Therapy Is So Much More Than Just Sitting On A Couch

The need to talk about your emotions is seen as something to poke fun at, weak, or shameful. This stigma is often why people don’t seek help in the first place.

But here’s a reality check: Researches show that therapy is incredibly effective in helping people manage problems from anxiety, sleep, relationships to trauma. And experts say that it’s worth it even when you don^’t have a medical condition.

What is Therapy?

Therapy refers to a form of treatment that focuses on relieving stress, mostly emotionally and also problems related to mental health. It emphasizes on examining and treating people dealing with dilemmas in personal choices relating to different aspects of life.

Therapy sessions are conducted by a variety of trained professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and licensed counselors.

The purpose of therapy is to provide the client or the patient with an aim of improving their lives and helping them resolve their repetitive confusions that cause stress. Hence, therapy is a way in which a person works in a collaborative way with the therapist and finds him/her improving in a positive way.

Why do we need Therapy?

Therapy, in a general term, can also be called as “talking treatment” as it mostly involves talking and meditating. Furthermore it benefits in different aspects of emotions, such as; the constant overwhelming and self loathing feelings of despair, feeling that you are on the edge and that nothing is going to improve, feeling the inability to cope up with everything, difficulty in concentrating on work, drinking too much or mild usage of drugs, etc.

All of these aspects, sometimes, just need a way out and just an anchor to hold on.

Therapy is a way to increase positive emotions and helping the client focus on his/her positive experiences in life; so that they know that everything can be resolved. Therapy is needed:

To find it easier to cope with everyday life

Many people feel more comfortable talking to a trained professional that can be offered through counseling services. The counselor is essentially a stranger that will listen to you without judgment.

Sharing and unloading your emotions through counseling and talking makes things easier to cope with. You have some weight off your mind and you know that you have someone who would listen to you. It is often seen that when people know that they can rely on someone to listen to their problems; it frees them from constant self loathing.

In other words, they can focus on living their lives again. This often produces a virtuous cycle; as being able to focus on everyday life means people make positive changes in themselves, which in turn lifts their mood. Some even get back on the path to realizing their dreams.

To feel that we are heard

Having someone to talk to who is there specifically to listen to everything that you have to say, is helpful to most of the people.  Often people find solace in talking to friends or family, but there are also some people for whom this can end up being a barrier to openly and honestly discussing their issues.

Benefits of Therapy

1. Thriving in your career – You say you’re unhappy where you are, why aren’t you striving for something different? Is fear, hard work, or interpersonal conflict holding you back? Therapy can be the catalyst for healthy change in your career.
2. You want to forgive and let go – Holding a grudge isn’t a diagnosable condition, but it does have serious physical, emotional, and relational consequences. Through therapy, you can learn to resolve these issues for yourself and move on. Through therapy, you may learn to let go and be at peace with what the current circumstances.
3. Countless reasons for a good cause – Therapy will make you feel important. When you invest in yourself, you feel validated, you respect yourself more. You understand that you matter a lot to this world. You play a huge role in so many people’s lives. You are so needed by this world and there should be no question in bettering yourself.

How to talk to friends and family about it?

Due to increased societal stigmas, it has become difficult for those living under gaunt sheds of mental health crisis to seek services for support. It might be even more strenuous to open up to your friends and family about what you’re suffering from.

But looking on the bright side, starting off a conversation can be very beneficial as you will have notably increased family support and consolation.

Now many of you won’t agree but any halfway decent parent would want to know and help even if you don’t think so.

When you are in stress or experiencing the consequences of mental being, everything you see is from behind a dark glass. In other words your perceptions take an unfavorable road.

But if you are willing to share or open up about your struggles, then you have already won. The most salient thing that you should know is that not everyone will respond to your problems in your expected ways and therefore you need to make sure that you only confide in the people who are truly trustworthy.

It doesn’t take enough time for words to get converted into sources of laughter and that is why they should only be conveyed to the people who are aware of the seriousness.

It’s always necessary to choose the people wisely no matter what you’re talking about.

Opening up isn’t easy. So, if you are making a decision to talk about how you have been dealing with mental health issues then you want to do it under good circumstances.

Basic ways that you should know

• Prepare

Most of your anxiety is being delivered by the way you express yourself. Oftentimes, you neglect your emotions and bury them deep down. But here’s the thing, they won’t disintegrate even if you boycott them. The best way to detach you from a particular emotion is to completely feel and express it. Only then will you be able to say, “Yes I know how it feels to be sad and now it’s time for me to detach myself from it”.

How are you going to detach?

First step is to talk. It’s hard but it’ll be worth it.

Prepare yourself for what you’re going to say to your parents or friends beforehand. You don’t have to make a speech but just a few meaningful bullet points of what you’re going to say will be fine.

• Know yourself

While talking, you need to make sure that your words are delivered in such a way that they leave an impact on them. Focus on how your symptoms have been affecting you. Instead of saying that I am anxious or sad, say that your anxiety is pulling you away from your hobbies or the things that you love. Because it’s common that the person you are talking to might feel that being sad and anxious from time to time is normal.

• Postulate their responses

Before you move forward, you should know that you don’t have to over think and back out from the conversation. The person you’re talking to may tell you that you have everything, or you have a life that some people crave for or that everyone is moody etc. but you have to tell them that you’re not in control. And that you want to feel better. 

• Pick a good space

Choose a place which best suits you as there are specific comfort places for every being. Make sure that the place you choose has minimal distractions like traffic noise, or TV, or the bustling sounds of a marketplace.

Concentration is the key here. Keep in mind.

• Mutually acceptable time

Now this is a prime point. Even well intentioned family members or friends don’t have time to check in on their loved ones. And that being the case, you should pick a day where the person you want to talk to has more than enough time to listen and understand. In hurry, not only will the conversation be ruined but also your confidence will go downhill.

Even if you hesitate after all this, then contact or get in touch with your family doctor who will let your parents know about your plight. Half the time, our parents listen to someone who has a professional post of work experience and thus, talking to your doctor maybe the right way for you.

Opening up about your life is not an easy way to maintain your mental health. But you should know that it’s completely okay to need help and ask for it. Be as authentic as you can be and don’t bury your emotions because let us tell you again, they won’t disintegrate this way.

Love yourself!