Everyone experiences times of stress, grief, loss, anxiety and sadness. Most will manage these times on their own but for some it might be time to seek the help of a professional therapist or counselor. How can you tell if you need to see a counselor?

Most Americans do not seek help when needed. They try to manage their situation or stress and anxiety on their own, often with the help of drugs or alcohol. Seeking the help of a professional therapist or counselor does not mean you are somehow less or damaged. In fact it means you are self-aware enough to seek the help you need. If you found a suspicious lump on your body you would seek the advice of a doctor, seeing a therapist or counselor is no different.

The sooner you get help the sooner you will get through your problem and start to feel better, so putting it off only makes your pain last longer.

Of course, not everyone does need the help of a therapist, but if you suffer from some of these experiences it might be time to find a therapist to help you deal with your issues.

How To Tell If You Need Counseling

You feel physically ill – Mental illness can take the form of physical discomfort. If you suffer from depression you may find that your body hurts. You could have unexplained stomach aches, headaches or find that you are always catching whatever is going around. If you always seem to be sick it might be time to check in with a therapist, after getting checked out by your primary doctor of course.

Alcohol or drug use – If you find that you are drinking more than normally for a long period of time or have started to use drugs to cope with day to day feelings you might want to seek the help of a professional. People will self medicate to push away the pain they are experiencing. Talking to a therapist can alleviate the need to self medicate, or make the feelings to do so less intense.

Food – If you find yourself eating too much or trying to control what you eat to an obsession, it’s a good time to see a therapist. Depending on your age and other factors you could be developing an eating disorder which can have devastating effects on you and those you love. If you think you have an eating disorder seek help right away.

Relive the past – If you’ve suffered a trauma or loss and can’t seem to stop thinking about ever, it’s time to get help from a trained professional. Living with loss is something we all must face, but some of us become paralyzed and it impacts day to day living. If you can’t seem to focus on your day to day activities and responsibilities it’s time to ask for help.

No passion – Activities that used to excite you no longer bring you joy. This could be a sign of depression and the sooner you seek treatment the sooner you will have more joy in your life.

Letting things go – If you have laundry piling up in your house, haven’t vacuumed in weeks and the kitchen sink is filled with moldy dishes it’s probably time to seek the help of a therapist. We all let things go when we feel down but if you can’t seem to find the motivation to keep your home or work space presentable you may be suffering from depression.

These are just a few of the signs that you may need the help of a professional therapist or counselor. If you think you may need to see a therapist, but aren’t sure please call us for a consultation.