NYC Therapist: Six Signs It’s Time To Seek Mental Health Therapy

First things first: your mental health is important. It is important because it affects how you feel, and shapes your thoughts and behavior. It also influences your decision-making process, the way you cope with stress, and how you relate to others in your life.

All of us feel “down” from time to time or experience sadness over certain events. 

Most of the time, these feelings go away as suddenly as they appear, our mood improves, and we go on with our lives like nothing had happened.

But sometimes we just can’t shake off the overwhelming sense of sorrow and dejection, which seems to grow exponentially as time goes by. This is a sure sign that you need to see a therapist who can help you get control of your life.

These are just some of the “red-flag” signs telling you to seek professional help:

Prolonged depression: For no apparent reason, you feel sad, anxious, irritable, and generally despondent all the time.  You may also experience poor concentration, sleep disturbances, low energy, feelings of hopelessness, and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts.

Inability to cope with your daily life: You are overwhelmed by every task that comes your way, no matter how small. And you are no longer able to function as well as you used to, with no reasonable explanation for this sudden change, such as a physical sickness or an injury.

You can’t get over a traumatic event: Whatever the cause of your distress, you suffer from flashbacks, nightmares, fear, and severe anxiety that just won’t go away. 

Feelings of guilt or remorse: There might have been actions or behaviors in your past that you regret today but, try as you may, you are not able to let go of them.

Sense of insecurity and low self-esteem: You have no confidence in yourself and your abilities, making you feel inferior and worthless.

You can’t manage your anger: Your irritability is out of control and you lash out at people, even if only verbally.

These are sure signs that you should be seeking professional help. But are you hesitant to do so because of the common misconception that only “crazy” people go to therapists? That, of course, is totally untrue; mental problems are no different from physical ailments — would you not go to a doctor if you had the flu or any other physical illness?

The important thing to remember is that you are not alone: according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, one in five Americans experiences mental health issues — that is more than 40 million people.

So, don’t wait for a meltdown to seek mental help. The sooner you take that step, the sooner you will have the necessary tools to cope with adversity.