How to Recognize When You Or a Loved One Could Benefit From Therapy

Not everyone has a positive predisposition towards counselling and therapy. Contrary to what some people may believe, one does not have to be ‘crazy’ or be ‘deficient’ to seek therapy. We all have a coping mechanism when problems and stress come into our lives. However, there are times when we may need professional support when the going gets tough. Research shows that putting our feelings into words can be therapeutic for us. Merely talking to a therapist or a friend can help us feel better and is beneficial for our mental health.

Many people have the misconception that therapy sessions are for the weak. This could not be any farther from the truth. Counselling and Therapy can help you achieve success. Smart and successful people embrace the importance of therapy sessions. This is because when left unattended, psychological issues and emotions can hamper our growth and success. These negative thoughts and feelings can leave you stuck in a rut, in limbo for a long time. Depression and anxiety should not be left unchecked.

If you have adolescent children, it is important to note that your teenagers will need adult guidance now more than ever. It is not unusual for teenagers to experience emotional and mental health issues, which may result in depression. Adolescence is a confusing period, characterized by many physical, emotional, and psychological changes. Social, peer, and family expectations can sometimes bring out the worst side in teens.

There are ways that everyone can cope with feelings of sadness, anxiety, and other extreme emotions. However, if you or a loved one finds it hard to move forward, a therapy session may be just what you need.

Signs to Look Out For to Seek a Therapist

When should you seek a therapist? Here are some signs that you should look out for, in yourself or in a loved one. It can be your spouse, your kids, or any dear people in your life.

There is an extreme emotion of sadness or anger

A feeling of sadness or anger that you or a loved one cannot control is usually a sign of underlying issues that may improve with proper intervention. These bouts of sadness or anger can be characterized by eating more or less than usual, sleeping more or less than your usual, withdrawing from friends and family, or simply feeling off.

When you see yourself or a loved one displaying one of the aforementioned signs, it is crucial that you talk to someone. Ignoring these signs can cause the issue to develop into a more severe problem. These extreme feelings may escalate into feeling useless, and the worst extreme of this could even be thoughts of suicide. Seek help right away if you or someone you know is feeling this way.

Display of reckless and unusual behavior

Being adventurous and spontaneous is usually not a sign of concern, but done more consistently, it can be a sign of a serious underlying issue. These reckless behaviors can include drinking too much, using illicit drugs, spending way too much over your limit, carelessly jumping from one sexual partner to another, or being overly reactive to others. People use these behaviors to avoid dealing with difficult and complicated emotions. The abandonment can sometimes feel therapeutic to some, but in reality, it may cause even bigger problems when it can harm and hurt you and the people around you.

You have experienced trauma

A traumatic experience, such as loss of a loved one, a miscarriage, or being in an abusive relationship can significantly affect any human being. Many people who undergo traumatic experiences seek therapy to help them move on and to find healing eventually. If a past traumatic experience affects your current relationships, work, and your life in general, then it is best to consider and seek professional help.

You no longer find joy in the things you used to enjoy

Change is normal, and we grow out of things that we used to enjoy. However, if you find yourself skipping on things that you used to love to do, you may consider seeing a therapist. A therapist can help you find out why you are experiencing this shift. It can also be a sign of an underlying depression. A therapist can help you figure out your situation, and can help you move forward.

You are having sleep troubles

Sleeping too much or not at all can be a sign of depression or other issues. People who are depressed or grieving can either be staying in bed longer than his usual sleeping habits or busying himself day and night to distract himself. A therapist can help you sort through your feelings and understand these thoughts that keep you awake all night long.

If you have adolescent children, here are additional signs that you should look for:

Poor school performance

It may be time to check on your child if he suddenly becomes a poor performer at school. Teenagers who undergo depression, like adults, may be lacking in enthusiasm or motivation. Check with your child’s teacher once in a while on how he or she does at school. School performance can be a good indication if a child is having some emotional struggles or issues. It is also worth checking if he or she is having any problem with the school authorities. Rebellious and reckless behavior in teenagers can also indicate an underlying depression.

Withdrawal from peers or school activities

If your child suddenly withdraws from his or her friends, would rather stay in his or her room all day long or may socialize but much lesser than before, you may need to talk with your child. Pay attention to his or her words and listen carefully. Encourage them to talk about their feelings, and avoid giving a lecture.

Benefits of Seeing a Therapist

There are many benefits to seeing a professional therapist when you are experiencing some difficult and challenging times. Here are some of them.

Therapy sessions can help you deal with your emotions

Suppressed emotions can haunt us later on in our lives. Problems and stressors can bring out many extreme emotions. Aside from helping you take care of your mental health and wellness, therapy sessions can help you take care of your emotional wellness as well. It will help you see your emotions from a different perspective and learn to manage them. It will also let you see how these emotions affect your life and your relationships. If you do not talk about these emotions and traumas, they may pile up and explode later on in your life. They may also result in negative thought patterns that can affect your relationships with your family, friends, and colleagues.

Therapy sessions can help you achieve your goals

A therapist can help you when you seem to be stuck in a rut and cannot move forward. Talking to someone about what you are experiencing can help you see your situation more clearly. Opening up about your struggles and where you want to go from here is important. It helps you work towards achieving your goal and finding your peace of mind.

A therapist can help you solve your problems

Speaking with a professional can help you dissect and analyze your problems and your struggles. A therapist can help you formulate a battle plan on how to face and tackle these problems. Your therapist can help you look at your issues without feeling overwhelmed with negative emotions. It cannot be reiterated enough that you do not have to suffer from severe mental illness to see a therapist. Sometimes, all we need are both emotional and professional support to get through some difficult situations in life.

Therapy can help you understand other people better

One of the many benefits of therapy is that you do not just understand yourself better, but you also get to understand the people around you. Negative feelings affect how we see the world and the people in our life. They affect the lens at which we see situations, impacting our judgment and assumptions. They can make us more resentful of people. Dealing with negative emotions can help you see things more differently, and be more understanding of the people around you. This newly found understanding can help improve your relationships with your loved ones.

Struggling with school, family, and social pressures? See Professional Therapists and Youth Counsellors in Ottawa to help you move forward

We at Capital Choice Counselling in Ottawa have a team of professional and experienced therapists and youth counsellors who will help you get through the problems and issues you are struggling with.

The relationships of parents can also affect the children in ways more permanent than you can imagine. If your relationship with your spouse is strained, and you are experiencing marital troubles, we at Capital Choice Counselling are also here to help. We can help couples sort and talk through their issues and help them navigate their way back to a peaceful and happier relationship.

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