Therapy
Being trained in psychotherapy in addition to being a licensed medical doctor, I have been accused of being biased towards believing “everyone needs therapy at some point in their lives.” And on some level, that’s likely true. I love therapy. I think it has the power to be life-altering in the best possible of ways. It can bring a new, valued, and unbiased perspective to whatever you may be going through.
However, for those not actually “in the field” you may not know when is the appropriate time to seek out and ask for professional help. Here are 10 signs you should maybe seek out a therapist sooner rather than later:
1. You find yourself making the same mistakes over and over again. It could be repeating patterns in your work or in your love relationships. Maybe you feel like you’re living in a never-ending loop of “Groundhog Day” just with different players in different situations.
2. You have a particularly difficult decision to make, and the friends and family you’re speaking with all have “skin in the game.” Which, as we all know, makes it so hard to find an unbiased opinion amidst the chaos and stress.
3. You have what you feel like is an insurmountable problem and you’re worried you’re “wearing your friends out” because you can’t seem to stop talking about it. Maybe you can’t stop thinking about it. You’re ruminating about the issue and it’s starting to affect your ability to work or your health.
4. You’re still grieving the loss of a loved one and you’re past the “let’s bring you casseroles” stage of people caring for you and checking in.
5. You’re having problems in your primary love relationship and you can’t talk to your significant other because it’s about them and you’re fearful it will cause more problems if you bring it up before you’ve worked things out in your head. You’re in need of an objective sounding board.
6. You’re dealing with overwhelming symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress and don’t feel you have anyone to turn to. These symptoms are causing you to withdraw from the world, miss work, major responsibilities, or social and/or family obligations.
7. You’re dealing with depression, anxiety, or PTSD and have tried and failed medications. They just don’t seem to be working for you by themselves.
8. You’ve made a recent job change or a major move that isolates you from friends and family or takes you out of your typical support structure.
9. You’re feeling chronic feelings of emptiness, loneliness, sadness, or that “not good enough” feeling. You feel like you’re constantly struggling against feeling like an imposter.
10. You’re recognizing some difficult family dynamics from your upbringing you’d like to change. You don’t want to continue unstable or unhealthy patterns of relationships but don’t know how to go about doing it since you had no great role models to help you figure things out. Maybe you were neglected and never learned how to self-soothe out of difficult or stressful situations without self-medicating with alcohol or other substances or behaviors that aren’t great for you.
Therapy is by no means a cure-all. Nothing is. But therapy can certainly help you to get a better understanding and handle on both your emotions and how you’re handling difficult situations in your life. So if any of the above scenarios feels like it fits you, consider giving a therapist a call. Google therapists in your area specific to your needs or check out profiles on Psychology Today. If you happen to be in the Cincinnati area, feel free to check out The Anderson Clinic, where we provide psychotherapy, medication management, ketamine infusions, and PrTMS, as well as partner with a number of other clinics in the area that are accepting new patients for therapy. It’s always best to have a trusted referral in your pocket. Do remember us for all of your mental health needs: at The Anderson Clinic, where we offer mental health solutions, not stigma.
So, if you found this information helpful, please like, subscribe, and follow us! Tell your friends. We’re @AndersonClinicCincy on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. And you can find our Psych Waves podcast on Apple and Spotify. And if you happen to be in the Cincinnati area and are looking for assistance with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, concussions, or PTSD, give us a call at (513) 321-1753. Start feeling better faster.