You’re having a hard time lately. And it’s even the little things that never used to bother you. You know you have a lot to be grateful for, and maybe like you should just “get over it,” but it’s not that easy.

For most people, it’s tricky to know whether coming to therapy makes sense. So often people have so many positive things going on in their lives that signing up for therapy might feel like you’re admitting defeat or that you’re making a big deal out of nothing.

Therapy is a place for ALL feelings.

Consider a reframe. Instead of looking at therapy like either/or, try looking at it with a both/and outlook. The happiness, highlights, and milestones—as well as the difficult, painful and uncomfortable ones too. Therapy isn’t a place where you check all your good baggage at the door; it’s all welcome here to sit beside any negative thoughts that might have you feeling down.

Therapy can be helpful in the aftermath of trauma or crisis, and even during a tough transition. It can also be a place if you’re feeling “meh” or stuck and aren’t sure where to go next in your personal life or with your career.

Just like the classroom might not give us all the tools we need to thrive in the world today, our past and present relationships might also not be offering us everything we need to succeed. You can learn new ways of thinking and new life and relationship strategies in therapy too.

Here are some reasons why therapy could be a good fit for you or someone you care about:

1. Your friends or family express concern. While it can be uncomfortable to hear from people we love, sometimes the people close to us notice when we’ve changed or if something is off. If people close to you are asking you questions like, “Are you okay?” or “What’s going on with you lately?” It could be a sign that it’s time to chat with a professional.
2. Your motivation is MIA. If your energy is waning, and you’re finding yourself feeling irritable, sad, hopeless, or even having thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or you’re just no longer enjoying the stuff you used to enjoy, you could benefit from talking with a professional.
3. Worry keeps you up at night. If you’re feeling like excessive worry is taking over your ability to do everyday activities, it’s literally keeping you awake at night, or you’re constantly running through stressful thoughts in your head, therapy might be beneficial.
4. Abuse or trauma. If you’ve experienced any traumatic event or have been in an abusive relationship, it can feel difficult taking the step to talk to someone about it. Leaving trauma and abuse untouched could lead to lifelong scars that could continue to affect your future relationships and ability to feel joy. We often think these feelings of loss or grief will go away on their own, and this isn’t always the case. Even if you find yourself over-engaging with friends or family to help you deal with trauma or loss, this could also be helpful to seek professional support.
5. Relationship problems. If any of your relationships have become tense or unfulfilling or maybe you feel like one of you is walking on eggshells, and your partner(s) feel the same, relationship counselling could help give you new communication tools and strategies to get your relationship back on track.
6. A big life transition. We’re always changing, and sometimes that change isn’t easy. Maybe it’s a big move, the end of a relationship, losing someone we love, or even a job change. Whatever the transition, when difficulties arise, and you’re having trouble working through it on your own, talking with a therapist can help you process your feelings and work through the change.
7. Addictions. If you find yourself drinking or using recreational or prescription drugs more often, or in larger doses, these could be signs that you’re trying to numb feelings. It doesn’t even need to be drugs or alcohol; it could be food, sex, spending money, or exercise in excess as well.
8. Obsessive behaviour. If you’re finding yourself compulsively washing your hands or checking to make sure you’ve turned off the stove, obsessively avoiding germs, or feel trapped by looping thoughts, therapy could help you break this cycle.
9. Feelings are extra strong. Maybe your feelings are feeling particularly intense lately and you’re feeling angry more often than you used to. Or, you could be automatically assuming the worst case scenario to even the smallest perceived setback. These feelings could be challenging and even lead to panic attacks.
10. You had a poor review at work. Since we spend most of our adult life at work, this is often the first place changes are seen by others. Changes in work performance are common with people struggling with an emotional or psychological issue. Even if you used to enjoy your job and suddenly you’re resenting it, there could be a deeper cause.
11. You’re physically ill. If you’ve developed sudden recurring migraines, have an upset stomach or a weak immune system leaving you vulnerable to more colds and flu, this could be a sign that emotional pain is showing up in your body and the stress of carrying this is manifesting into physical symptoms.
12. You want to take your life, relationship or pleasure to the next level. Are you sick of mediocrity in one or all of these areas? Do you feel on fire in your work life but your relationship or sex life is lackluster? Taking things to the next level requires a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone, stretch into new and unfamiliar territory, upleveling in every way possible. Therapy is a great way to create the changes you crave. A life that is in alignment with your values, your dreams, your best self possible.

There could be any number of reasons leading you to feel like you aren’t quite yourself lately. Even if you can’t put a finger on the feeling or lack thereof, talking to a therapist in an open and nonjudgmental space can help lessen the burden, and help you get back to your life and feel good about things again.

Curious is therapy could be a good fit for you? Get in touch!

By: Bliss Therapist, Kelly. Learn more about Kelly and get her secret “tips from the couch” here.