It takes a mountain of courage to confront demons. Whether you are facing painful memories from the past or distressing situations from the present, looking a monster in the eye is never a walk in the park.
One battle that is often hard for people is mental and emotional health. Knowing where to turn can feel impossible. Finding the right fit with a provider can be a long, drawn out process. Diving into the abyss of our deepest, darkest thoughts and issues can feel suffocating.
Taking the first step toward freedom, though, can also be liberating. When anxiety and depression rule our everyday life, seeking professional help often restores the hope we once thought was lost.
There have been many a time that I’ve debated with non-therapists about counseling and the need for individuals to seek help from a mental health professional. I’ve heard everything from “my problems aren’t big enough yet to go to a counselor” to “I don’t need to talk to a stranger about my problems…I can just talk to a friend” to “going to a counselor means I’m crazy.” Wait. Hold the phone. What was that again?? Taking care of our mental health means we’re crazy?? To that, I always present my well-formulated argument, which goes a little something like this:
My sister is a fearless, tough chick. I definitely wouldn’t want to cross her in a dark alley. BUT…she is a Juvenile Diabetic, meaning her pancreas hasn’t worked since childhood. Sure, she could forego the numerous yearly doctor visits and the healthy eating that keeps her disease in check. Where would that leave her, though? You got it – sick and teetering on the brink of collapse.
The same is true for our mental health. If we neglect the delicate balance between our mind and body, we are basically asking for a breakdown. What a lot of naysayers don’t think about is that therapists have a heart for helping. There’s a reason why counseling is called one of the “Helping Professions.” Don’t count us out simply because our “patients” — clients — don’t exhibit physical ailments that can be seen on blood tests and CAT scans.
What is holding you back from seeking help? Is it judgment from the outside world? Could it be fear of facing those ugly, scary demons that you’ve tried so hard to keep locked away? Maybe you feel as if you don’t deserve help? Let me assure you, friend, you DO deserve any good thing you can do to become the best version of yourself.
Facing problems, issues, fractured relationships, stress and trauma CAN be the scariest thing we ever do. A counselor is trained and ready to make that process as least terrifying as possible. And as far as the judgment thing goes, we can’t fix the way the outside world sees us our truth. A therapist, though, will always help from a non-judgmental perspective, offering love and acceptance no matter what you bring to the table.
If you are suffering from an endless cycle of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that seem to dictate your every move, take the first step toward healing and seek a counselor who can help. After all, our deepest desire is to serve people just like you.
Counselors care – come talk about it. ♥♥♥
Crossroads Mental Health Services 