Sometimes people question how to know it’s time to go to therapy. This definitely varies for most people. To help you take inventory of where you are, the following are some of the common reasons someone decides to start therapy. This is according to the many years, and the many times a therapist has asked the question in an initial session, “So why now?”
Are your occasional bad moods becoming not so occasional and more of the norm? Do you find yourself irritable with friends and family more often? Or maybe you have moments of feeling anxious or sad/depressed, but these feelings are surfacing more often and last longer? This can be your mind and body telling you something isn’t right, and to pay attention. Very similar to maybe you feel a pinch in your knee, or you’re getting too many headaches in a shorter period of time. Most people would take this as a sign to check in with their Primary Doctor. If activities, things that once brought you joy are no longer bringing you joy, or you’re isolating yourself in a way that’s not typical for you, these may be signs of depression or something else just as concerning. These are legitimate reasons to reach out to a therapist. Please remember, if any of your thoughts, feelings, experiences accompanies thoughts of not wanting to live anymore, or thoughts of self-harm, reach out for help immediately.
Are you coping with life stressors by drinking too much, suddenly overspending, or turning to substances? Sometimes people may over exercise, overeat, or stop eating when there’s too much stress. Sex is also a common crutch people use to escape pain and numb feelings. This is a sign you could benefit from learning new coping skills and ways to decompress and manage emotions. If any of these negative coping skills are presenting a risk to your health and well-being, this is could be a sign of compulsivity that requires help and attention right away.
You may have great strategies already to handle anxiety, or maybe you’re running 5 miles daily to help manage depressed moods. But lately your tools are not helping you maintain like they used to? Coping skills are similar to medication dosage, sometimes the amount or the prescription itself needs to be tweaked and evaluated. A therapist can help you figure out what’s impacting your current coping skills, and how to make the necessary accommodations to get you back on a better track.
Sometimes when we are struggling with specific issues, such as healing from a breakup, grappling with a specific dilemma, or making a decision, it can be a long process. Sometimes this long process can surpass the tolerance or needed sensitivity of your inner circle. Maybe they’ve given you all of the advice they can think of and now you’re just repeating the same story. You may even be feeling tired of bringing the same scripts to them. Either way, that means your story/problem must sound like a broken record and it’s getting you zero results. This can be a good time to change up your approach and share your story with a therapist who can serve as an unbiased outsider who also has the skillset of connecting a few more dots.
Job burnout, breakup/divorce, new relationships, relocation, thinking about bringing in a new addition (child, dog, etc). Any of these events can be a challenge to your current ability of handling stress. Stress and major life decisions can be a major preoccupation in one’s life. Any of these events can present new issues that can be helpful to process and problem solve with a therapist.
Loss of a loved one, a specific trauma has happened now or in the past and you’re wanting to finally address the impact. A major significant event can mean our current coping strategies are no longer enough, or our ability to function and stay “above water” is now being challenged. A significant life event can cause a major shift in our world, and having an outsider to help make sense of it all, support and educate you, or even help you develop new ways to cope with this shift can go a long way.
These signs all hold similar themes. Feeling stuck or in a rut, experiencing sadness, and wanting more for yourself. These are all great reasons to give back to yourself and invest in your own individual therapy. Your reasons for therapy may not align with this list at all, and that’s okay. There’s a reason you are considering this. You can start by asking a therapist for their feedback on why you’re considering therapy. A solid therapist will give you honest feedback about your expectations. Either way, if you’re already thinking about therapy as an option, that can be reason enough.