7 Signs It’s Time to See a Therapist

Keyword: Therapist

Do You Need a Therapist? Recognizing When It’s Time to Seek Help

As therapists for Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness, we’ve met many people who say that they wish they’d come to therapy years earlier. For a number of reasons, many of our clients suffered through mental health problems for years without help before finally reaching out. Some folks tell us that they grew up in families that believed seeing a therapist was a sign of weakness. Others say that they didn’t recognize their mental health symptoms at first. And many clients express that they just didn’t know how much better regular therapy sessions would make them feel.

Since we know that it can be difficult to determine whether or not therapy is necessary, we decided to put together this guide. Here are 7 signs that it’s time to see a therapist.

7 Signs That You Need to See a Therapist

1. Your Emotions Feel Unmanageable

Everyone feels sad, anxious, scared, or angry from time to time. This is natural and healthy. Certain emotions are hard-wired into the human brain. When you experience a loss, you naturally feel sad. And if your safety is threatened, you feel scared. These feelings are automatic. 

Emotional experiences become problematic when they overwhelm you and make it difficult for you to control your behavior. Some of the people we work with say they find themselves crying frequently at inconvenient times, or feeling afraid as if something awful might happen even though they are objectively safe. Others might feel emotionally numb. These patterns might indicate a problem with emotional regulation. If this sounds like you, it might be time to talk to a therapist. We can teach you skills to help regulate your emotions and feel more in control.

2. Daily Tasks Have Become Difficult

Taking a shower, brushing your teeth, eating meals, exercising–these are basic self-care tasks that we therapists call activities of daily living. Most adults do these things without a lot of thought or effort. When someone is experiencing a mental health problem like depression, they can feel like impossible chores. 

If you are having difficulty taking care of your basic responsibilities like hygiene tasks, getting out of bed in the morning, or keeping up with work deadlines, that’s a red flag. It might mean that something deeper is going on. A therapist can help you understand the problem and work toward an effective solution.

3. If Your Relationships Are Suffering, A Therapist Can Help

All relationships have their challenges. It’s normal to have occasional disagreements and arguments with romantic partners, family members, and friends. You might even say things that hurt the other person’s feelings or make other mistakes that you regret later. As long as these incidents don’t happen too frequently, and everyone involved apologizes and does their best to repair, the relationship can be mostly healthy and fulfilling.

So when is it time to call a therapist? If you notice frequent, persistent problems that leave you feeling lonely, invalidated, or emotionally overwhelmed, it’s time to ask for help. This is especially true if these problems occur across multiple relationships, or if you notice a sudden increase in arguments or other relationship problems. A therapist can help you identify patterns in your relationships and develop healthier ways of connecting with others.

4. You’re Using Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

When you are stressed out, how do you cope? Some people practice mindfulness, exercise, meditate, or reach out to a friend, and that’s great. If you turn to unhealthy or dangerous coping mechanisms, that can cause more problems than it solves. 

We have worked with clients who use a number of unhealthy coping mechanisms when they feel overwhelmed. Some rely on alcohol and drugs, excessive shopping, overeating, and other potentially harmful behaviors to cope with stress or emotional pain. If you are engaging in one of these behaviors and you wish you could stop, therapy can help. A therapist can help you develop healthier coping strategies and address the underlying issues driving these behaviors.

5. Sleep and Appetite Changes Persist

The mind-body connection refers to the undeniable relationship between our feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and physical health. In other words, our physical and mental health are deeply interconnected. 

So when people notice a significant change in their sleep patterns or appetite, especially when these changes last a few weeks or more, this deserves attention. If you’re sleeping too much or too little, overeating, or losing interest in food, that can be a sign of mental health challenges. Even if these symptoms aren’t caused by a mental illness, they can still exacerbate mental health problems. While these symptoms might seem purely physical, they often have psychological components that a therapist can help you understand and address.

6. You’re Experiencing Unexplained Physical Symptoms

Similarly, there are certain physical symptoms that can be caused by a mental health problem. If you experience chronic headaches, digestive issues, muscle tension, or other physical complaints, you should see a physician. If your doctor can’t identify a physical cause and your symptoms persist, that might mean that the problem is psychological. This doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real – it absolutely is. But stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges can show up physically in ways that traditional medical treatment alone might not help. A therapist can help you explore the connection between your physical symptoms and emotional well-being.

7. Past Trauma Is Impacting Your Present

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an astonishing 70% of the world’s population has suffered through a traumatic event. However, only 3.9% of people globally have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health problem that requires therapy to treat.

If you have frequent, disturbing memories or nightmares of a past trauma, you avoid things that remind you of the trauma, you get physical symptoms when you think about it, you are taking too many risks, or you can’t stop blaming yourself for what happened, these are signs that you might have PTSD or another trauma-related disorder. Talking to a therapist can help you process the trauma and move on to a more peaceful life.

Take the Next Step: Contact a Therapist Today

Recognizing that you might need help is an important first step, but actually reaching out can feel daunting. Remember that seeking therapy isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s a sign of self-awareness and strength. You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy, and getting help before things become severe can prevent bigger challenges down the road.

When choosing a therapist, take time to find someone who feels right for you. Many offer initial consultations where you can ask questions and get a sense of their approach. Don’t be discouraged if the first therapist isn’t a perfect fit – finding the right match is worth the time.

At Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness, we offer individual and group therapy to our current medication management patients. We also offer specialized therapy services like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP). Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.

Remember, your mental health matters. A therapist can provide the guidance and support you need to navigate life’s challenges and work toward a healthier, more fulfilling future.