It’s Time We Openly Talk About Therapy

For many years people were ashamed to get help for their mental illnesses. People across the globe were afraid to openly talk about therapy because of the taboos attached to it. The situation has improved but seeking help is not completely ‘taboo-free’. The concept of therapy, in general, is so stigmatized that people fail to acknowledge or even consider it’s benefits. When a person is suffering from stomach ache, he is taken to the hospital but when a person suffers from anxiety, he is asked to keep it to himself and focus on his work instead of seeking professional help. Mental health is no different from physical health. We all go through difficult situations at some or other in our lives. We may or may not deal with it well and that’s okay. We may pretend for a little while like it doesn’t affect us. We may be able to fool others but how long can we go on pretending and lying to our own selves?

How much longer can we go on living in a world with such strong taboos around mental health and therapy?

When such false beliefs inflame stigmatized attitudes, they affect the emotional and social life of individuals suffering from mental disorders. This not only lengthens their recovery process but also prevents them from talking about their problems and seeking medical help. Talking openly about mental health problems will create a stand where people can discuss their struggles honestly with mental health disorders. Stigmatization leads to discrimination and oppression of people with mental disorders. Mental health stigma can affect various aspects of one’s life. At its worst, it can lead to self-criticism wherein the person blames himself or herself for his or her condition. In such cases, stigmatization becomes a risk factor for the disorder and prevents the individual from seeking the required help from others.

Opening up about our mental illness will allow us to express how we truly feel and it gives others a chance to help us by guiding us through the difficult times. Talking about mental health helps improve our communities by making it more acceptable for those suffering from mental illnesses to seek help, learn to cope, and get on the road to recovery. Gone are the days when therapy was looked down upon.

If any of us are facing any mental illness, let us seek help and remember the following points.

• Do it for your own well-being

People around you will always try to talk you out of good thing or might try to demotivate you but you need to remember that you are the one who is affected, you are the one who needs help and if you continue to deny and pretend like it’s all under control, it is you who is going to suffer the consequences. People around you would not be affected.

• Seeking help does not mean that you are weak

A lot of people think that therapy is for the weak. This thought can’t be more wrong. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it is actually not asking for help that’s a sign of weakness. It shows that we lack the ability to trust and that we are ashamed of our own condition. Asking for help shows that you are not vulnerable and that you have the courage to stand up and face your problems. Going out and asking for help is a good thing; don’t let others tell you otherwise.

• You are not alone

You are not the only one who is facing this crisis. There are many out there facing similar issues or maybe worse. When you start attending therapy you will realize that you have someone to rely on. You will also realize that a lot of people seek help and that therapy has only benefitted the person rather that worsening his/her condition.

With these points in mind let us seek help when we need it and encourage others to do the same. When we start talking about our mental illnesses and recovery process openly, we are not only becoming strong by accepting it and moving forward, but are also intentionally or unintentionally motivating others to do the same. By letting people know about our journey, we come to accept the fact that we are no longer victims of various stressors or illnesses. If we all come together to talk and help others out, we become stronger. This would benefit other areas of life as well. When we recover from any mental illness, we become more courageous and positive. We also become more empathetic to those who have been through similar situations as us. We become more confident and at the end of the day we try to be the best versions of ourselves. This will boost our work, education, relationships and personal development. Won’t it be marvelous if we all came together, opened up and supported each other? It is never too late. In a world where we feel cold, let us all together support each other and stay gold.

Find a BUDDY to share all your problems with (even anonymously, if you want) on the FeelJoy Mobile App available for all Android users.

DOWNLOAD THE FEELJOY APP HERE.