Taking the First Step: Finding and Starting Therapy for a Healthier You
My issues aren’t that serious, so I don’t need to go therapy.…
A lie I used to tell myself when my mom encouraged me to seek a therapist after venting to her about my anxiety and complaining about life for the hundredth time.
Only weak people go to therapy. Another lie I believed. I thought I just needed to suck it up and be stronger. I didn’t want to appear weak to others. Does any of this sound familiar?! I had so many misconceptions about therapy and it took me getting to a breaking point in my life to finally give it a chance.
Therapy didn’t work in the past, and it’s not going to work this time. Another reason I waited so long to get help. I had read all the personal development books and listened to all the podcasts but it wasn’t until I combined this with individualized help from a professional that I got the results I so desperately wanted and needed.
I started seeing a therapist 5 years ago and it helped me improve my relationships, confidence, career and overall happiness more than any other mindset work I’d ever done.
Therapy helped me overcome my past. In middle school I was bullied for almost an entire school year. In high school I was super insecure and in college I turned to binge eating and drinking to cover up my insecurities, anxiety and depression. I share more about my personal journey with therapy on my podcast, Be Ambitious.To this day I still deal with anxiety, but I now have the tools to help me handle the anxiety and not let it control and hinder my life.
Signs that you might benefit from seeing a professional therapist:
Struggling with ongoing depression or feelings of hopelessness.
Consistent anxiety.
Frequent or intense mood swings.
Reliving past trauma.
Social isolation or avoidance leading to difficulty keeping relationships.
Eating much more or less than usual.
Feeling numb and not caring about anything.
Increase of use in substances as a way to cope, avoid, distract, or numb difficult feelings.
Having difficulty functioning at work, home, or school.
Talking about suicide or ways to die.
So what makes therapy such a game changer for your mental health and happiness?!
Therapy helps you handle emotions from problems or stress, even if they aren’t dramatically life-altering or traumatic.
Therapists hold you accountable and help you clarify your goals and priorities.
The opportunity to work through life's challenges together instead of alone.
A therapist provides problem solving tips you can implement in your life.
Therapy can also improve your relationships and clarify which relationships are good for you and which ones you need to let go of.
Therapy can help you work through and heal from traumatic events in your life such as grief, trauma, abuse, etc.
Ok, but how do you find a therapist and get started?!
Ask for recommendations! If you’re local to Metro Detroit this is a great practice with multiple locations.
Do your research to find the right type of therapy for you. There are more options than you realize! Some of the most common ones are:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
EDMR
Psychoanalysis
Other options
Find a therapist with similar values who specializes in what you need (for example someone who specializes in PTSD, a therapist who’s Christian/faith based).
Virtual options available if this is your only option (but I definitely recommend in person over virtual).
Try a different therapist if you’re not vibing with your first one. It can take a few tries to find the right fit for you. Don’t give up!
Know that it’s going to be uncomfortable at first and that is totally normal.
If you’ve thought about therapy before, but have been hesitant to go, take this as a sign to start! I wish I would have started sooner. There’s nothing “wrong” with you if you see a therapist. You should be proud of yourself for taking the initiative to get help & working on improving your life. I hope that by sharing my journey with therapy I’m able to break the negative stigma around it and help more people get the help they need and deserve to live their BEST and HAPPIEST life! It’s 2024, there shouldn’t be any shame or stigma around seeking help for your mental health!
*If you or a mother that you know is struggling with postpartum depression, rage and/or anxiety contact Postpartum Support International. I also recommend listening to this interview I did with Author, Grief Counselor & Social Worker Dr. Nikki Scott.
*If you or someone that you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide please call the 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline: 988