Mental health is a common issue amongst Canadians from different age groups, cultures, and income levels. Studies show that roughly 1 out of 5 people will personally experience a mental health problem or illness throughout their lifetime in Canada. Coping with mental illnesses especially during a global pandemic can feel lonely, confusing, and an even bigger hurdle to overcome on your own. However, research shows that therapy can help improve symptoms of mental illnesses long term when compared to medication. This is because therapy actively shows people that they can address their symptoms and can learn to cope and manage it long term. So the question you’re likely asking yourself is: do I need therapy?
Do you need therapy?
The concept of potentially needing to go to therapy can carry quite a bit of stigma with it. But there is nothing wrong with recognizing you require additional support that others in your life cannot provide you. A trained professional who can identify your symptoms and develop a personalized action plan for you to address your mental health issues can be incredibly beneficial for anyone who wants to work their way to living their best life. It’s extremely important to be self-aware and obtain the support you need. When any sort of mental health concern shows up and disrupts your daily life, it may be time to look into ways to manage your mental health better.
It’s important to note that therapy is not best suited for individuals experiencing a crisis or an immediate threat of killing themselves. If this is the case, we encourage you to call a suicide hotline at 1.833.456.4566. However, a counsellor can help you with passing suicidal thoughts once you are no longer experiencing a crisis.
Counselling can educate you about what you’re feeling and why that is happening for you. You also learn ways to cope and are given tools to use outside of the sessions. You should consider therapy if you’ve experienced difficulties coping with family issues, end of a relationship/job, divorce, relationship issues, or parenting issues.
Thinking about attending counselling?
When should I go to therapy? The short answer is when you’re ready to do the work to work through your emotions, transitions, or loss. This process is a two-way street and without active participation from your end, counselling cannot help because you’re not open to change. If you’re experiencing any of the following then you should strongly consider it
Thinking about the issue for more than one hour per day
You feel shame for your emotions and are being avoidant
Your mental health is negatively affecting your life (work, relationships, and school)
You’ve experienced changes to accommodate the issue without addressing it
Emotions you may have when considering therapy can include:
Anxiety. While some anxiety is normal, if it is disrupting your life and causing you physical discomfort it’s important to address this through counselling.
Lack of hope. While it isn’t uncommon, if it becomes more consistent it could lead to thoughts of suicide.
Fatigue. Emotions can be exhausting but if you are having trouble getting out of bed in the morning or sleeping throughout the day to avoid certain aspects of your life.
Anger. While feeling angry is normal, it does become an issue with you’ve become irritable and are snapping at your loved ones.
Numbness. This can feel like losing passion about things you are typically passionate about. If this persists, it can lead to depression.
Withdrawn. Some people who are experiencing mental health issues remove themselves from their social groups to avoid being a burden. Some may fear others do not care or understand what you’re going through. This is where a counsellor can step in to fill that gap.
Why should I attend therapy?
Therapy can be incredibly rewarding for anyone who decides to put the work into working through their issues. This is not an easy fix, it will be hard but the goal of therapy is to help you learn to cope better when things go south. You’ll be more equipped with the knowledge about yourself and what you need to get through harder times in your life. Therapy allows you to learn so much about yourself resulting in you creating a better life for yourself.
While some worry about the cost of therapy, a lot of employers will cover it under their health benefits and I encourage you to explore this as an option. But many counsellors offer a free consultation to discuss what’s going on for you and how they may be able to help you.
When experiencing these emotions, just know you’re not alone and that you can overcome or manage your symptoms with the support of a counsellor. If you would like to book a free consultation to see if we’d be a good fit do not hesitate to get in touch.