How To Know When It’s Time To See A Therapist
If you’ve ever asked yourself, Should I go see a therapist?, we’d tell you that the answer is right there in between the lines of the question. Often it’s the questions we ask ourselves that tell us what we already know – that we’re in a state of discomfort, struggling, or feeling stuck, and we’re wondering if we’re ready to take a step towards doing something about it.
You don’t have to suffer a mental health crisis or breakdown to get into therapy, and in fact, we absolutely recommend you take a proactive approach to get support before that happens. We like to think of it as first aid for being human.
But we know that it can be hard to know when a problem is a problem, so to honor Mental Health Awareness Month our Stori therapists have compiled a quick list of some of the signs that flag when it’s time to seek support:
When talking to your friends isn’t enough
You feel anxious – especially if you’re experiencing panic attacks – or stressed and want to learn some new coping skills
When world events, the news, and social media have become too much to handle
You feel stuck in life, numb, disembodied, like you’re watching yourself from the outside
When emotional overwhelm, burnout, or grief is consistently riding passenger
Your inner critic has become so loud you can’t tune it out
Body image issues are getting in the way of you enjoying life
Denying yourself nourishment, or overdoing it with food, alcohol, and substances to numb the noise
Isolating to the point of regularly avoiding people and places where you might have to interact with others
When your overall health and well-being is suffering, and self-care like sleeping enough, eating, grooming, and exercising have become a challenge
Navigating the end of a significant relationship like a break-up with your partner, divorce, or family estrangement
Going through life transitions that you wish came with a manual like having a baby, going off to college, getting married, buying a house, changing jobs or starting a new career
Feeling adrift, apathetic or listless, like you’re lacking direction or a meaningful sense of purpose
For someone who’s never sat in the therapist’s office, it can seem intimidating for a handful of reasons, and we get it – it’s weird at first to share where we really are with someone we’ve just met. That’s why at Stori we approach therapy as a time to share truths and be with what is, without pressure or prescription, to unpack some of our layers with someone who knows how to hold space.
When you’re ready to find a therapist near you that knows how to navigate what’s coming up in a safe, nonjudgmental way, in the privacy and comfort of our beautiful studio, come see us at Stori. And once you become a Stori client, we can even meet you outdoors for Nature Therapy if your therapist thinks it could help - talk with them in your next session.
