Should I See a Therapist? 5 Reasons to Consider It

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Should I see a therapist? I asked myself that question for a long time before I finally decided to take the plunge. Therapy has truly changed my life, and I think everyone should try it at least once.

Going to therapy doesn’t make you crazy, or weak; it makes you strong! We all have our own shit to deal with – whether you realize it or not. Seeing a therapist helped me deal with stress, anxiety and ultimately live a happier life. By sharing my experience and how therapy has helped me, I hope I can give you the permission and opportunity to do the same.

5 Signs You Should Try Therapy

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1. There is a big change in your life

Change is the only constant in life. But change, good or bad, can be stressful. Seeing a therapist can help you adjust to life’s changes more quickly and effectively. Many people start therapy because of a negative change they are going through – like a break-up, job loss or a death in the family. A therapist can help you process difficult situations and move forward with your life.

But what many people don’t realize is even positive change can cause a significant amount of stress. Whether you are a newlywed, got a new job, bought a house, graduated college, or are having a baby, a therapist can help you understand what to expect and how to embrace a new phase of life. I started going to therapy because of a new job. It helped give me the confidence to succeed in my new role and gave me the tools I needed to manage my day-to-day stress.

2. You feel “off”

Although I learned how to manage my stress, eventually things became too much to handle. I loved my job, and I wanted to succeed, but I feared I wasn’t good enough. I had a major case of imposter syndrome. Multiple times a week I came home and unloaded to my husband, triggering an anxiety attack of tears and hyperventilation. One day after work, I crawled into bed defeated and broken down. This was when I realized something wasn’t right.

I made an appointment with my therapist, who recommended I see the psychiatrist at the practice. After talking about my situation, the psychiatrist looked at me and said matter-of-factly, “It sounds like you have generalized anxiety disorder.” Strangely, it was a huge relief. I finally had a diagnosis, a reason I was feeling this way. She prescribed me an anxiety medication, which helped to raise my threshold for stress so I could make better decisions and function more easily.

I am sharing my story because I want people to know it’s okay not to be okay. It’s important to talk to someone if you are feeling any negative emotion, like sadness, anger, or fear, for a long period of time or if you’re having trouble sleeping. These changes in mood could be a sign of a mental health condition like depression and anxiety.

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are in crisis, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

3. Your friends and family are burnt out

If you’re worried your friends, family and co-workers may be sick of you dumping your problems on them, you may want to consider seeing a therapist. This is one benefit that I think applies to everyone. It can be helpful to have a neutral third-party to talk to about issues at home and work. Though my family and friends have always been supportive, my therapist is able to see situations completely objectively to help me make the right decisions.

She helps me see when I am being too hard on myself or perhaps taking something too personally. By sharing the things that trigger difficult emotions for you with a therapist, you can start to see patterns and learn how to address them. For example, I now understand I am a very sensitive person, and I have a habit of taking things personally. My therapist taught me to look objectively at the facts rather than relying solely on my emotional reactions.

4. You want to be a better wife, mom, etc.

If you want to be a better wife, mom, boss, [insert role here], then therapy is for you! My husband has always taken good care of me, and I love him for that! But before I took control of my mental health, I didn’t feel like I was there for him. I was afraid my anxiety would eventually break him and he’d leave me. I wanted to be a better wife. My therapist helped me see that I was being too hard on myself. But she also taught me strategies to manage my anxiety throughout the day. so that I had more energy to be a better partner.

You don’t need to have a mental health condition to want to improve yourself. I know I’m not alone in my struggle with perfectionism. As women, we are really hard on ourselves. Therapy can help you see where you can improve but also help you see that you are already enough, exactly as you are.

5. It’s time to level-up your life

Something doesn’t have to be “wrong” in your life to seek out a therapist. Therapy has been a huge help to me in becoming happier and ultimately in achieving what I want in life. A therapist can help you identify limiting beliefs, patterns in your behavior and thoughts that may be holding you back, so that you can improve your life.

Through therapy, I’ve identified my tendency to “people please.” I care about the people in my life, and it can lead to anxiety when I am unable to keep everyone happy. One of the biggest truth bombs my therapist ever shared was, “You are not responsible for other people’s happiness.” Though I still catch myself trying to please everyone, this reminder helps bring me back to reality. Ultimately, we can only control our own actions and reactions, no one else’s, and that’s one of the things therapy can help you learn to do.

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Everyone has something to learn from therapy

I truly believe everyone can benefit from seeing a therapist at some point in their lives. I started therapy to deal with big life changes, but have decided to continue with it long term. During stressful seasons, I have an appointment every 2-4 weeks. But when I am feeling good, I stretch out to 6-8 weeks. It’s totally up to you!

If you’re ready to level up your life, you can find a therapist near you by using Psychology Today’s Therapy Directory. Your insurance website may also offer a locator tool to find a mental health professional in network. Pricing can vary depending on your insurance and whether you want to do therapy in person, online or via an app.

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