Life is full of ups and downs for all of us. There are good times and bad, and when we’re in a particularly rough patch, we hold out for the good. We wait for the bad to pass and wait for the good to engulf us in its arms once again, like a childhood friend. What’s important to understand is that sometimes, getting yourself to that good place is not an easy task. You may need some time to get to there, or you may need assistance and guidance.
When someone has a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, the natural suggestion to them would be to go to a therapist. But what about people who don’t have a diagnosed mental illness? Perhaps they have phases of low moods, confusion, difficulty coping with stress and other such conditions? Are they not supposed to seek help? It is difficult to pinpoint a particular point at which someone should visit a mental health professional, be it a therapist, a Psychiatrist, or a hypnotherapist.
Here are some common signs to help one realise if seeking external help would benefit you, or a loved one.
– Stress, Anger or Sadness: A person who faces frequent bouts of negative emotions, confusion and a sense of not being able to deal with these emotions is possibly someone who has found reasons to act in this manner. Realising and identifying these actions is the first manner in which to deal with them. A therapist could act as a facilitator to you, in order to realise why these negative emotions exist, what they mean and how to cope with them.
– Communication Gaps: If a person is experiencing a challenge and it finding it difficult to vocalise this to friends or family, seeking a counsellor may help them. Sometimes, all you need is someone to listen to you. If you’re not comfortable speaking to friends and family about something, a counsellor is a great option. They provide a space for you to speak your mind, don’t judge you for your thoughts or actions and may offer advice on the ways in which you could be able to deal with negativity, depression, anxiety or any such stressors.
– Need for Ongoing Help: Sometimes, people are aware of a mental condition they may have and are already taking the necessary steps to cope with it. The difficult part here is sustaining that process of coping. Coping is not something that just happens by itself. One needs to consciously take steps to manage a mental illness. When it becomes difficult to sustain these actions by oneself, counselling is a way in which to keep a track of your actions and responses to any forms of pressure, and a manner in which to have a voice guiding and chaperoning you in the entire process, be it actively or passively.
At this stage, it is important to keep in mind that counselling is not something that is just meant for people who have serious mental disorders. It is for all those people who may want some assistance in carrying out their lives in a more fulfilling manner. And it is them who decides what this entails. Perhaps they have a mental disorder which they need help in coping with, or perhaps they just want someone to talk to. Or perhaps, rather than wanting to make the transition from pathology à normal, they want to make one from normal à even better. At the end of the day, counselling is not something that is meant for a limited clientele. Everyone can get something different out of counselling, given that they are equipped with an open mind.