Thinking about Therapy?
Take our quiz to see therapists who are a good match for you.
Take our quiz to see therapists who are a good match for you.
We all experience anxiety, stress, sadness, anger, mood swings, and other forms of emotional distress at some point in life. Most of the time, we are able to overcome these feelings and bounce back to normal life. However, some people are unable to overcome these emotions and may need some extra help to get their emotional and mental health back.
Counseling, also known as psychotherapy and talking therapy, is a process that involves a person talking with a trained professional about their mental health concerns or anything else that’s troubling them. Remember, therapy is not necessary for every little struggle you face in life, but it can be really helpful when you are unable to cope with your mental and emotional health issues. So, how do you know when it is time to see a counselor? Here are some of the common signs you may need professional help:
Uncontrolled sadness, anger, or hopelessness
If you have been experiencing uncontrolled and persistent anger, sadness, or hopelessness, you may benefit from therapy. In fact, if you are not feeling like your usual self; you are eating or sleeping less or more than usual, and it is impacting your quality of life, you may need therapy. If you are feeling low to the point that you are thinking of self-harm or suicide, it is a sure sign that you need to seek help.
A sharp decline in productivity at work or school
If your symptoms are interfering with your work, you can no longer concentrate on the tasks at hand and have trouble managing your emotions at work, it could be a sign that you need help with your mental health. If you are witnessing a steep decline in your performance at your workplace or you are feeling overwhelmingly stressed, it could be a sign of emotional distress.
Change in sleeping patterns
Whether you are feeling exhausted due to sleeplessness or you sleep longer than usual, changes in sleeping habits could signal problems with your mental health. When you are emotionally healthy, you tend to sleep better and feel refreshed all day long. On the other hand, poor mental health could hamper sleep leaving you exhausted throughout the day. If your sleeping habits have changed and you think it is because of how you have been feeling, psychotherapy may help you.
Trouble building and maintaining relationships
Your mental health can have a huge impact on your relationships. If you find it difficult to cultivate relationships, you find yourself leaning too heavily on others for emotional support, or you have difficulty working in a team or communicating with others, you could benefit from therapy.
Losing interest in activities you enjoyed earlier
When someone is struggling with emotional issues, they tend to feel disconnected from life. They may no longer enjoy things they typically did. Someone who enjoyed painting a lot, may not feel like holding the brush again. They may have a feeling of emptiness and constant disinterest. These are just some of the signs of depression. Thankfully, counseling can help you return to your baseline.
Unhealthy coping skills-abusing food, substance, or sex
If you have turned to alcohol or substance abuse to cope with your emotional or mental health issues, it is a clear sign that you need help. These unhealthy coping skills can aggravate your mental health problems further and may even lead to physical problems.
These are just some of the signs that you need to see a counselor or a psychotherapist, who can listen to you and help you cope with your life situations better. More severe mental health issues may require more intensive medical treatment, but in most cases, counseling can be of immense benefit for someone struggling with their emotions and mental health.
