It can be hard to tell when you need professional help to deal with your problems. Often, we try to tough it out on our own, or we may confide in close friends or family members. But sometimes, our issues become too much to handle without outside assistance.
Here are eight signs that you may be ready for therapy:
1. You’re feeling lost and don’t know who you are anymore.
If you’ve been feeling like you’re just going through the motions of life and don’t know who you are or what you want any more, therapy can help you figure out what’s missing. Often, we lose ourselves in our everyday lives and need someone to help us find our way back.
2. You’re dealing with a major life change.
Whether it’s a divorce, the loss of a job, or the death of a loved one, therapy can provide much-needed support during periods of transition. Change is never easy, but it can be especially tough to deal with alone. A therapist can help you make sense of your emotions and cope with the changes in your life.
3. You’re struggling with addiction.
If you’re addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, or anything else, it’s important to get help before the addiction takes over your life. Therapy can provide the support and guidance you need to recover from addiction and build a healthy, sober life, or a life with more manageable engagement in these kinds of activities.
4. You’re constantly worrying and feel like you can’t relax.
Do you find yourself worrying all the time? Are you always on edge and unable to relax? If so, therapy can help you learn how to manage anxiety and stress. Often, we need to understand our worries before we can let them go. A therapist can help you do just that.
5. You’re having problems in your relationships.
If you’re having trouble in your marriage, with your kids, or with friends, therapy can help improve communication and resolve conflict. It’s also a great place to talk about any past trauma that may be affecting your current relationships.
6. You’re dealing with trauma from the past.
If you experienced a traumatic event at some point in your life, it’s important to get help processing those emotions. Therapy can provide a safe space to talk about your experiences and start working through the pain.
7. You’re struggling with a lack of fulfillment in life.
It’s no secret that many people go through their lives feeling unfulfilled. Often, they don’t even realize it until it’s too late. They go through the motions day after day, year after year, never stopping to question whether or not they’re truly happy.
There are a number of signs that can indicate a lack of fulfillment in life. If you find yourself feeling restless or bored more often than not, that’s a pretty good indicator that something isn’t right. Similarly, if you’re constantly comparing your life to others and feeling like you come up short, that’s another telling sign.
If you’re not sure whether or not you’re fulfilled, ask yourself what you really want out of life. If your answer is anything other than “I don’t know,” then chances are you’re not fulfilled. This could then be a key indication that you are ready for therapy.
8. You’re experiencing challenges with self-awareness
One of the most difficult things to do in life is to be aware of ourselves: to know who we are, what we want and where we are going. It takes a lot of courage to be self-aware and it is not always easy.
Here are some of the challenges that come with being self-aware:
- It can be hard to face the truth about ourselves
We all have flaws and things that we are not proud of. It takes a lot of courage to face up to these things and to work on them.
- We can be our own worst critic
When we are self-aware, we can be our own worst critic. We are constantly challenging ourselves to do better and to be better.
- We can get stuck in our own heads
When we are self-aware, we can sometimes get stuck in our own heads. We overthink things and try to overanalyze everything. This can lead to anxiety and stress.
- We can compare ourselves to others
When we are self-aware, we can often compare ourselves to others. We compare our flaws to their perceived perfection and this can be hard to deal with.
- We can be too hard on ourselves
When we are self-aware, we can be too hard on ourselves. We expect too much from ourselves and this can lead to disappointment. When we are self-aware, we can get lost in our thoughts. As a result, we can think about things too much and this can lead to obsession.
- We can become fixated on our appearance
When we are self-aware, we can become fixated on our appearance. We can become obsessed with our looks and how others perceive us.
- We can worry about what others think of us
When we are self-aware, we can worry about what others think of us. We can be afraid of judgment, and this can lead to insecurity.
- You’re feeling disconnected from your values
In this day and age, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget what’s truly important to us. We can get so wrapped up in our work, our relationships, and our social lives that we can lose sight of our own values and what we stand for.
It’s important to take some time for yourself every once in a while and check in with your values.
What do you believe in? What’s important to you? What do you want to stand for? If you find that you’re not living in alignment with your values, it’s time to make some changes. Maybe you need to let go of a toxic relationship or change jobs. Maybe you need to start speaking up more for what you believe in. This is where seeking a therapist can help.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
There’s no shame in admitting that you could benefit from professional help. In fact, it’s a sign of strength and self-awareness. Seeking professional help is a brave and proactive step towards improving your mental health and well-being.
If you’re feeling lost, stuck, or just generally not like yourself, professional help can be invaluable. A therapist can help you gain clarity, work through difficult emotions, and develop healthy coping skills. Therapy can also provide much-needed support and guidance during times of transition or crisis.
Often, we try to tough it out on our own, or we may confide in close friends or family members. But sometimes, our issues become too much to handle without outside assistance.
Begin Working with a San Diego Therapist
To learn more about knowing when it’s time to reach out for therapy, schedule your free consultation with a therapist from our San Diego, CA-based practice. We devote our time to aiding you in understanding if now is the right time to get the help you deserve. You can start your therapy journey with our team of caring therapists by following these steps:
- Schedule your free, 15-minute phone consultation with our therapist, call today!
- Meet with a caring therapist
- Start receiving the support you deserve!
Other Services Offered with My Stress Solutions
Our team understands that you may experience more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why we are happy to offer support with a variety of mental health services including stress management, trauma therapy, and anxiety treatment. Other services offered include online therapy, EMDR, and addictions. We are also happy to offer support for individuals, couples, and men via in-person and online therapy. Visit our blog or learn more about us for more helpful info today!
