The word ‘therapy’ is not so much of a taboo today as it was in earlier times. However, many people still avoid it even when they clearly need it. Sadly, mental health issues are prevalent in our society and have been a matter of concern for years. We seek a doctor when we have any physical ailment like a fever or sore throat, but most of us carry the unseen burdens silently. Humans are emotional beings, and their emotions vary depending on their situation or what they are going through.
Mental health issues are more real than we acknowledge them. We see news of people committing suicide, and we often question what led them to take such a step. Mental health issues are as common as getting a fever. Sadly, besides having awareness, many people still do not want to talk about them. People refrain from talking or expressing their feelings because they think that the most common answer they might receive is “it’s all in your head.” Anyone who has experienced such a thing can vouch that it’s not the case.
We refrain from opening up to our friends or family, thinking that they might not understand what we are trying to say or get too worried. Therapy has always been an effective solution to understanding our emotions and the triggers associated with them. You can search online for your queries regarding therapies and therapeutic options by visiting qualified psychologists in your area. For example, if you live in Austin, Texas, you can visit Firefly Therapy Austin for psychological and therapeutic services. Unfortunately, people often avoid professional help because of the myths they have heard. Here are a few of the myths about therapy debunked.
- Childhood Doesn’t Matter
One of the most common myths regarding finding the cause of mental health issues is that they cannot be related to our childhood. People opt for therapy because they face troubles in their adult life, ignoring that the current problem can be a projection of their past or childhood. Be it job-related trouble, relationship with spouse or family, or having issues with kids, it can have a relation with your past. Usually, the issues that we face today can have their roots buried in our subconscious or any event that happened to us as a child. Yet, almost 100% of people that get into therapy have their issues resulting from unresolved traumas of their childhood.
- Every Therapist Is The Same
People often believe that whatever therapist they visit or consult is the same, but they are not. The area of expertise differs from therapist to therapist, and the years of experience have also contributed to their efficacy. There are different types of therapies to treat or overcome different mental health or emotional issues. Every therapist has at least one particular field of expertise. Not everyone you visit will be the right therapist for you. For instance, if your marriage is going through a rough patch and you visit a behavioral therapist, they might help you understand the reasons for behavior but not your relation. Getting the right therapist to assess and identify your issue is vital in improving a person’s mental and emotional well-being.
- Therapy Is Only For Mental Disorders
It is a pervasive belief in our society that as long as you have your friends and family to support you, you do not need anything else. Besides this common belief, people tend to believe that therapy is only for mental disorders. However, the field of psychology caters to mental and emotional health too. Whatever we do or how we behave always has a reason. A person going through depression may isolate themselves, or a couple may grow distant in their marriage; even disturbed or unpleasant family relations can lead to depression or anxiety in an individual if the matter is left unresolved. Therapists are skilled individuals who can cater to different mental issues like depression and anxiety. Some of them have specializations in areas pertaining to children or couple therapy.
- It’s Either Medicine Or Therapy
A common myth associated with therapy is that people either think of it as a cure or they disregard the idea of having therapy along with medications. Many people believe that they do not need therapy if they are taking medicines to resolve their mental health issues. On the contrary, one needs therapy and medication side by side to cope with their mental or emotional issues. People suffering from mental health issues are low on some specific neurotransmitters, and medicine helps revive these chemicals in the body. Therapy or talking to a professional is essential to understand the changes appearing in our cognitive patterns and our response to them. Ignoring therapy or medicine may lead to adversaries instead of fixing the problem.
- It Is A Lifelong Process
It may take a lot of time to recover from your mental traumas depending on your treatment protocol and the intensity of your issues. People often refrain from getting into therapy, thinking that once they start it, it will take forever to stop. The reality, however, is entirely different. Once your therapist identifies the cause of your issue and sets a treatment protocol, you won’t have to continue it forever. Depending on how consistent and concerned you are regarding your well-being, your therapist may limit your sessions to a few sessions or until the conditions improve altogether.
Conclusion Having emotional or cognitive roadblocks is normal, but there is always a solution to it. We might have succeeded in breaking down the stigma about mental health, but we still have to go a long way to accept its treatments. The myths that we hear today have prevailed for years, but with time, people have become more aware of the significance of mental health and the treatment methodologies. Additionally, going to therapy is not a sign of being weak, but your strength shows that you are ready to resolve your traumas and live a healthy life.