Rewriting the Lie: Therapy is Strength, Not Weakness

     "I don't want to go to therapy. Therapy means you're weak, that you can't handle your own problems."

    Statements like this one are overwhelmingly common, even though mental health help is more acceptable now. Anyone can fall into this way of thinking, even therapists! Why?

    Stigma is defined by the APA Dictionary as "the negative social attitude attached to a characteristic of an individual that may be regarded as a mental, physical, or social deficiency. A stigma implies social disapproval and can lead unfairly to discrimination against and exclusion of the individual." I would also add that stigma can be external or internal. You may experience stigma from other people, you may believe that others are stigmatizing you, or you may stigmatize yourself.

     I think that being able to expose the parts of you that make you vulnerable is a show of your strength, not a show of weakness. Therapy is hard. No one wants to talk about the things that have hurt them, no one wants to relive their traumas, and no one wants to admit that they don't know what to do. Therapists know these things because we experience the same things the clients do... maybe even to a higher degree. Maybe they feel like they should know what to do and therefore don't need a therapist. Everyone needs a therapist, even you. (Therapy can also be very expensive, and I understand that can be a barrier, that's part of the reason I made this blog!)

     Personally, I believe that therapy should be a preventative service, like going to your general doctor for a check up. If you learn how to handle minor crises, you will be better able to deal with major crises. You may still require more intensive therapy but you would be able to identify when the situation required further help. If you know when to reach out for help, things don't have to get as bad. Maybe, you would heal faster!

    There is no need to feel ashamed of who you are. Four out of five people experience a mental health issue at some point in their life. Some people experience mental health issues that are lifelong, and some people experience mental health issues for a period of time.

    Treat each other well. Love yourself. Get help when you need it. Help others when you can. 

 

If you're interested in learning about how to identify a good therapist, click here.

(All links open in a new tab. I do not gain any profit from the links in this post).