Do things that never bothered you before now make you feel irrationally angry? Are you feeling withdrawn, like you can’t connect with anyone? Are you sleeping more to escape your emotions? This is affecting the quality of your life. If you feel like you have no control over your emotions, this can be indicative of a problem that needs to be addressed by a professional.
You want to better understand yourself.
You might feel that because you are pretty happy in your life without any major mental health symptoms, that therapy would be pointless for you. In reality, therapy can be a powerful way to get to know yourself better: what you want to get out of life, where you need to focus your attention, and how to better manage challenges in your life. If you feel that you could benefit from therapy, regardless of your specific circumstances, contact Prairie Village Therapy.