Have you ever been to therapy? There is a common misconception that therapy is for people with severe mental health issues. The reality is that therapy can be for anyone. Working professionals, athletes, and even kids go to therapy. Therapy can be a great way for us to learn coping skills, check our mental wellbeing, as well as get advice that actually helps our situation. If you care about your mental health, going to therapy is a good step! Let's destigmatize going to counseling or mental health therapy together.
Credits: Script Writer: Sara Del Villar Script Editor: Isadora Ho Script Manager: Kelly Soong Voice: Amanda Silvera www.youtube.com/AmandaSilvera Animator: Nina Draws (new animator) YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong
Cohen, I. (2021, February 25). 9 Signs You Should Think About Seeing a Therapist. The Healthy. www.thehealthy.com/mental-health/signs-need-therapy/. Ferguson, S. (2020, June 30). Yes, Mental Illness Can Cause Physical Symptoms — Here’s Why. healthline. www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/mental-illness-can-cause-physical-symptoms. Legg, T. J., & Fraga, J. (2019, August 15). 7 Physical Symptoms That Prove Depression Is Not Just ‘In Your Head.’healthline. www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/physical-symptoms-of-depression. Nazish, N. (2019, September 20). 10 Sure Signs You Need To See A Therapist (And How To Find The Right One). Forbes. www.forbes.com/sites/nomanazish/2019/09/20/10-sure-signs-you-need-to-see-a-therapist-and-how-to-find-the-right-one/?sh=4fc117a9501b. Salters-Pedneault, K., & Gans, S. (2020, September 15). How to Improve Your Emotion Regulation Skills for Better Health. Verywell Mind. www.verywellmind.com/emotion-regulation-skills-training-425374. Salters-Pedneault, K., & Morin, A. (2019, September 17). Why Suppressing Emotions Doesn’t Work for People With BPD. Verywell Mind. www.verywellmind.com/suppressing-emotions-425391.
Hey, Psych2Goers, have you ever been to therapy?
There is a common misconception about it,
where most people immediately think
that visiting a therapist means
that you have a mental health issue.
While psychotherapy is a helpful tool
to cope with mental health issues,
it's also a wonderful tool that can help you cope with stress
and other distressing emotions.
Therapy provides you a safe space
where you can unload your emotional burdens,
vent about your experiences,
and develop skills to help you handle challenges
you may face in life.
Are you wondering if you should try therapy?
Here are nine signs you may need it.
Number one, you're having difficulty
regulating your emotions.
Emotional regulation is the ability
to control your own emotional state.
It's a process that the majority of us
are accustomed to doing.
For example, if you were to accidentally spill
a cup of coffee, your response might be temporary irritation,
annoyance, and a tinge of sadness.
You might even yelp if the coffee spills on you.
But if you find that your immediate reaction
is to run around the library cursing
and getting upset at everyone,
it might be a sign you're having some trouble
regulating your emotions.
Oftentimes, persistent emotional dysregulation
is a precursor for depression
or other mental health issues.
However, emotional dysregulation does not always appear
as an overly emotional outburst.
It can also look like repressed, tight smiles,
and tears blinked into submission.
Number two, you're not performing effectively.
Have you been struggling at work lately?
While your performance level may not always be at 100%,
a constant decrease in performance
can be a sign of a struggle
with a mental or emotional issue.
In an interview with Forbes Magazine,
Dr. Romani Durvasula points out
that mental health issues can cause a lapse in memory,
impair your attention, and cause you to feel apathetic,
which can kill your drive to do any work.
Additionally, a decrease in performance
can be caused by stress.
Number three, you've experienced changes
in your sleep and appetite.
Have you been having problems sleeping and eating?
It's common to have fluctuations
in eating and sleeping patterns,
but significant changes in your eating and sleeping patterns
may be a sign that you need to take a moment
to figure out what is causing those changes.
Typically, stress plays a role.
It has been shown that chronic stress
can certainly cause changes in sleep and appetite.
However, those with mental health issues
may also exhibit similar changes.
Number four, your relationships are struggling.
Your mental health can affect all aspects of your life,
especially your relationships with other people.
If you notice that you've pulled away
from your relationships or are shying away
from opportunities to create new relationships,
you might wanna figure out why.
A common cause is an internal emotional or mental struggle.
In these cases, a therapist may be able to help you
figure out the underlying causes
of your struggling relationships,
giving you the skills to improve your relationships.
Number five, you've experienced trauma.
Therapy is a great resource
for those who have experienced trauma.
Even years after the trauma,
the event can still leave scars
that can hinder or impact your future.
Hence, it's a great idea to unpack
and cope with those unresolved emotions
in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.
Additionally, a therapist can provide you with the tools
to help you reframe the trauma to overcome it.
Number six, you no longer enjoy your favorite activities.
It's normal to outgrow certain hobbies and passions.
As you age, your interests change,
but a sudden disinterest in current hobbies and activities
can be indicative of more than just maturity.
A lack of joy in things you once enjoyed
sometimes speaks to a feeling of emptiness or apathy.
This feeling is common for those
who are experiencing depression, neglect, grief, or abuse.
Number seven, you're grieving.
Grief is an incredibly complex emotion.
It's born out of loss of a loved one,
a loss of a job, or a loss of an opportunity.
This period of mourning can be a long and painful process,
but you don't have to go through it alone.
Therapy or counseling can provide you a safe space
filled with compassion to help you process your grief.
Number eight, your physical health has taken a hit.
It's now common knowledge
that the mind and the body are interconnected.
Whatever is going on in the mind
is often manifested in the body and vice versa.
Therefore, a change in physical health
can sometimes point to a mental health problem.
Studies have linked chronic pain with mental health issues,
such as depression and anxiety.
Physical ailments can cause distress, anxiety,
and in some cases, depression.
And number nine, you're working on self-improvement,
but feel overwhelmed.
Therapy is not always about fixing something.
It can also be about growth.
If you've decided to walk down the path of self-improvement,
you know how overwhelming it can be at first.
There are countless books and seminars on the topic,
but the best resource can be therapy.
A therapist is almost like a librarian
in the sense that they can direct you to the right resources
for the particular topic you want to improve on,
while also providing you with additional information.
They're better equipped to help you understand
what areas you should focus on improving
and to give you the right tools
to achieve your self-improvement goals.
Have you ever been to therapy?
Did your experience there help you?
Let us know in the comments below.
If you found this video helpful,
be sure to like, subscribe, and share this video
with those who might benefit from it.
And don't forget to hit the notification bell icon
to get notified whenever Psych2Go posts a new video.
The references and studies used in this video
are added in the description below.
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next one.
