“I’m not crazy, I’ve just been in a very bad mood 40 years!”

I wanted to start this post on a bit of a light-hearted note with a quote from one of my favorite movies/plays, Steel Magnolias, because this can be a touchy topic.

Where I grew up, therapists offices were rare. People really did think you were crazy if you were in therapy. Obviously, that was decades ago, so attitudes have changed. But, the thought of reaching out to someone, a professional no less, for help with your mind and emotions, still isn’t completely accepted.

I’ve had two experiences with therapy in my life. The first was not so great. I often felt judged and held accountable for things that truly were out of my control. The second experience was incredibly helpful in easing me through a difficult and painful life transition.

I’ll let guest blogger Dr. Sanam Hafeez speak more to this, but you shouldn’t feel shameful or weak if you need a little assistance with whatever is going on in your life. That’s why therapists exist.

Without further delay, here’s what Dr. Hafeez has to say… 

You lose a loved one, a job, a relationship, a pet or get into an accident, have an injury, gain weight, have a baby, return from war or experience something else that just rattles you to your core. You know something isn’t right, you feel a bit off, but continue living your life thinking you’ll get over it.

We all have been there and often with time we do get over it, sort of. These life scars helps us to grow and while that is great in theory, the pain that comes with growth can take a toll on us. Our mental health is directly connected to our physical health.

When we see illness we know it’s a clue our mental outlook is out of whack.

Do you need a therapist? How can you tell?

Here are five signs that you could benefit from therapy:

1) Risky behavior to self-soothe. You might medicate with sex, drugs or alcohol or other risky behaviors. Anytime you are escaping a problem with alcohol or drugs that’s a red flag that your coping mechanisms are off. You’re desperate for an escape and sex, drugs and alcohol seems to be a fast fix. A therapist can help you by providing tools to help you cope and pivot to more positive hopeful, better feeling self-soothing thoughts.

2) You’re sleeping too much or not at all. People who are grieving or sink into a depression either can’t get out of bed or seek to pack their days with distractions and work. These are the people who start cleaning out their closets and scrubbing bathrooms at 3 am. Again how we cope is what we should pay attention to. A therapist can help you understand the thoughts that keep you awake and make sense of them. They can help you to understand how you choose to soothe yourself and offer healthier ways of coping.

CLICK HERE to access the other three signs.