Many people struggle over whether their problems are severe enough to warrant therapy.  Despite a lot of progress, there is still stigma surrounding a need for therapy.  People think it makes them weak or unstable.  These beliefs can keep a lot of people from getting the help they need.

I don’t think you necessarily have to be diagnosed with a mental illness to warrant therapy. (Important to note that insurance companies do not agree with me.  They require a diagnosis to pay for therapy.)  Sometimes, it’s just good to just have a sounding board or a space and time each week for yourself.  If you’re questioning whether you should go to therapy or not, then it might be helpful to at least meet with a therapist and see.

I remember reading the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - the mental health Bible really) and relating to some of the symptoms listed so much that it scared me.  My friend and I diagnosed ourselves with all kinds of issues from bipolar disorder to borderline personality.  Then I went to grad school and realized most mental health symptoms are nothing more than intense and enduring forms of the feelings and states we all experience.  For example, we all get sad but not all of us have depression or we all get nervous but it doesn’t always turn into anxiety.  

What differentiates a diagnosable mental health disorder from the rest is functioning. If your symptoms endure long enough and become severe enough that they impact your ability to engage in multiple areas of your life (home, work, family) then it becomes a diagnosable issue. The more severe the impact on your life, the more severe the issue is considered, which can direct level of care or course of treatment.  In my practice, a diagnosis is an important piece of the puzzle but is in no way the entire picture.  I’ve seen many people struggling who didn’t necessarily meet criteria for a mental health disorder.

Another important consideration, is the overlap of physical and mental illnesses.  Many physical health problems, like Lyme Disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, or fibromyalgia can mimic the symptoms of depression and be easily misdiagnosed.  Furthermore, there are other physical health issues that can mimic symptoms of anxiety or even schizophrenia.  If you’re having issues with fatigue, mental fog, panic attacks, or confusion, I suggest you go to your doctor and have a physical to rule out any underlying physical causes.

If you’re wondering where you stand on the scale of mental wellness, then make an appointment with a therapist and talk to someone about it.  Therapists are sworn to keep your information confidential and should support you no matter what you say.  We all require help on our journey  and that’s okay.  Get a recommendation from a friend or look online at places like Good Therapy or Psychology Today.  Look for someone who you think you’d be comfortable with and who says things that resonate with you.

Many people will say, but I don’t need therapy, I can do this on my own.  My answer to that? You’re right, you can.  A lot of the things we pay people to do, we could actually do on our own.  You could put a new roof on your house for example or re-haul your car’s engine if you wanted to.  But it’s a lot faster and easier to pay an expert to do it.  Therapy is the same way.

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