When To See A Registered Psychologist
- Justine Corry
- September 14, 2020
5 Signs It’s Time to Try Therapy
Keeping things bottled up is a metaphor that applies to millions of people around the world. Nearly everyone prefers to stay quiet when they are dealing with stress at work, difficulties in school, or problems in the family. Talking to others and getting help is not an option for many due to the fear of being ostracized and being seen as weak.
A trusted registered psychologist says that the simple act of talking to your family and friends about your problems and worries will take a load off your chest. You will start feeling better, be more optimistic, and be productive as usual.
However, there will be times when having heart-to-heart talks with a friend or loved one won’t help. It won’t be enough to help you deal with or overcome your anxieties, fears, or emotional upheavals. Most of the time, you won’t even be aware of this. You’ll just choose to go on with your daily life keeping your worries and other feelings inside.
When to See a Therapist
Whether you feel better after talking things out with another person or not, it is still vital that you know when to seek professional help. By seeing a therapist at the right time, you will regain control over your life faster and experience better mental and emotional health.
If you are experiencing one or more of the signs below, you need to give therapy a try as soon as possible:
1. You are constantly feeling intense emotions
Anger and sadness are emotions that everyone feels from time to time. However, if you think that these two are always front and centre and they are affecting your work, daily activities, and even your relationships, you have to do something about them.
Intense feelings of anger and sadness often indicate a deeper issue. Additionally, they can cause a side effect that can lead to more problems: catastrophising.
Catastrophising is believing that something or everything is or will be the worst-case scenario. For instance, even if you are having a good day, you will start thinking that something will go wrong and bad things will happen along the way.
This severe form of anxiety can be debilitating. Because you always imagine that you are or will be in a bad situation, you will end up avoiding things. It can even lead to panic attacks.
If you are always feeling intense forms of anger, sadness, and anxiety, you should see a professional registered psychologist as soon as possible.
2. You are abusing alcohol, drugs, or food
If you are eating and drinking liquor more than usual and using drugs you don’t need or in higher quantities, it is highly likely you are doing this to numb your pain and worries.
Although these are easier and more enjoyable things to do than facing your issues, they are unhealthy. Alcohol and substance abuse, in particular, are life-threatening, too.
If you think overeating is a safer option, think again. Gorging on too much food is often a sign that a person is overstressed or struggling with the need to take care of oneself.
Gambling, spending countless hours on Facebook or Instagram, and watching porn all night are also abusive and addictive behaviours that are temporary, poor attempts at blocking out your other problems.
In such instances, consulting a registered psychologist is the action to take to avoid more problems, including health and medical-related ones.
3. You suffered or witnessed something traumatic
Everyone deals with a breakup, loss of a job, or death in the family in different ways. Again, most people merely keep their emotions to themselves and wait for these feelings to go away
However, these emotions rarely go away quickly. When they don’t, they can consume you. Grief, anger, and feelings of regret or guilt can impair your daily functioning. They can cause you to withdraw from your loved ones and friends as well.
If you suddenly find yourself socializing less with your friends, co-workers, and even family members, and they notice and tell you this, find a professional you can talk to. By doing so, you will have someone you can speak with about the traumatic experience you had and how it continues to affect you.
More importantly, you will get help in learning healthy ways to deal with and overcome your debilitating emotions.
4. You no longer feel happy doing previously beloved or satisfying activities
Becoming disinterested in meeting your friends for coffee, visiting your favourite niece, or taking long walks are common signs that you need professional help.
This loss of interest or even dislike for activities that you used to love doing can cause a downward spiral. You will start to feel disillusioned and that you have no purpose in life. These emotions will cloud your judgement and cause you to make bad, unhealthy life decisions.
These feelings of disillusionment can also affect your work performance. If you used to love going early to the office and doing your job well, and suddenly things take a 360-degree turn, your productivity will be affected.
Because of this, you might get negative comments from your boss or co-employees. These remarks can cause you to feel even more disheartened and dejected.
Before you lose hope and the will to live, talk to a licensed provider of counselling and psychological services straightaway.
5. You feel nothing you have done has helped
Finally, kudos to you for doing something about what you’re feeling. Whether you are getting more exercise, doing volunteer work, or talking to your loved ones and friends more, pat yourself on the back for your hard work.
But what if all these activities do nothing to calm your worries and alleviate your feelings of sadness or hopelessness? You need to add seeing a therapist to your to-do list.
By going to therapy, you will see your thoughts and feelings from a different point of view. Because of this, you will understand them better. Additionally, you will have another person share the burden of your emotions which will help you feel less hopeless.
More importantly, you will have someone to support you as you turn things around for the better.
When you start noticing these signs in yourself, don’t hesitate to get professional help immediately. You can set an appointment with one of our trustworthy and qualified therapists, all registered psychologist, on our Contact page.