How to Know When It’s Time to See a Psychotherapist

Mental health is not only the absence of mental disorders. Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person realizes their abilities, can withstand the normal stresses of life, work productively and contribute to their community.

It is difficult for many to understand why a psychotherapist is needed. People have friends, you need to talk heart to heart with them, and then gather your strength – and all problems will pass. And all this psychotherapy is a way of pumping out money, there was no such thing before, and there were no depressions either.

It is impossible not to agree with the fact that earlier they somehow managed without psychotherapists. But there is a person, he has a problem, and he does not want to live «somehow, as before», he wants to live well now. Justified desire, which psychotherapy can help to realize.

Mental disorders rarely appear out of the blue, as a rule, the symptoms gradually become stronger. The following should be of concern:

• The character has changed. A person becomes withdrawn, loses interest in business, does not communicate with people who used to be important.
• Faith in one’s own strengths is leaving, and so much so that you don’t even want to start something, because you are sure of failure.
• Constantly feeling tired, I want to either sleep or do nothing.
• The reluctance to move is so strong that even simple actions (take a shower, throw out the trash) turn into a task for the day.
• Unexplained sensations appear in the body. Not pain, but just something completely indescribable or very strange.
• The mood quickly changes for no apparent reason from stormy joy to complete despondency.
• Unexpected emotional reactions appear: tears when watching a comedy, despondency in response to “Hi, how are you?”.
• Aggression and irritability are often present.
• Sleep is disturbed: insomnia or constant drowsiness comes.
• Panic attacks kick in.
• Eating behavior changes: systematic overeating or refusal to eat is noticeable.
• Difficulty concentrating, studying, doing business.
• Obsessive repetitive actions, habits have appeared or become more frequent.
• I want to harm myself (or it is noticeable that a person hurts himself: minor burns, scratches, cuts on the body).
• Suicidal thoughts appear.

These are not all exemplary symptoms that signal difficulties in the work of the psyche.

The main criterion: if something interferes with your life and reminds you of yourself every day, contact a psychologist.

If you’re in a bad mood because of bad weather, if you get a bad grade, you get fired, or you have a fight with your loved one, you don’t need a therapist. This is all solved with a few days of rest. or talking to loved ones.

If you have experienced severe stress, grief, you cannot resolve a conflict that drags on for a long time, and you really need to sort out your feelings in order to understand what to do next, then you need to see a psychologist.

However, if you are afraid that all these situations will badly affect your life, and decide to contact a psychologist.

I’m a psychologist – psychotherapist with extensive experience. Therefore, if you need psychological help, I will be happy to help. You can choose a convenient time for you here.

Photocredit: facultyootional