When Should I See A Therapist

“Maybe I should see a therapist…” – we’ve all had that thought. Whether it’s following a bad break-up, handling years of unhealthy family relationships and interactions, or even after realizing that you hate your job and may need someone to talk to about it. But when is the line crossed from “I can handle this on my own” to “I really need to talk to someone about this”?

Unmanageable vs. Uncomfortable

Everyone endures anxiety at some point. Everyone experiences anger and sadness. While those feelings are uncomfortable, they’re a normal part of life. If you’re a college student who gets anxious around final exams, that doesn’t mean you need to go see a therapist. Having anxiety in certain situations is typical! It’s when it starts to become unmanageable is when it may be time to seek out additional support. For example, say you’re someone who is anxious speaking in front of groups of people, and you know each month that you have to present in front of colleagues at work. But instead of using coping strategies, speaking with your boss about accommodations or adjustments, or practicing public speaking through another avenue (signing up for an improv class, a trial run of your presentation with family or friends, etc.) you call in sick on the days you’re required to present. Not only is that a maladaptive way of coping, but now your anxiety is impacting your performance and attendance at work. Your anxiety has crossed over into unmanageable, and it may be time to consider attending therapy to address your anxiety.

Daily Life Impact

If you’re beginning to notice that a certain emotion, situation, or conflict is bleeding into your daily life functioning, it could be helpful to talk to a therapist. Life transitions, relationships, jobs, family – they all impact us and shape us into who we are and what we can become. What we need to look out for is when our daily lives are taking a hit as a result. 

Let’s look at a relationship break-up. They’re emotionally and mentally difficult, there’s no denying that. If you date someone for a year, it’s very typical that the first 1-3 months will be filled with some sadness, anxiety, and feeling alone. And even at the 6 month mark, there might be some sad days too! But just because you’ve experienced a break-up or are currently going through one, doesn’t mean you need to seek out therapy. However, if you’re noticing that you’re more lethargic, experiencing a loss of appetite, skipping work or classes, avoiding other interpersonal interactions, and no longer participating in things that you enjoy due to feelings of sadness surrounding the separation, that’s when it may be time to look into therapy to help you process through those emotions and that experience.

Self-Harm or Feelings of Suicide

There are some moments in life where we may feel that we are out of options, without coping strategies that work, or feel that we are truly alone in handling life’s challenges. Sometimes that can lead to thoughts or ideations of suicide or taking action through self-harm to try and feel better and more in control of the situations occurring around us. This is where therapy can be a safe and healthy space to process all of the unmanageable and difficult emotions, and provide support during tough times. Using a hotline also counts as seeking out therapeutic services if that’s a better option for you!

It Can’t Hurt!

Having an additional support system outside of your current pool of friends, family, and colleagues is never a bad thing! Going to therapy won’t make it worse. If you try it out and it’s not for you, that’s okay! There is no harm in trying to process what you’re going through with an unbiased party or trying out multiple therapy avenues until you find the best fit for you.

Book an appointment with Symmetry Counseling today.