Get the Help You Need: Overcoming the Five Roadblocks to Counseling
Life is beautiful in its contradictions. Author Joan D. Vinge says, “The contradictions are what make human behavior so maddening and yet so fascinating, all at the same time.” Contradictions can make you hopeful because you know that along with distress, fear, gloom, and guilt can come wellness, courage, happiness, freedom, and so many other gains.
Even successful, healthy, and happy people feel sad, hopeless, helpless, and afraid; these are all part of being human. So, when you go through stressful events that are beyond your control, be positive and proactive—seek professional assistance. Be ready to overcome the obstacles that prevent you from finding help:
1. The Fear of being Labeled (even by yourself): For a long time, people in need of therapy have avoided it for fear that they will be labeled. This attitude has not been completely wiped out, but education has made society’s understanding broader and more sensitive. More and more consumers are feeling confident in their decision to obtain therapy – so much so that they talk about it frequently and don’t understand why others haven’t tried it long ago.
Progressive thinking has led to the realization that people with emotional/behavioral health conditions need compassion and assistance and that counseling is the keystone for their wellness. If you still feel uncomfortable, know that you have the option of keeping the information to yourself; you do have the choice of whom to tell. Your therapist is bound by law and ethics to keep your records and information confidential. To have a quality life, do not fear the key to getting well—see a therapist.
2. The Fear of Re-Experiencing the Pain of Deep-Rooted Memories: The therapist may take you back in time, opening old, painful wounds. It may be a necessary step for them to understand what contributed to your emotional condition and help you. The prospect of this may deter you from seeking help, but if you can summon the courage, it can be liberating and therapeutic. If ignoring, blocking, or brushing away the memories has failed to work, it is time to take a different route.
You have tried pushing those memories aside, but they only grow deeper roots to make you feel miserable—afraid, unhappy, guilty, pained, etc. Your therapist can help you take a second look at them and give you a second chance to face them with courage and with a new kind of understanding.
3. Dominating Negative Thoughts: Your mind is powerful. Negative thinking can turn you away from healing and feeling better. If you are struggling with distressing symptoms that are difficult to live with, your mind will be most likely shrouded and controlled by negativity. Know that pessimism is intrusive, twisting every thought into a bad light, spoiling your chance to feel better.
For anyone who is experiencing an emotional condition, feeling hopeful is important. Hope and help are two of the most important benefits of therapy; they empower you to overcome negativity. Empowerment needs positivity. Just like negativity, positivity is powerful and contagious. It is something that you stand to gain with the help of an expert therapist.
4. Encumbering Relationships: Having a loving and supportive family and friends can boost your motivation and make a huge difference in your quest for improved health and quality of life. However, if they are not professionally equipped to manage your condition or have negative perceptions, they may contribute to your distress rather than ease it.
A professional therapist comes with current know-how and an expert perspective that is unbiased. There is nothing tentative about how they conduct diagnosis and therapy. They are backed by years of training and experience helping other people with emotional conditions like yours. They can help you find fitting ways to address your difficulties and treat the symptoms so you can enjoy life. With both family and friends and professional help, the chance of attaining your therapy goal is higher.
5. The Cost: When finances are constrained, therapy and well-being are usually last on the list of priorities, which includes food, shelter, education, clothing, and health care, in that order. While it is undeniable that therapy entails a cost, there are ways to cover it.
Having insurance can be very advantageous. Finding a qualified therapist can give you more value for the money you spend on therapy. Be smart in prioritizing your needs, and prioritize health over wants. Taking care of your health is critical. With a sound, functional body and mind, you can be more productive, earning more to cover your other needs.
Nobody is immune to having a bad day or a stressful life. The pace of twenty-first-century life can be very challenging, testing your abilities to adjust and survive. Your best chance to succeed in your endeavors lies in having a healthy body and mind. Do not be deterred by these obstacles; seek help to keep your mind healthy and functional.
In North Carolina, you can erode your fears and resistance with help from Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville (West), NC Office. Seeking the help of these experts can be enlightening. They can take you down a transformative path, helping you resolve your emotional difficulties and issues to view your life in a positive manner.