When should I go to Psychotherapy?

As a general rule, people are unaware of the different reasons why someone needs to seek help from a therapist. Many times we are guided by knowledge that we believe to be "infallible" but which, unfortunately, is not always so. More often than not, our decisions about whether or not we need to see a therapist are rooted in what society has taught us about it.

In our world of the XXI century and, oddly enough, the concept that the psychologist is for "crazy" is still quite present. This prejudice, which has been put into our heads without even realizing it, can be a major stumbling block when deciding that we do not need professional help.

So how to distinguish when is it really convenient to go to psychotherapy and when not? We show you some ideas that can help you in your decision.

When is it advisable to go to psychotherapy?

If you feel identified with any of these points, you need to seek a professional, because you probably need help.

1. psychopathologies

Psychological disorders are described in detail in the diagnostic manuals of psychiatry and clinical psychology.

and they are quite common; especially, the major depression or anxiety problems. What is important to know is that, whether or not they are frequent in the population, it is necessary to seek professional help to improve our mental health.

The psychologist will be the one who guides you about the treatment to follow. Sometimes only psychological therapy is necessary, but in other cases a pharmacological treatment will also be essential.

2. Duel

Losses are something inherent to the fact of living. We have all experienced a loss at some time, be it the death of a loved one or a breakup, since our minds do not interpret as loss only what goes with death. In all these cases, therapeutic follow-up is crucial to carry out a psychological duel correct and prevent anguish and sadness from becoming entrenched and chronic.

Just as the need for psychotherapy in the face of the death of a loved one is "accepted" by society, it is not The same is true for other types of losses, such as the loss of a job or a change of employment. city. In all these cases, it seems that feeling pain is not so "justified", and it is precisely for this reason that many people resist seeking professional help.

But, as we have already pointed out, any loss is a duel for our mind. Mourning will make us go through difficult stages to go through: anger, anguish, sadness, apathy and, often, a feeling of guilt. And, instead of approaching the pain, many times we end up denying or repressing it, which is highly counterproductive for our psyche, since the more we turn our eyes to pain, the more it becomes will increase this Faced with such an emotional range, it is necessary to go to a specialist to help us conduct the process correctly.

3. stress management

The current way of life involves very high levels of stress that are not always manageable without help. We must not forget that stress itself is not harmful, since it was created to move us to carry out actions; however, when it becomes chronic, it can be very negative for our mental and physical health.

This feeling of feeling overwhelmed by chronic stress (known as "distress") is very clear in the case of the famous burnout ("being burned at work"), which occurs when we feel constant exhaustion from the workload. In any case, any chronic stress harms our health, since it is usually accompanied by insomnia, muscle tension and poor digestion, as well as high levels of anxiety.

As we have already discussed, stress and anxiety per se are not bad. On the contrary, they stimulate us to action, to solve pending issues, to move towards other possible directions. The important thing is to have adequate advice so that this stress does not last over time.

One of the tools used in psychotherapy to combat these symptoms is the mindfulness, that is, pay attention to the present moment. In any case, if you feel overwhelmed by stress and/or anxiety, it is highly recommended that you seek the help of a professional.

4. Looking for help with emotional distress

So far, the reasons may seem logical to you: psychopathology, grief, and stress management. But, sometimes, the reason is simply asking for help. Just like that.

We must start from the basis that any pain is valid, and there is no pain that "deserves" to be treated more or better than another. Therefore, if you apparently have no reason, but still feel bad, please do not hesitate to ask a professional for help.

When is it advisable, then, to go to psychotherapy? There is, as you have seen, no specific “rule”. If you're in pain and don't know what to do with it, you already have enough reason to seek treatment. A therapy will always bring you benefits; It will not only help you to understand and mitigate your discomfort, but also to get to know yourself better.