Contrary to a popular misconception, you don't need to be on the brink of a meltdown to seek counselling services. Sometimes, stress can be overwhelming, especially if you are juggling many demands in your life. If it starts to feel like too much to handle, consider getting counselling to help with the coping. The earlier you get help, the easier you'll be able to work on a problem. Here are five signs that it's time to seek counselling services.
You've Lost Something or Someone Close to You
Grief is challenging. It can be long and difficult to endure without getting any help. While not everyone requires counselling to cope with loss, there is absolutely no shame if you need help to deal with the death of a loved one, a major break-up, a divorce or the loss of a job. If you experience many losses in a short period of time, it may be difficult to deal with without some help.
You've Fallen Victim to a Traumatic Event
If you have some unresolved traumas from your past such as abuse or neglect, you may find yourself re-living the pain. If you start to feel the pain from past events, or you encounter a painful and traumatic event, you need to seek the services of a counsellor. A counsellor will help you learn healthy ways to cope with the pain and to finally move on.
You've Turned to Someone or Something to Help You Cope
When you're going through a difficult time, it's easy to turn to a mood-altering person, activity or substance. While there's nothing wrong with cheering yourself up when you feel down, you need to maintain moderation. If you notice that you now depend on the said activity, person or substance to get through life, you may be falling into an addiction. Reach out to a counsellor as soon as possible to treat the existing problems and prevent yourself from adding another disorder in the form of addiction.
You're Constantly Experiencing Anxiety
Getting a little nervous is quite normal. However, when anxiety starts to cripple normal activities and prevent you from doing things you used to like to do, then it's time to get some help. Anxiety may present itself as a panic attack, sweaty palms, a pounding heart and excessive sleepiness. Counselling can help you identify the source of the anxiety and provide you with the skills required to deal with it.
You Need to Manage a Bad Habit
If some of your behaviours are affecting your life negatively, counselling can help you beat the bad habit. For example, if you experience extreme anger emotion, a counsellor can help you identify and manage situations that can cause you to lash out verbally or physically.
There are many reasons to seek out a counsellor. If you feel that life is getting a little too challenging to cope with, ensure you go for counselling to get the help you need.