7 compelling reasons why you should give therapy a chance

Therapy is for everyone. There are so many reasons for someone to start therapy and there isn’t one that is better or superior. I believe people might be more compelled to reach out to a therapist after a big life event, however, small life stresses are also a valid reason to go to a therapist. Everyone has unique life experiences and everyone’s triggers are different. It is totally okay to seek help even when you are not sure what you are seeking help for.

A lot of people seem to associate therapy with a negative connotation: that going to seek help means someone is weak. People often feel proud to say that they are battling their inner demons by themselves and that they don’t need help. This is why I’m here to give you 8 compelling reasons why you should give therapy a chance :

1. Going to a therapist doesn’t mean you are crazy.

Movies and Tv shows have often shown us how anyone with a severe mental illness is often advised to go to therapy. Apart from that person, no one else needs therapy. This is why people have associated a lot of misconceptions with therapy claiming that they are perfectly okay and “are not crazy.”

What we don’t realize is that none of us are perfect. We are all human with human experiences and feelings. Each of us has experienced pain and trauma is some way shape or form. There is nothing wrong in opening up about these experiences and allowing them to heal and that is essentially what therapy is all about.

2. Your mental health is something to be managed now

“Prevention is better than cure”. I’m sure you’ve heard of this famous saying when it comes to taking care of our physical health. This saying goes for our mental health too. Going to therapy as early as possible equips you with the tools you need when you are faced with a life crisis or challenge. Why wait until the problems and emotions get out of hand to handle?

A lot of people feel their problems aren’t severe enough to seek help. This is exactly what we feel when it comes to our physical health and we eventually risk becoming severely ill. Therefore, it is better to speak to a therapist before things get too intense for you.

3. You can discover new and untouched parts of yourself.

Whilst speaking to a therapist it often occurs that while sharing your feelings you say something you never knew yourself or were afraid to admit. Talking to a therapist is so much as talking to yourself. You reveal things you are afraid to ask or tell yourself. The questions and the insights posed by the therapist would help you ponder over ideas and topics you never thought about yourself. It is highly likely that you will be surprised by some things you never realized about yourself or your experience which in turn would give you the tools to cope with such feelings better.

4. Talking to someone you don’t know is much easier.

Even though talking to your mom or best friend comes to you as the easiest thing in the world, it still might not be enough. Talking to these people is effortless because they know you. However, a stranger might be able to point out things with a more unbiased eye. Therapists are often actively listening and picking out patterns that they see as you speak to them. Even though your loved one might offer love and support, they cannot solve the problem or dilemma for you. A therapist helps you recognize your unhealthy life patterns. Guides and equips you with the skills to navigate them. Sometimes it might be easier to speak about things that are difficult to talk about to a stranger than to a loved one because you feel ashamed to admit to such feelings.

5. Therapy makes you more self-aware.

Self-awareness is essential for everyone to understand their thought patterns, emotions, conflicts, and how we deal with our problems. Self-awareness is the first step to healing. A therapist helps you understand that it is okay to feel such emotions and helps you see them with a non-judgemental eye.

So many times we don’t question our feelings and our actions because we are so used to thinking and feeling a certain way. With therapy, you are forced to do that. It forces you to admit to your own negative patterns and behavior and learn to be a better and healthier person to yourself and others around you.

6. Therapy makes you feel seen and heard.

There are so many times when we want to share how something or someone made us feel, however, we stop ourselves and repress these feelings. These repressed emotions manifest as negative relationships, arguments, and unhealthiness around the body and the mind. We have had people make fun of us or be unattentive, forcing us to keep everything inwards and bottled up.

Talking to a therapist helps you release these repressed emotions and thoughts that you’ve kept inside for so long. They help us feel seen and heard and help us understand that we can do those things for ourselves and set healthy boundaries with our emotions and relationships.

7. You feel better and happier.

Sharing such deep and bottled-up emotions certainly leaves you feeling lighter however with a therapist, you feel more confident and equipped to face other negative challenges and experiences throughout your life. There is always something you can share and the more often you do the more aware and happier you feel. There is a sense of healthy control and independence that comes with speaking to a therapist. Not only do you let go of past traumatic experiences but you also feel more grounded to tackle life.

Going to therapy is one of the bravest and most loving things you can do for yourself. You finally chose yourself and finally chose to live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.