Why You Should Not Be Scared of Seeing a Therapist!
Mental health is such an important topic to be aware of! In today's post, I am sharing a few reasons why you should not be scared of getting help from a therapist!
As I was growing up in a small town in Ukraine, I had no idea what mental health really was. For some reason, I grew up thinking that only those who suffered from severe mental disorders needed to see therapists. However, I now know how wrong this opinion was!
Even though seeing a therapist is more normalized now, some people continue being afraid of these professionals. Some are afraid to share their secrets, which is completely normal. They think that they will be judged, and looked down upon. If you also share these ideas, I really hope that this post will open up your mind to thinking of therapy in a more positive way.
I decided to become a therapist because I personally went through a very tough time when I moved to America as a teenager. As you can imagine, leaving friends, hobbies, and some family members was extremely difficult. Acculturation to a new country is a different topic, but the way this event can affect mental health is real! It can make a person feel completely isolated, sad, lonely, anxious around new people, and many more signs that cry for help.
I don't want to bore you with this sad story, but this event completely changed me, and I am glad that it did! Now, as I am studying in grad school and working as an in-home therapist, I am able to share with others that IT IS OKAY to get help!
There are so many difficult moments that we all experience daily. Moving to a new city, going to a new school, dealing with a ton of homework assignments, working at a stressful job, having relationship and family issues, and so on! Sometimes we deal with such problems in unhealthy ways, such as poor eating choices, smoking, drinking, getting burnt out, arguing with loved ones... I can name so many more, but that is not the point of this article.
The point is that so much depends on how much time you spend on self-care! I always tell my clients that if they do not take care of themselves (their bodies and minds), they will not be able to function well at their jobs and in their homes. Seeing a therapist can help in so many ways!
As you are looking at my photos on my blog, do I seem like a scary person who will judge you and your life? I really hope not! LOL! Therapists are not there to judge you; they are there to help and guide you through difficult times in your life. It is so amazing to have someone to talk to, especially someone who is taught to put aside any biases and treat you empathetically. A good therapist will listen to you, and help you figure out ways to better yourself, as well as become self-aware of why your problem occurred.
I know that the thought of seeing a stranger and sharing secrets and issues with him or her is so scary, especially if you are not so good at opening up to people. Another scary idea is that you will have to show emotions. These are completely normal things to worry about. However, let me tell you that you are in charge of what is discussed in therapy. A therapist may ask you questions, but if you are not ready to answer, you will not be pushed to do so. You will also not be pushed to lay on a couch and cry about your problems. This is a very old stereotype of how therapy used to be done. Now, it is much more relaxed!
Therapists are normal people who also see other therapists when they struggle! I think it is time to take charge of our mental health, and not take it for granted! If you are struggling at school, or with self-love, or with any relationship in your life, or simply need support, think about possibly getting help from a professional. It is okay to see one!
You might ask yourself, "Why not talk to my friends about my problem?" It is definitely very helpful! However, your friends are not trained to look at you through a nonjudgemental lens, to see your life patterns (which can be good or bad), and to help you realize where your issues stem from.
I would love to write more on this topic, especially about couples therapy. This is kind of a test article to see if you guys would be interested in learning more about mental health! I really hope that at least some points in this post made you consider the idea of getting help from a professional, or helped you learn something new! :)
If you are open to having a discussion, please share your opinions about therapy or aspects about it that you would like to know more about! I would love to have a conversation with you.
And don't forget, there is always help out there whenever you need it! Have an amazing day, everyone! :)