Why is everything labelled Mental Health Issues? Why and when do I need to see a counsellor or a therapist?
Mental health is the state of your thoughts, feelings actions and or behaviours. For a greater percentage of people they have a good or high mental health. Although they can experience low mental health seasons bought on by job loss, negative relationships, general life stresses and losses, they have the resilience and the support systems to pick themselves up without seeking help or medications.
However, when people are predisposed to mental health Issues through their genes, present or past trauma and loss or child hood trauma, and it is affecting their livelihood, relationships and everyday functioning then it may be they have a mental health challenge.
Mental health illness can be from “on the autistic spectrum”, to anxiety, depression and psychotic disorders just to name a few. Once these mental health challenges have been dealt with through therapy and or medication a person can go back to a healthy lifestyle free from mental health issues or continue in life with low grade mental health illness or disorder. Then there are others that have a major mental health illness that need constant medication and therapy.
People ask why or when should I see a counsellor? There should be no stigma attached to seeking therapy or talking about mental health. It just takes a few brave people to say, “Most of us are like the rest of us” to break negative stereotypes.
I have listed five different reasons for visiting a therapist or counsellor:
Intervention: You are not functioning well and haven’t been for a period of over a few months. You may know what bought this on or you may not, perhaps talking with someone may just help you get clarity in some areas.
Prevention: You know an event has happened, and your are left thinking unhealthy thoughts over and over again. Or you may notice you are not bouncing back quickly enough, so for preventative reasons seeing a therapist could help.
Subvention: You may need clarity, help or assistance to get another perspective to an issue that you are facing relationally, ethically or otherwise.
Convention: You may need a sounding board. Having someone safe to listen to you, within this season of your life can be liberating.
Reinvention: You want to grow and change and you feel stuck in a rut, and a therapist or counsellor may be able to see obstacles that you have not seen before. The counselling process is great for personal growth.
Remember you may be one more answer away from your wholeness
disclaimer: If you are in doubt or feel that you are at risk of harming yourself or others phone 000/emergency now.
