Therapy has proven to be a great way to help people deal navigate life challenges, traumatic experiences, and everything in between. Whatever your situation or experience, it's vital to note that you're not alone, and you can always seek help to manage periods of unpleasant emotions.

Talking about your emotions and experiences with someone is a powerful way of managing life’s stressors, and therapy is precisely that. While reasons for therapy vary from person to person, no problem is too big or too small. Be it day-to-day stress, distressing patterns, or simply the desire for something new, you can find the right therapist for your needs.

Here are ten reasons why you should start therapy today:

1. Your “Bad Day” Has Become Your Depressed Mood

Depression can be rooted in many things, including such things are stressful life events, chemical imbalance, and unprocessed childhood experiences. It's a mental state that affects more than just the individual. It’s often referred to as the "common cold" of mental health and can manifest as overpowering feelings of guilt, shame, helplessness, and hopelessness.

Working with a therapist allows you to explore your thoughts and emotions with someone you can trust that also has the clinical skills to help alleviate or manage your symptoms. Your therapist will help you identify your triggers and how to manage them to treat your depression. Eventually, you'll learn coping and management strategies you can apply daily to improve your mood and quality of life.

2. Your Anxiety is Affecting Your Everyday Life

Anxiety is prevalent in people who have been through traumatic events but they aren’t the only ones that experience it. Anxiety can be triggered by anything from a stressful situation to something completely unexpected. Anxiety is a mental state often characterized not only by overwhelming dread and nervousness but the physical response your body has. Some symptoms include irritability, panic attacks, restlessness, insomnia, and unrelenting worrisome thoughts.

You might also feel sad, scared, and angry, but going to therapy can help address these thoughts and feelings. One of the best treatments for anxiety is to talk through it with a qualified therapist. With your therapist's help, you'll get a better understanding of where your anxiety may be stemming from, how it affects you, how to manage the symptoms, and get relief.

3. You’re Having a Difficult Time Coping

Therapy is beneficial if you are not coping well with a situation or have a pattern of maladaptive coping that sometimes presents as addictive behavior, eating restrictions. Therapy can help you identify the source of the behavior and divert your attention to less distressing activities. Maladaptive coping can affect your decision-making abilities, concentration, and quality of life, and therapy can help you address it. When you begin therapy, identifying the causes of your maladaptive coping and learning new coping strategies is essential. Your therapist can take this journey with you to help you identify more intentional activities.

4. You Struggle with Your Self-Esteem or Self-Confidence

Low self-esteem might be rooted in feelings of inadequacy or from that tiny voice in your head that sounds a lot like someone who shaped your childhood. You may find that you lack confidence in yourself and feel like you are not good enough. When you have low self-confidence, finding the motivation to socialize or engage in certain activities may be challenging. If you feel low about yourself, it might be time to seek professional help to help empower you and change the discouraging narratives you have of yourself. Therapy can help you feel more confident in yourself and boost your ability to cope with life's challenges.

5. You Have Unresolved Trauma

Trauma is a significant cause of depression and anxiety. Supposing you have experienced a traumatic event, like a natural disaster, sexual violence, losing a loved one, or being involved in an accident, you may need professional help. A therapist can assist you in addressing your experiences and their extended symptoms. With trauma, you may experience disinterest in previously fun activities, such as spending time with friends or even being alone. This can prompt physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological harm; thus, seeking help as soon as possible is advisable. It's vital to note that some cases can quickly turn into Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), so getting started with therapy early on can help you get ahead of any symptoms worsening.

6. You Have a Phobia

Therapy is the best option if you have been experiencing fear, panic attacks, or other phobias that make you feel anxious or scared. Even the most seemingly minor fears, like those of bridges or holes, can be severe enough to affect everyday functioning. A therapist can help you acknowledge and address your fears using techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, somatic therapy, and brainspotting. These therapies focus on changing your response to certain objects or situations that trigger your phobia.

7. Your Relationships are Stressing You Out!

Unresolved conflict between people often result in distressing emotions. It can be difficult for someone to find a way out of their relationship dynamics, especially if they feel they have been hurt or betrayed. Some find it difficult to explain what happened because they assume they will not get any help. With therapy you can gain more insights into your experience and understand your relationship's differences, values, expectations, and boundaries. Becoming more aware of your situation and realities is key to finding healing and/or solutions.

8. You’re Going Through a Transition in Life

There are times in your life when you recognize a season of more obvious transitions - graduating school, getting married, getting divorced, having a new baby, moving to a new state, changing professions, experiencing life after loss, physical change, etc. During these times, it’s easy to feel a little uncertain about the future. Processing your feelings with a therapist can be a good way to feel more grounded and gain a sense of clarity about what’s next.

9. You Feel Stuck

Some life transitions are less obvious and your desire for change stems from feeling stuck. Perhaps you’re tired of being tired and you’re hoping to discover a new direction in life. Therapy can help you identity where the dissatisfaction is coming from and what you’d like to change, as well as processing your feelings about change. Therapy can be a tool for profound self-discovery that can jumpstart authentic self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-awareness.

10. You’re Looking for Support

There’s a common misconception that you only go to therapy when something is wrong but therapy is a great place to be if you’re looking for support, self improvement, or preventative care. Maybe you’re feeling alone, unseen, misunderstood within your current support system, or you want to have something that it just for you! Working with a therapist means working with someone who is in your corner, that’s dedicated to your well-being, and providing what’s needed to help you get where you want to be.

Finding a therapist can be a hassle but we, at Paper Cranes Counseling, make that process easy by providing a free 20 minute phone consultation to discuss your desires and expectations about therapy and what you’re looking for in a therapist. Therapy is most effective when the relationship between you and the therapist is a good match. We can help match you with a therapist that is the best fit for you!

Start Healing with Therapy Today!

Life will always have periods of painful or unpleasant emotions but that doesn't mean those emotions need to weigh you down. Regardless of your situation, you can always address your experiences, accept new realities, and find a fresh start to anything in life.

If you feel you need to talk to someone, do it. Therapy is a reliable and valuable experience that has benefited many people and is an excellent way to begin, or continue, really taking care of yourself. It can help you cope with harmful thoughts or feelings and carve an exciting path in life like never before. Connect with one of our therapists at Paper Cranes Counseling today to get started on your journey towards a better quality of life! Schedule your free consultation today!

Shavonne James, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Therapist and founder of Paper Cranes Counseling, a private group practice connecting wellness seekers with culturally-affirming, holistic, care. They have openings for individuals that are working through matters of identity, interpersonal relationships, and the inner child. Contact them at www.papercranescounseling.com