Courtney Van Acker M.A., LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Therapy is a wonderful tool to help you cope with various stressors in your life, find solutions that are tailor-made for your unique personality, background, and current situation,. It provides emotional support and a safe space to process your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement. Sometimes people may not be aware that they could benefit from therapy. They might think that therapy is only for people with deep, profound trauma, severe mental health issues, or addictions that have spiraled out of control. However, there are many common issues that everyone has experienced that would be beneficial to address in a therapeutic space.
1. Feeling consistently overwhelmed and anxious
Anxiety is, unfortunately, an all too common feeling, especially in this day and age. An onslaught of negative news from the media, constant social media exposure, and societal pressures contribute to the ongoing sense of fear and a lack of balance in our lives. However, if you are finding yourself consistently overwhelmed by your daily responsibilities and stressors, and are having trouble managing your anxiety, therapy can be a powerful tool to help you learn effective coping strategies for stress and anxiety, and to help you live in a more peaceful, grounded way.
2. Persistent sadness and depression
It is normal to feel sad sometimes. Although consistent happiness is a goal that many of us have, it is impossible to reach it. Happiness and sadness come in waves, much like ocean waves washing up on a beach. However, if your sadness is impacting daily functioning, creating intense mood swings, and impacting your relationships, counseling can definitely help. Counseling can help you explore what’s underneath your sadness to help you find freedom from depression and live your life authentically to who you truly are.
3. Engaging in unhealthy coping strategies
If you notice that the only things in your life that help you to cope with negative emotions tend to worsen the issue or create new issues, then therapy would be incredibly helpful for you. If you find yourself turning to substances, unhealthy compulsive behaviors, increased avoidance, and choosing to “rot” rather than taking active, intentional steps to improve your life or engage in your hobbies, then therapy can help you correct those maladaptive coping strategies and learn new methods of coping with stress, anxiety, and depression. Working with a trusted therapist can be a crucial step in breaking negative cycles and patterns that keep you feeling stuck.
4. Significant relationship/life changes
Life moves so quickly, and sometimes our relationships can drastically change in a way that we were not prepared for. Strained and broken relationships with family, friends, children, and romantic partners can severely impact our mental health and our ability to cope well with stress. Also, major life transitions, such as having a new baby, career changes, divorce, or loss of a loved one, can leave us feeling unable to smoothly adjust to what is our “new normal”. Navigating these relationship challenges or major life transitions with a therapist can be crucial in adjusting well and coming to terms with what is, rather than focusing on what was or what “should” have been.
5. Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed and persistent low energy
If you notice that you are avoiding engaging in activities that once brought you joy and made your life feel meaningful and purposeful, then that is a telltale sign that it is time to seek out mental health therapy. Feeling constantly exhausted, tired, and drained both physically and emotionally can cause us to withdraw from the activities and people that once provided joy and made us feel recharged and ready to participate in life again. Low energy is often our nervous systems telling us that something is wrong, and it is important to listen to our bodies and seek the appropriate help and support when you notice that you are not yourself. Poor mental health can also impact work and school performance, and it is always better to nip these issues in the bud before they become bigger and more unmanageable.
Here at St. Charles Counseling, our team of expert mental health professionals can help you take those initial steps towards long-lasting and meaningful change in your life. Reaching out for help can be hard and scary, but the emotional, relational, and physical impact of merely surviving, rather than thriving, is even harder and scarier. You deserve to thrive and to live a life that you are proud of. Let us help you achieve your goals and find your purpose.