Five fascinating reasons to try Talk Therapy
Contrary to popular belief, therapy is not for the fainthearted. In fact, most people fear therapy, and it is only the brave who are able to step over that fear and give it a try. Most successful people have used therapy at some point in their lives.
Many of us were brought up with the belief that some things are not meant to be shared, that there are some internal issues that should not be discussed. Instead, it should be swept beneath the rug, away from prying eyes and inquisitive questions. This has resulted in a large portion of the world population stomping down on their feelings and avoiding underlying issues which lead to anxiety, depression and stress-related psychosomatic illnesses.
Did you know that depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide?
Talk Therapy addresses not just the symptoms at hand, but also attempts to search for the root cause of one’s problems without medical intervention. Antidepressants and other happy pills, although essential for some people, not only mask the symptoms and their specific cause, but also dull one’s mental vitality, holding one in the past without getting to the root cause. Repressed emotions have a way of haunting you later on and this may affect your relationships with spouse, parents, children, coworkers and even yourself.
So, learning how to deal with your issues can change your whole perspective.
1. A little bit goes a long way
The effects of talk therapy are long lasting. This is because you are not only working on your symptoms, but you are also developing the tools you need to help you deal with similar issues in future. Then, as with any exercise, the more you practise using the tools, the better they will work for you. Talking about, and expressing, your feelings, inner thoughts and anxieties allows you to reflect on your life long after treatment has ended. Therapy brings about changes at brain-level and helps you develop positive mental habits. In this way, it helps you deal with blind-sides in the future.
In addition, since stress and anxiety can trigger physical illnesses such as migraines, body pain, sleeping problems, ulcers, etc., successful therapy can help these issue fade away. It’s a win-win situation.
2. You begin to understand yourself, and others, better
The amazing thing about therapy is that it not only helps you to understand your own feelings about your issues, but it also gives you a different perspective in dealing with and understanding other people. When we hold on to negative thoughts, all of our assumptions about the world are made through that lens. However, when we let go of negative thoughts and deal with our past traumas, we are offered a reality check and then begin to view the world and its people in a different way.
3. Your problems become concrete, more manageable
Often, a problem in our mind seems larger than it actually is. It’s so easy to become engulfed by your burdens and weighted down by your responsibilities. Talking gives you a chance to make sense of your burdens, giving them a beginning, a middle and an end. The more that you express, the more sense you will make. The more that you talk, the more you will know what you are trying to say. Even if not therapy, talking to a friend can help you. Allow yourself to open up and lay out the issue and you will find that it begins to seem clearer, more sensible and more manageable.
4. You learn that you are not alone
Having a therapist on our side becomes a huge relief and comfort, especially once you’ve built a good rapport. A therapist offers a safe space to test out words and ideas for the real world, with constructive feedback that is geared towards building your life toolkit. In addition, a therapist offers a supportive cushion to fall on when things don’t go your way and you find yourself at a loss in a situation.
Also, some people prefer joining a support group with others who are dealing with a similar situation as themselves, for example divorce, infertility, etc. Being with others who are having a similarly rough time as you can be very reassuring.
5. Your bring up more resilient kids
The best part about therapy is that you have the opportunity to share your toolkit with the next generation. For those who were brought up in households where children should be seen and not heard, or in abusive circumstances, you have the chance to teach your kids a different way. Parents can help children become more resilient by showing them, through example, how to deal with life’s challenges in a healthy and productive way. It allows children the opportunity to express themselves and their emotions more constructively without them feeling ignored or mistreated. In this way, therapy can eliminate generational resentment and defiance.
More and more people are starting to open up about their personal struggles and mental health issues are becoming more accepted in society. The stigma seems to be waning out and the benefits are coming through. If you can’t talk to friends, why not give therapy a try? Chances are it will help you more than you know!
Stay well, inside and out
Waheeda, a.k.a Waydi
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