Mental Health

When Should You Go To Therapy?

If your mental and emotional state is taking a toll on your work and personal life, it might be time to go to therapy. Here’s what an expert has to say.

By URLife Team

23 Aug 2024

Are you struggling to manage your emotions and recurring negative thoughts? Feeling lost and overwhelmed with stress, anxiety, or mood swings is more common than we realise. Whether it's due to setbacks in our professional or personal lives, financial struggles, or loss, we all face emotional distress at some point.

Most of the time, we manage to pull through on our own, but there are instances where we need extra support. Perhaps you're feeling stuck, unable to shake off the emptiness, or caught in negative patterns that seem impossible to break. Sometimes, the signs of emotional distress are subtle, making it hard to seek help. Our emotions, thoughts, and behaviours directly impact our energy, productivity, and overall well-being.

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We spoke to Dr. Shreya Chakravarty, psychologist and deputy manager of UR.Life Life Studios about how to know if someone needs therapy. She explains, “while a certain amount of stress is normal and even beneficial, struggling to manage it can lead to negative outcomes, such as irritability, inefficiency, and feeling overwhelmed. If you're experiencing difficulty in managing your stress, it might be time to consider seeking professional guidance”.

Understanding Psychotherapy

Dr. Shreya goes on to say, “Hearing the word "therapy" often makes people flinch, but let’s clear up a big misconception: psychotherapy isn’t just for those battling mental illness. It’s actually a powerful tool for anyone feeling stressed, overwhelmed by emotions, or navigating major life changes.”

Imagine you’re dealing with a demanding job that's causing you sleepless nights, or you're wrestling with grief after losing a loved one. Maybe you’re facing a tough decision, like moving to a new city, or you’re caught in the whirlwind of a breakup.

Think of psychotherapy—or talk therapy—as your shield. In therapy, you get a safe, judgement-free zone where you can unload your thoughts, explore your options, and build the skills you need to tackle whatever life throws your way.

Role of Therapy in Everyday Life

Mental health professionals can tackle a wide range of challenges, from motivational struggles and perfectionism to self-sabotage—all of which can stand in the way of achieving your goals.

Whether you’re stress-eating or reaching for a drink to unwind, unhealthy coping habits can end up adding more problems to your life—and they tend to backfire in the long run.

It’s important to remember that almost any coping skill can become unhealthy if it’s used as an escape. Even things that seem harmless, like binge-watching TV, diving into video games, or getting lost in a good book, can turn into a problem if they’re your go-to way to avoid dealing with what’s really going on.

If you have difficulty regulating your emotions like anger or anxiety, then a therapist can be your best support system.
Being a professional, they can assist you in understanding the intensity of your emotions and also come up with management techniques to handle them.
They help people develop coping strategies, communication skills, and problem-solving techniques that ease the intensity of tough emotions.
Additionally, a therapist can help you uncover and understand the patterns in your life, whether it’s the way you think, how you relate to others, or the habits that hold you back.

How to Know When It’s Time to Consult A Therapist?

The question that most people have– how to know if they should consult a psychiatrist for therapy. Dr. Shreya explains, “when an individual is going through tough times and is exhausted mentally and emotionally, people around them are first to notice some changes. The one who loves us or our well-wishers are always observing even minute transitions happening in our lives such as sadness, anger, breakup, job loss, or the death of a loved one.”

Change is an inevitable part of our lives. And, if you ever find yourself struck in the whirlwind then, it is always a wise decision to talk to a therapist. Some may recognise the situation they are in and what they’re going through, while others may find it difficult to process. However, there are some apparent ways to know if it’s time to see a therapist.

1. What signs or patterns should I look for in my daily life that might indicate I need professional help?
As a therapist, I'd say that if your emotional struggles are affecting your daily life—like your relationships, work, or ability to enjoy things you used to love—it’s a good indication that therapy could be helpful. It’s not about how “serious” your everyday battles are, but about how they’re affecting you. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or using unhealthy ways to cope, that’s an indication that you need to talk to a therapist. If you’re constantly feeling sad, anxious, angry, or overwhelmed, and these emotions don’t seem to go away, it’s becoming harder to perform daily tasks, whether at work, home, or in social situations. Struggling to concentrate, feeling unmotivated, or losing interest in activities you used to enjoy.

Another sign to look out for is if you’re turning to alcohol, drugs, food, or other unhealthy behaviours to cope with stress or emotions. Along with this, you may be having conflicts with others, withdrawing from friends, or feeling disconnected.

2. If I’m feeling overwhelmed but not sure why, is that a good reason to begin therapy?
Definitely. It is completely natural to be overwhelmed at times even if everything is normal in our personal and professional lives. Sometimes, our emotions and thoughts can become tangled up in ways that are hard to figure out on our own. A therapist can help you explore what’s going on beneath the surface, identify any underlying issues, and develop strategies to manage those feelings. Taking that first step can lead to greater clarity and a stronger sense of control over your life.

Related story: What is Cryotherapy

3. What are some common reasons people decide to start therapy?
Everyone has their reasons to start therapy. Many people seek therapy when they’re experiencing frequent worry, racing thoughts, or physical symptoms like a racing heart or trouble sleeping. Big changes like moving to a new city, starting a new job, getting married, or going through a breakup can be another reason.

Besides, not everyone comes to therapy because of a crisis. Some people seek therapy to better understand themselves, improve their relationships, or make positive changes in their lives.

4. What should I expect in the first few sessions to determine if therapy is right for me?
During the first session, the therapist will build a healthy rapport with you, make you feel comfortable enough to share your problem, and then the therapist will ask questions to understand you and your situation. The therapist will also briefly explain the structure of sessions and do initial assessments. The first few sessions are used to build up a trustworthy relationship between you and your therapist.

These sessions are also about getting comfortable with your therapist and seeing if you feel understood and supported. They’ll explain how they work and what you can expect in future sessions. After a few meetings, you’ll have a better idea if therapy is helping and if it’s a good fit for you.

5. How do I differentiate between normal life stress and issues that would benefit from therapy?
Normal life stress is our reaction to day-to-day pressures at home or work. One can feel stressed if haven’t slept well or when worried about deadlines at the workplace et cetera. Chronic stress can be unhealthy affecting personal daily life, thoughts, and behaviour. It can negatively impact our physical and mental health.

6. Are there specific life events or challenges that typically signal the need for therapy?
Trauma, any kind of abuse and assault, dysfunctional family dynamics, major health issues, crises, and disasters can ask for therapy.

Everyone has problematic thoughts sometimes—these are called cognitive distortions, and they can be hard to shake off. A mental health professional can help you develop a healthier way of thinking, which can be crucial for living your best life. Good news is that you’re in control of your treatment. You get to decide what you talk about in therapy and whether you want to consider medication. Learning about your mental health and your treatment options will help you make the best decisions for yourself.

Book a consultation with UR.Life Psychiatrist.

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