“How Do I Know When To Ask For Help?”
Many of the women entering our practice ask this question. In this modern age, we become used to stress, used to feeling over-extended and exhausted. Often times, its a slow fade- we realize it’s been months since we’ve socialized with our closest friends, weeks since we’ve talked to our parents. And “me-time?” Ha, a distant memory. But how do we know when its time to reach out for help from a therapist? What signs do our body and mind give us that let us know we need to seek counseling?
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You gain or lose a lot of weight.
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You lose your appetite or eat a lot more.
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You feel sad or cry a lot and it doesn’t go away.
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You feel guilty for no reason, like you’re no good, or you lose your confidence.
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Life seems meaningless or like nothing good is ever going to happen again. You have a bad attitude often, or it seems like you have no feelings.
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You don’t feel like doing things you used to enjoy, and you want to be left alone most of the time.
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You do dangerous things for no good reason.
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You aren’t as good at school or work as you used to be.
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You’re unhappy with your relationships.
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It’s hard to make up your mind. You forget a lot of things, and it’s difficult to pay attention.
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Little things make you mad, and you over-react.
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You start sleeping a lot more or you have trouble falling asleep at night. Or you wake up really early most mornings and can’t get back to sleep.
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You feel restless or tired most of the time.
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You think about death or feel like you’re dying. You sometimes think about killing yourself.
Do you see yourself in any of the statements above? If so, there is a help- healing is possible! Counseling exists to offer guidance in resolving the personal, social, or psychological challenges that you just can’t beat on your own. Reach out to someone who has knowledge about women’s issues and strength to help you get back to who you want to be. It’s time to live the life you want to live.
(The Office on Women’s Health- www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health)