Why Therapy?

We all go through the “ups and downs” of life. For some period of time, we may feel content and confident in our ability to cope with our families, friends, school, and jobs. Other times, we may feel overwhelmed by the minutiae of everyday life. How do we find the balance in this? Or rather, how do we know if we are UN-balanced in this rhythm?

Insight is a term that therapists use to describe our ability to have intuitive knowledge of ourselves. It’s an internal barometer that sends us messages like, “take it easy today,” or “this might be dangerous.” This intuition acts like a guide to help us navigate our experiences, relationships, and in making decisions. Our insight can be diminished or muffled during times of trauma, extreme stress, anxiety, depression, or during episodes of prolonged substance use.

What happens if we lose touch with our inner voice? What if we feel like we are spinning out of control, or others start to express concern?

7 SIGNS THAT IT’S TIME FOR THERAPY:

Roller-Coaster Emotions.

This is a red flag that help is needed in sorting through thoughts and feelings. It may be difficult to remain calm, stop crying, or to control your temper. This can happen for a number of reasons. The good news is that a therapist can help determine the cause of this. Therapy can be part of the course of action to feel better and make life feel more manageable.

Others Express Concern.

Those closest to you do tend to see changes BEFORE you may take notice. This can be tricky because it can lead to feelings of vulnerability and maybe even defensiveness. If at least one person that you love and trust has expressed concern, listen to what they have to say. As hard as it is to hear things about yourself, know that this person is coming to you out of a place of love and wants to help.

Self-Care Is Difficult.

This may show up as hygiene issues that maybe weren’t present before, such as showering, brushing your teeth, and getting dressed each day. It may be more subtle than that- maybe you still do those things, but there are changes to how kempt you appear as compared to before. Difficulty in Self-Care also presents as losing interest in hobbies, friends, and other activities like  paying bills, cooking or otherwise feeding yourself.

It’s Too Hard To Cut Back Or Quit.

Alcohol or drug use may be getting in your way or causing unexpected problems at home, work, or with the law. If you have tried to cut back, or even quit, and are unable to stick to that, then it’s a good time to enter therapy or treatment. Support in this area can be beneficial in helping you understand the difficulties in quitting and to develop strategies on how to remain sober during times of stress. Alcoholics Anonymous is another great resource for information and support.

Getting Along With Others Is A Struggle.

Learning how to make friends AND keep them may be a new struggle or something that has been around since childhood. This is painful to experience and can also get in our way with work and other aspects of adulthood. The therapeutic relationship can be the starting point of learning how to engage with others in a way that feels meaningful. Therapy also provides safety in exploring the challenges that arise in present or past relationships.

Something Bad Happened.

If you’ve experienced a loss, abuse or otherwise traumatic event, you do not have to face it alone. Therapy can help you process the experience, grieve, and to learn how to move forward when the time feels right. A therapist can support you through (re)establishing a sense of safety and to develop skills to cope.

Feeling Hopeless or Have Suicidal Thoughts.

Now is definitely the time to schedule an appointment to see a therapist. Suicidal thoughts can be difficult to express to your loved ones, but a therapist can handle hearing your true thoughts and feelings. Whether these are passing thoughts or intense feelings that are hard to shake, please reach out for help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers a 24/7 hotline for anyone in need: 1-800-273-8255

If you or a loved one is in need of support, Low Country Counseling offers specialized therapy for Individuals, Moms, Couples, Families, Children, and Teens. Contact us for any questions you need answered or to schedule an appointment. Help is available. You are not alone!

Hope Starts HERE.