Do I Need Therapy?
Welcome! Many people wonder if they should go to therapy or if they “need” therapy. Today’s blog is about signs to look for in yourself that may indicate that therapy may be beneficial. Ultimately, going to therapy is your choice and ending therapy is also your choice. That being said, I am a therapist but not yours. Please don’t use this blog as a substitute for mental health treatment. This blog is for informational purposes only. If you are in need of mental health treatment, please reach out to a clinician in your state.
Consistently feeling Overwhelmed
If you are feeling like you don’t have a handle on things in your life and it is feeling like you can’t keep your head above water, so to speak, then therapy may be beneficial. Your therapist may be able to assist you with implementing organizational strategies and teaching you self-regulation skills so that you are more capable of handling changes in your life.
Feeling Like you don’t have a handle on your emotions or feeling like your emotions are out of control
You may be feeling intense irritability or anger. Maybe the anger is justified but out of proportion to the issue. Maybe you’re feeling intense sadness and don’t know why. Or maybe you feel numb this is out of the ordinary for you. These issues can point to mood disorders, issues with adjusting to changes in life, trauma responses, or other deeper issues.
3. Thinking that your behaviors are out of control or other people noticing that your behaviors are out of control
Maybe you’re experiencing changes in your behaviors which lead to shame and regret. Or maybe your behaviors have changed and friends or loved ones think that your behaviors are dangerous or impulsive and they have expressed concerns to you.
4. You feel less motivated or unlike yourself
You may have dropped hobbies and are starting to self-isolate. The things that once made you happy and gave you energy may feel energy draining just to think about getting back into. A clinician can help you identify the source of this change and help address underlying issues.
5. You are having distressing, intrusive thoughts that you can’t control
Intrusive thoughts can be a symptom of traumatic stress or anxiety. We all have thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere but intrusive thoughts are ones that you can’t seem to make go away and when they pop up you can’t re-focus your mind on what you’re doing or it’s very difficult to do so.
6. You are having sleep issues
You may have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too long or not long enough. These issues can be symptoms of underlying mental health issues or they could be physiological. If your doctor has not found physical issues that may be the source of your sleep challenges, it could be beneficial to find a therapist who specializes in sleep disorders or to ask your doctor for referrals to a sleep clinic.
Of course, if you are wondering if you “need” therapy I recommend first getting a physical from your physician. Physical health issues can sometimes manifest as mental health issues and it’s important to check in with your doctor to get assessed for physical issues that can be treated medically. Your physician can also give you referrals to therapists if it’s determined that your physical health is not the source of your mental health issues. I hope you found this blog helpful. Feel free to reach out to me with questions or, if you are in Wisconsin, feel free to reach out for a free consultation.
Peace be with you.
-Carmelita Aufdemberge, LPC