Psychotherapy and Mental Health – The Importance of Finding Help

Sadness and loneliness

Psychological therapy may not be ideal for everyone, but there are a lot more reasons why you should need it than you could ever imagine. Sometimes you’re in desperate need of help. Sometimes you experienced a trauma you can’t simply leave behind your back. But sometimes, you just need that little help to make a tolerable life good, and a good life a shining journey towards success and self-fulfillment.

The importance of mental health

Mental health is the sum of all our psychological, emotional and social well-being. It will affect every action in our lives, from connecting ourselves to other people, making the right choices, building healthy relationships, and coping with stress.

Try to imagine your psyche like an organ. If you suffer from a heart condition, would you ever neglect it? You will visit a cardiologist as soon as possible, because the more you ignore the problem the worse it will become. If you had an intestinal inflammation, would you keep eating burgers and other junk food? Do you expect your condition to improve if you simply ignore it?

Mental health works just like your physiological health: you need to take care of it if you want to be healthy and happy. Just like an open wound, a psychological scar needs care and treatment to heal, day after day. But when a wound is too deep, therapy may be the only option. After all, is it better to stitch your own wounds and risk infection, or to visit a specialist to take care of them?

Why you need help today and not tomorrow

Having a mental health problem doesn’t mean you are a weak person. There are a lot of factors that contribute to psychological issues, including genetic causes, injuries and traumas, past life experiences, a history of abuse, and physical illnesses. Learn more here.

According to data provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2013 no more than 46-65 percent of Americans suffering from a moderate-to-severe mental illness actually sought treatment. However, in the U.S. at least one in five adults (20 percent) experienced a mental health issue at least once in his life. There are a lot of myths surrounding mental issues, and a widespread social stigma towards those who seek help. In truth, there’s nothing wrong with it.

The earlier you can get help, the easier you could get to the root of the problem, solve it with as little stress as possible, and get back to a healthy, satisfying life. People with mental health problems can and will recover completely if properly treated. In due time, you will be able to get back to work normally, build new and healthier relationships, learn new things and thrive just like anyone else.

When is seeking therapy necessary?

From online therapy to community support services, today there are a lot more treatment options than ever, and they all work. However, sometimes it is hard to detect when a psychological issue is getting out of hand. In general, you should take therapy in consideration whenever you experience one of these signs:

  • You can’t stop thinking about a previous negative experience or trauma
  • You cannot cope with your emotions or feelings
  • You keep suffering from apparently unexplainable physical problems such as stomach-aches, diarrhea or frequent headaches
  • You keep feeling fatigued and tired, or just can’t get out of your bed
  • Your relationships are dysfunctional or strained
  • You’re struggling with addiction or substance abuse
  • People around you (family, friends) keep being concerned about your health

Therapy is helpful to cope with serious issues such as anxiety or depression, but it’s just as effective with smaller problems as well. Don’t miss this opportunity: finding help as soon as possible can make all the difference in the world.

Article by Dr. Claudio Butticè, Pharm.D.