With all of the wonderful self-help books and resources available today, you may find yourself wondering how to know if you need therapy. Maybe the problem that you are experiencing is something that you could take care of on your own. That certainly would be cheaper!
However, there are some instances in which self-help may not be enough. Are you asking yourself, “do I need therapy?” Then it’s important to explore how to know if you need therapy and determine what kind of therapy may work best for you.
Do I Need Therapy?: Six Signs To Look For
When you’re going through a tough time, dealing with a traumatic incident or just navigating changes in life, it’s easy to think you can handle it on your own or with the support of family and friends.
How to know if you need therapy isn’t always black and white. But if you’re on the fence, there’s a good chance that getting some professional help could be invaluable.
Keep reading for a list of six signs you need therapy, especially if you’ve tried the self-help route and it’s not working.
How to Know if You Need Therapy: It’s Hard To Smile
If this is happening to you, you know what I mean. Funny things just don’t seem funny anymore. Activities that you once enjoyed don’t seem enticing. You find yourself feeling more like an observer than a participant in life. These are signs that you may be experiencing Depression, which is a real illness.
As much as you may want to, you cannot just snap out of depression; it actually requires treatment. If you’re trying to figure out how to know if you need therapy and you’re having trouble finding enjoyment in everyday life, it’s a good idea to reach out to a professional to learn more about therapy for depression.
How to Know if You Need Therapy: Your Body Is Talking To You
You get frequent, unexplained headaches, stomach-aches, insomnia, or colds that you just can’t shake. If you’ve been to a medical doctor and there doesn’t seem to be a physical explanation for your symptoms, it could be that stress or repressed trauma is causing your discomfort.
Often, your body will act as a messenger, letting you know that something just isn’t right. At times, the thing that is bothering you may be in your subconscious mind so you may not even be aware of it yet. Even though your conscious mind doesn’t know what’s wrong, your body knows that there is something that needs to be addressed.
If you’re wondering how to know if you need therapy, listen to your body! It knows more than you may think, and physical symptoms can be one of the biggest signs you need therapy for anxiety or trauma.
How to Know if You Need Therapy: You’ve Been Through A Traumatic Event
Whether you’ve had a car accident, been assaulted, or lost a loved one, experiencing a trauma can do a number on your psyche. Even if you don’t develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, you may still experience symptoms such as being unable to stop thinking or dreaming about whatever happened to you. But when do you need therapy for trauma?
Healing from a trauma is not something that you should do alone. Without professional help, you might repress the emotions associated with the event and avoid thinking about and processing them. And this can cause big problems down the road.
How to Know if You Need Therapy: You’re Using Substances To Get You Through The Day
I know, I know, lots of people have a drink or a smoke now and again to unwind. But if you can’t get through a day without a couple of drinks or a few hits off the bong, chances are, your usage isn’t purely social. Recreational drug use is supposed to be fun, not mandatory.
Often, people with mental illness use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate and that’s when it becomes a problem. If your drug or alcohol use is leaving you wondering how to know if you need therapy, it’s a good idea to reach out to a professional.
Going to therapy for substance abuse can help you learn alternative coping skills so that you aren’t left feeling stressed and anxious without a drink or your drug of choice.
How to Know if You Need Therapy: Your Friends And/Or Family Are Concerned
If others have commented that you don’t seem to be doing well, or if your relationships are taking a turn for the worse, that’s one of the best signs you need therapy. Sometimes, the people around you are your best chance at seeing yourself honestly.
On the other hand, it might be the people around you who are driving you crazy! Either way, if friends and family have you wondering, “Do I need therapy?”, then getting an objective view from a qualified therapist can help.
How to Know if You Need Therapy: You Keep Attracting or Creating Unhealthy Relationships
Relationship challenges are a sign that you might have some unhealed trauma from your childhood that is impacting your ability to create and keep healthy relationships.
Maybe you find yourself attracted to unhealthy partners or addicts over and over again or maybe all of your exes have cheated on you. This is a sign of codependency and is something that can be addressed in therapy.
Or, you might be finding it hard to commit at all, despite really wanting a spouse and family someday. You feel all in and excited about a new relationship at first and then get overwhelmed and pull away when things get serious. This is a sign of an avoidant attachment style and is also something that can be addressed in therapy.
Discover the Benefits of Therapy
If you’ve explored how to know when you need therapy and have decided that talking to a professional could be helpful, it’s time to find the right therapist for you.
There are many different approaches to therapy that can be helpful whether you’re looking for therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, relationship problems, or just need help navigating life’s challenges. Luckily, therapy is becoming more and more accessible, thanks to virtual therapy options and online therapy services.
Whether you want to focus on individual therapy or couples therapy, it’s important to take some time to research therapists and find the right fit for you, your schedule and your needs.
Ready to discover the benefits of therapy for yourself? At Couples Learn, we offer a free consultation to help you determine whether online therapy is right for you.