5 signs it is time to speak to a mental health professional

There are many different reasons that people seek professional help. Regardless of where you fall in this category, therapy might be for you if you feel you want an extra boost in your life. It can help to bring awareness to certain habits and emotions that are hard to confront. It can also help you honor yourself and make better life choices. Here are a few signs that you are ready to seek a mental health professional.

Frequent headaches and sStomach/digestive problems

Having headaches every day is not normal for the average person. Neither is constantly dealing with stomach aches and a backed-up digestive tract. You may not know that these are strong indicators of unmanaged stress. A therapist is professionally trained to help you learn how to deal with stress in healthy ways.

You struggle to cope emotionally

It can be hard to cope if you feel overwhelmed by any of your emotions. When you struggle to cope with a simple feeling of sadness, it can quickly spiral into a depressive episode. Whether you are dealing with emotions such as fear, anger, anxiety, or sadness, it can get in the way of your life when left unmanaged. If your emotions are left unmanaged, and it’s getting in the way of your career, family, friendships, or other important aspects of your life, it’s time to seek help.

You use substances to cope with feelings

Abusing substances is one of the most overlooked signs of untreated stress. It can often be easy to cover up these ailments until they become extremely self-destructive. These substances can be food, drugs, alcohol, or anything else you turn to relieve yourself from being overwhelmed. Using substances as a way to numb your feelings is unhealthy. This is a sign that you need the help of a professional.

You want to form better habits/coping mechanisms

Therapy is a great way to begin processing triggers and past trauma that may still be lingering in our lives. By learning to approach these issues, we can begin to break them down better. This allows us the space to rewrite our narrative and begin seeking healthier life habits that will sustain us in the long run.

You Want to Strengthen Your Relationships

Sometimes, it can be overwhelming to step back and look at our relationships with people. We care about so many people daily that it can become difficult to maintain balance in our lives. Especially when feeling that we neglect those we care about, like our spouse, children, friends, family, and even co-workers.

Don’t be ashamed of your mental health needs, we all have them! Therapists are trained to help you understand healthy relationships and boundaries so that you can always put your best foot into any meaningful relationship. If you are considering seeking professional help, don’t hesitate. It’s time to put yourself first and take the necessary steps towards a healthy lifestyle.