Mental health always seems like a very heavy topic – and it is serious. Mental health impacts every part of your life and wellbeing, and therefore, is an essential part of self-care and health. You may not think your symptoms qualify a diagnosis or disorder, but you may be suffering unnecessarily.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than a quarter of Americans live with a mental illness. Now, though ‘mental illness’ may seem severe, this includes anyone with mild anxiety or depression. If you feel your symptoms of poor mental health are impacting your ability to focus on tasks, stay motivated in your job, and be satisfied with your life – then perhaps it might be a good idea to seek some professional help. If you’ve never sought counseling before and aren’t sure where to start, here are 6 reasons you could see someone to help.

1. Not Coping With Your Responsibilities

One of the quickest ways to know whether seeking professional counseling will help you is if you are not coping with your responsibilities. Assessing your own functionality can be difficult, as we mostly want to believe we have things under control. But, if you think a counselor could help you cope better with your tasks, it could be a life-changing decision to make!

2. Out of Control “For No Reason”

It may be complicated for you to recognize if you have a problem, but you will understand if your life is feeling out of control, or not in-sync. Do you ever wonder why you do, say, think or feel certain things seemingly for no reason? If you commonly feel that your mind or personality aren’t cooperating with your true intentions or even values, and there seems to be a mismatch, you may have an underlying mental health problem.

Some psychological challenges require more intense evaluation to ensure you are receiving the clinically correct treatment. Seeking psychiatric help in Kentucky doesn’t need to be fearful, as there are fantastic care centers to help you get your life on track! If you are ready to take control of your self-destructive behaviors and feel more informed about what is actually going on, getting professional assistance is the best way forward.

3. Psychosomatic Symptoms

Interestingly, there are many people who present with physical symptoms who have nothing physically wrong with them. If you relate, you could have psychosomatic symptoms, in which your suppressed psychological stress or issues are being expressed through physical pain. Your body is pleading with you to notice – and to take care of underlying challenges. Getting help might be the solution to your psychosomatic symptoms.

4. You Are Told You Need Therapy

Your close friends and family may have been telling you that counseling will help you. And we understand that this is hard to hear, especially from people who you think love and accept you – but they want the best for you and don’t want you to suffer and be self-destructive.

If you have been told directly or in passing comments that therapy would help you, it might be worth considering. Sometimes we are too close to our problems to notice that we are not coping.

5. Trauma Event That You Know You Aren’t “Over”

If you’ve experienced a trauma that perhaps you’re struggling to accept and come to terms with, seeking professional help will assist in integrating these traumatic experiences into your daily life. Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) is evidence-based and shown to reduce a wide range of symptoms, including depression, anxiety, panic, and other fear-based responses. You cannot change the past, but it shouldn’t ruin or dampen your experience of life for months or even years to come.

6. You Want to Understand Yourself Better

A fantastic reason to get counseling help is if you want to learn more about yourself with a trained professional. In counseling, you can talk through long-standing queries or concerns you may have been grabbing for years. You might simply want to develop a deeper relationship with yourself and aren’t sure where to start.

Employing someone to assist in understanding your own psychology can transform your self-perception, your life meaning, and your ability to be a better friend to yourself. If you’re curious about counseling and want to improve yourself, this may be a great idea for you!

There are myriad reasons why people consider or enter a counseling relationship. Consulting a professional is a brilliant way to get informed about how to take better care of yourself, manage your stress, and learn to cope with specific challenges. Therapy will not fix all of your problems, but it will give you the tools and skills that you will carry with you throughout your life. You don’t have to commit to a treatment plan if you aren’t up for it, but if you are in doubt over whether professional counseling is for you, it’s definitely worth giving it a try.