Have you ever asked a friend for advice when you didn’t know what to do? Have you ever felt like giving up or needed to rest your head in your hands and have a good cry?
Yeah. I have, too. Yet, a lot of folks pretend these kinds of things aren’t happening; they brush those troubles under the rug. They want to appear strong and happy under the public’s eye, and, of course, who wouldn’t? Problems can be very personal, but what might these attitudes regarding our emotions lead us to think as a society?
To some people, the word “therapy” immediately draws up a red flag. According to those ideologies, someone who goes to therapy can be unstable or have issues. Why is that? Why do we judge so quickly and try not to relate ourselves to others?
In reality, we all have problems that could be solved. Everyone you pass walking down the street has had their fair share of struggles, whether they’ve been big or small. But, there is no Mental Health course that every human being is required to take. Emotions can be tricky and heavy, so how are we supposed to know exactly how to handle things or how to feel about them? Will we ever be able to that?
Some people don’t confront their problems; that’s why it can be so scary or daunting to think about facing them, which might be a contributing factor as to why those who do want to talk about their problems using therapy are under such ridicule. However, as my favorite artist Regina Spektor has said in one of her songs: “everyone knows it’s going to hurt, but at least we’ll get hurt trying.” Facing your feelings might be painful or frightening, but it will be worth the pain to overcome the struggle.
I, as well as many of my friends and family members, do attend therapy sessions. The people in my life who are using therapy as a resource, in my opinion, are some of the most wonderful and mindful people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. The negative connotations and stereotypes toward therapy, like patients being crazy or therapists being brainwashers, can be rooted in a lot of fear.
It takes a big person to understand that there are existing issues inside or around themselves and be able to want to address them so directly through therapy. There is no shame in asking for help. Please support your friends and family who choose therapy as an aid! We are all trying to achieve happiness in this lifetime, and we must remember that some people achieve their peace in different ways.