Panache

What is it about mental health that keeps people scared? Why is it still taboo to talk about certain conditions, especially when they are related to mental well-being?

Don’t blame the media. The media has not only been making content around this topic but also normalizing the conversations around therapy, mental health awareness, and other subjects related to it.

If you are still on the fence about consulting a therapist, like a regular doctor, below are some reasons that can de-stigmatize therapy.

To understand yourself better.

When trying to build a better you, you need to understand who you are. Who were you? And where have you come from? You need to understand the past, the present, and everything that has come to and can be in the future.

Those who have gone through the brutal maze of understanding and discovering themselves know that it is not an easy job. The moment you become confident that you know what you have been made of, life throws a new situation at you, and you discover either a weaker or a stronger side of yourself.

But when you go to a therapist, they can see what you cannot. They can be your mentor and guide to show your true potential and your unique being. They can help you understand your achievements, shortcomings, and the things that you can work on to strengthen yourself.

All you need is a trusted individual who cannot only see these things in you but can also make you see those things so you can work on them effectively.

Also read: 8 things to know about yourself.

To understand life better.

Some say life is a puzzle and you need to be quick-witted enough to know how to solve it. But the fun in living on this planet is that its riddles never end. You may win sometimes and lose other times. What you gain is a lesson that you can get from those failures and convert your failings into winning.

Sometimes, you need someone who has seen people go through their lives and difficulties. They have seen people being weak and people winning through different wars of life. And trust them when they guide you into understanding your life and how to tackle it.

Certain factors in life cannot be controlled by you, while you can harness other factors as your will. A therapist can help increase the number of things you can control in your life compared to what you do not have any power over.

Also read: How to live an interesting life?

To get a wider perspective.

Have you ever consulted a friend to see their perspective about something? There are many times in our lives when we can’t see something from different angles, and that is when we need someone else to chime in.

Someone who is not stuck in that situation, or someone who can see things differently. Maybe you don’t have a friend like that in life. However, you can always trust your therapist for the same objective.

They will not only listen to you without any bias or prejudice, but they are also more than capable of giving you advice about your life, its circumstances, or the best possible option for you to take in the future.

To increase mental health awareness.

We see thousands of quotes about kindness, loyalty, and care for the world on the internet. We love and like them, since they cater to our need to live in a nicer world. However, you can’t deny that we are living in a society where people can’t openly talk about their mental health issues.

We are the first generation suffering from loneliness in the technically connected world. And yet we refuse to talk about how the stigma about mental health has not just been significantly affecting the current population. But it is also making the future generations more self-centered and less social.

Mental health is still not talked about in the rawest and most genuine form. Until it does not come wrapped with a shiny layer of a blockbuster show, movies, celebrity gossip, and jokes. Yet, everyone is suffering from it in one way or another.

De-stigmatizing therapy can change that. Letting people know that going to a therapist does not mean there is something wrong with you. It can show therapy and mental health in a different light altogether.

Also read: How to support a friend struggling with mental health?

To Break Generational Trauma.

Generational trauma is not just a term for the images, memes, and reels on the internet. It is a real phenomenon. Characteristics and traits of previous generations can be passed down to the new generation. Similarly, generational trauma and other mental disorders can be passed down.

You might not understand why you follow a certain pattern. Why do you behave in a certain way that is similar to your ancestors but not with other families around you?

You cannot answer these questions while growing up, but you begin to understand as you set foot into your adult life. By then, you have already acquired the good, the bad, and the ugly traits of your ancestors, and you think you have to live with them.

A therapist will tell you otherwise. If you are strong-willed to change what you want to change in your acquired behavior, you still can. A therapist will help you in doing the same. They will let you know how to survive through that and tell you how to change it to thrive in your life.

Also read: 10 glaring signs you have intergenerational trauma.

Also read: How to overcome generational trauma?

To prepare better coping mechanisms.

When life gives us difficult balls to hit, it leaves a toxic mark on our lives. It is neither easy to get over it nor to forget it all at once. To survive, we subconsciously or consciously develop certain behavioral patterns. These patterns might get us through but may not be healthy in the long run.

These are commonly called coping mechanisms, and sometimes there is a lot to unpack when you develop these. With a therapist, you might want to know why you developed certain behavioral patterns. Is it a healthy mechanism or not?

Should you dive deep and sort out the root cause instead of just trying to cope with it? And what other ways can be practiced to deal with a problem that is not only healthy for you but would also be beneficial in the future?

Also read: 10 signs you are sabotaging yourself.

Also read: 10 ways to stop sabotaging yourself.

To create an open environment.

Can you openly talk about your mental health? Can you tell your friends, your family, and your partner about how you truly feel and what difficulties you are facing to survive in the world?

For most people, the answer to the above question is no.  And that is where we are wrong. We openly talk about physical ailments and conditions. But we have still not reached that stage in our society where we can openly mention someone’s ADHD, anorexia, or depression.

Normalizing therapy can create an open environment for people to come forward and talk about their mental health struggles. Consulting a therapist must not be a taboo anymore. Regular visits to the therapist must be like going to a dentist appointment and nothing more than that.

You can trust your therapist.

One of the biggest reasons people fear therapy is how they can open up about the deepest and darkest parts of their lives to a stranger. After all, a therapist is just another human being sitting in a chair with a pen and a notebook. How are they any different from people whom you see every day during your commute or at your workplace?

These questions are normal and considered very common among people who are on the fence about therapy and how it can change their lives. The answer is fairly simple.

The person sitting in the chair had studied for years and is contractually obligated to keep your life confidential and to themselves. Also, by their qualifications, they are more than capable of understanding you, your problems, and your life. In the end, it will give you the most effective solution.

Most importantly, they are sitting in a room to earnestly listen to you talk about all the things that you want to open up about. They will be patient with you and follow your pace. They will let you know as you tell them and will tell you what they feel honestly.

To decrease feelings of hopelessness.

By the above points, it is clear that going to a therapist does not mean that something is particularly wrong with you. You can go to a therapist even when you are feeling low. You can consult someone when you are not feeling good with the current state you are living in.

After Donald Trump was elected as the President of the United States, a significant number of people admitted having feelings of anxiety and hopelessness with the current state of the world.

These people often mention their feelings on Reddit, Facebook, Youtube, and many others. Though these feelings are personal to them, many people replying to them also feel the same. While others give them a little hope that things may change in the future.

You can indeed ask for help on the internet, and kind people around the world might respond. However, to set aside feelings of hopelessness, you need to consult a therapist. So, they can assist you with your feelings in ways you can manage, giving solutions that are exclusively relevant to you.

Also read: How to deal with your inner bully?

Conclusion.

In the current world, we need to normalize therapy and consult someone who is not only an expert but can also help you understand yourself and your life better.

Remember that this conversation can start with you. You can de-stigmatize therapy and let people know that they can talk openly about how they feel. It would not only lead to better understanding but also to more meaningful connections in the community.