Life’s upheavals happen to everyone. They can also push us to the edge, causing us to question our resilience (and existence). Nonetheless, it’s okay to admit that some burdens are too heavy to bear alone.
During such times, you may consider therapy. The caring team at Virtuous Circle Counselling understands the struggles many people face, even as their lives teeter between the demands of work, school, family, and self-care. Their tailored protocols can help you rediscover your life amidst a chaotic current.
Seeking help isn’t a show of weakness but a testament to your desire to find peace and balance. Therapy can help you manage stress or anxiety, paving the way for a better understanding of yourself and your needs. It can also provide crucial tools to cope with difficult emotions.
But when should you say “enough is enough” and consider therapy? Well, the decision is usually personal as each individual’s needs differ. Even so, the signs below may suggest you need therapy or counseling:
1. Changes In Your Eating or Sleeping Pattern
How you eat or sleep directly impacts your physical and mental health. As such, a sudden change in either of these patterns could signal an underlying issue. For example, if you start sleeping for excessively long periods or suffer from endless bouts of insomnia, you could be dealing with depression or anxiety.
Likewise, skipped meals or overindulgence could point to an eating disorder, overwhelming stress, or other emotional issues. Such changes in your habits should set alarm bells ringing, prompting you to seek professional help.
2. Moodiness
Fatigue and general malaise are common symptoms of diverse issues. As such, you may need therapy if you’re constantly feeling down, angry, stressed out, or out of sorts.
Sure, it’s normal for your mood to fluctuate – everyone has their good and bad days. But if you keep getting agitated and can’t get a handle on your emotions, you may need help. Underlying issues could also manifest in a low mood or hyper mood (whereby you’re overly excited and happy). If this becomes a regular occurrence, something could be triggering it.
3. Social Withdrawal
Are your personal or romantic relationships starting to take a backseat? Do you prefer to stay in your room, avoiding socializing? Does a previously enjoyed activity now feel like a chore?
When you feel out of your depth – due to a lack of emotional capacity to deal with life’s demands, your natural tendency may include self-imposed isolation. However, such a reactionary approach can compound existing problems.
Social withdrawal, especially if it’s sudden and prolonged, is usually a telltale sign of emotional distress. Counseling may help you reconcile your feelings, so you can re-engage with your social circle – if you become increasingly isolated.
4. Feelings of Hopelessness
Imagine you’ve experienced a major disruption, like the death of a loved one or job loss. Naturally, this can be emotionally and mentally draining. But if these feelings of sadness persist for months after the occurrence, you may need a listening ear.
Numbness or a lack of motivation may also accompany such a feeling of despair, as some people feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. It’s also not uncommon for others to harm themselves or contemplate suicide.
Such an emotional state requires professional intervention. A therapist can equip you with the skills or tools to cope and, eventually, gain clarity.
5. Being Overly Busy
An incessant need to stay busy can be a sign that you’re using work or other activities as an escape mechanism. At times, people use constant business as a crutch to avoid confronting their emotional or mental issues.
Typically, they bury themselves in tasks, hoping to evade their feelings or problems by drowning in work. This behavior might give them an illusion of control when, in reality, their emotional state is spiraling out of control. The misplaced coping strategy may also lead to physical exhaustion, underperformance, emotional upheaval, and heightened stress levels.
If you work exceptionally long hours, pack your schedule to the brim with tasks, or feel uneasy during downtime, you may need to consider therapy. A health professional can help establish the cause of such behavior and provide strategies to establish a healthier balance.
These signs don’t fully capture the range of mental health issues that require professional help – they’re simply a reminder to listen to the cues your body could be sending. And since we all need a helping hand at some point, it won’t hurt to consider therapy if your life or emotional state is in turmoil.