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6 signs you need to see a therapist

signs you need to see a therapist

Throughout our lifetimes, we will invariably encounter times and situations when we will need help addressing problems and issues that cause us emotional distress or make us feel overwhelmed. When you are experiencing these types of life difficulties, you may benefit from the assistance of an experienced, trained professional therapist. A counselor can help you identify problems and assist you finding the best ways to cope with your situation by changing behaviors that contribute to the problem or by finding constructive ways to deal with a situation that is beyond your personal control. Professional counselors offer help in addressing many situations that cause emotional stress. Here are 6 signs you need to see a therapist.

  • You’ve suffered a trauma and can’t stop thinking about it

Job loss, relationship breakup or the death of a close friend or family member can be stressful enough for you to seek out counseling. Even though we think that our feelings will return to normal on their own, this isn’t always true. Some people react by withdrawing from life. Grief coming from a loss can impact our lives, impairing daily functioning and possibly causing you to withdraw from friends and activities you enjoy. Some people react by becoming manic, engaging too much with friends and acquaintances and finding that they can’t sleep.  If you are experiencing either of these reactions, it’s a sign you need to see a therapist.

  • You’re feeling sad, angry or otherwise “not yourself.”

Out of control sadness, frequent anger or hopelessness could in fact be an indication of an emotional and mental health issue that can improve with counseling. If you’re eating and/or sleeping more or less than usual, withdrawing from friends and family, or simply feeling “off,” speak with someone before serious issues develop that impact the quality of your life. Should these types of feelings intensify to the point that you question if your life is worth living or if you have thoughts of death or suicide, reach out for assistance immediately.

  • You’re abusing substances like food, alcohol, drugs or using sex to cope

Should you turn outside yourself to a substance and/or behavior to enable you to feel better, your coping skills could use a little adjustment. If you are not able to regulate these types of behaviors or perhaps you can’t quit regardless of negative consequences that you experience, you could be dealing with addictive or compulsive behavior that calls for treatment.

  • You feel disconnected from activities you used to enjoy

If your activities, time spent with your friends or your family gatherings have lost their previous joyfulness, it might be a sign that something is amiss. If you’re feeling disillusioned, like there’s not a lot of purpose or a point or just feeling a general sense of unhappiness, talking to a therapist could help you regain some clarity or start your life in a new direction.

  • Your relationships are strained

Are you having trouble communicating how you really feel — or even being able to identify it in the moment? If you find yourself feeling unhappy during interactions with  your loved ones on a regular basis, you could be a good candidate for couples or family therapy.

  • Your friends are concerned about you

Quite often family and friends are able to identify patterns and behaviors that are difficult to observe from our internal perspective, as a result it’s worth taking into consideration the perspectives of those closest to you. If someone in your life has stated something to you along the lines of: ‘Are you talking to anybody about this ?’ or ‘Are you doing okay? I’m worried about you’ — those questions are good signs you need to see a therapist.

Everyone alive goes through tough times and situations that impact their feelings of well being. Some handle the adversity quickly whereas some people get caught in a web of overwhelming despair. For people caught in this web, seeking the advice of a counselor or therapist can help get you back on the road to taking command back of your life.

10 Responses so far.

  1. Anna Davis says:

    I’m so glad you pointed out that a lack of interest in social interaction and other activities that you used to enjoy can indicate that you should talk to a therapist. I used to spend a lot of my free time painting and going out with friends, but for the past 7 or 8 months, all I want to do is sleep. It sounds like I should definitely speak with a therapist about this.

  2. It caught my attention when you said that you must consider seeking counseling if you experienced job loss, relationship breakup, or the death of a close friend or family member since they all be stressful. With this in mind, I will be sure to see a professional within the month. Since my husband divorced me for someone else 9 months ago, I have been experiencing the signs of depression. I am also afraid that I have not been enjoying the thing that I used to love before like swimming and biking.

  3. It got my attention when you said that frequent anger, hopelessness, and out-of-control sadness are signs that you are dealing with emotional and mental health issues. With this in mind, I will be sure to see a psychiatrist within the month for help. Since the beginning of this month, I have been dealing with uncontrollable emotions, and there are episodes when I cry endlessly due to extreme sadness. My goal is to seek treatment so I can recover properly, so I will do your tips.

  4. Ava Murphy says:

    Thanks for pointing out that you could be suffering from emotional and mental health issues when you are experiencing homelessness or out-of-control sadness. This is what my best friend exactly needs to hear because her emotions have been uncontrollable since she gave birth in March. She wanted to become a better mother, so I will ask her to see a postpartum counseling service professional within the month for her to be treated well.

  5. Ava Murphy says:

    Thanks for pointing out that you must talk to a therapist who could help you regain some clarity when you feel a general sense of unhappiness. This is a good tip for my niece who has been dealing with the signs of depression for the past three months. It must be due to the passing of her late boyfriend, so I will ask her to consider getting counseling sessions.

  6. Ava Murphy says:

    It caught my attention when you said that you must see a therapist when you feel a sense of unhappiness so you can regain some clarity. This is something that I will share with a close friend of mine who has been feeling demotivated for the past two months. She wants to move on after losing her husband due to an auto accident, so I will ask her to consider therapy services.

  7. Bea A says:

    What caught my attention is when you said that you must see a therapist if you feel a general sense of unhappiness to regain some clarity. This is something that I will share with my best friend who had been a victim of narcissistic abuse. She wants to recover because the experience makes her feel hopeless and demotivated to live her life to the fullest. I will ask her to seek the help of a professional within the week.

  8. Xzy A says:

    The thing that stuck out to me the most is when you said that you could regain some clarity and start a new life when you talk to a therapist. My best friend mentioned over a 12-minute phone call that her emotions have been uncontrollable for the past three months. I will ask her to consult an online therapist to get proper help.

  9. Ava M says:

    The thing that stuck out to me the most is when you said that you must be suffering from emotional and mental health issues when you have been dealing with frequent anger, hopelessness, and out-of-control sadness. My best friend has been complaining about extreme sadness for the past three weeks, and she said that she has been experiencing nightmares. For sure, I will ask her to consider seeing a reliable therapist before this month ends to get the appropriate help that she needs to recover.

  10. Dana Hue says:

    The thing that stuck out to me the most is when you said that you must be suffering from emotional and mental health issues if you are experiencing extreme sadness and hopelessness. This reminds me of my best friend’s 13-year-old daughter who has been showing signs of depression since her father died two months ago. Maybe, it will be helpful for her to consider finding an online teen coaching workshop that will benefit her teenage daughter.

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