How do you know it’s time to go to therapy?

Even after a few Google searches, podcasts, and TikTok suggestions (which may have convinced you that you have a terminal illness when trying to determine symptoms of anxiety), “How do you know it’s time to go to therapy?” can be a tricky question to navigate. 

It can be overwhelming to find a therapist, explore insurance options, and trying to fit regular therapy sessions into your calendar. Nevertheless, the truth is that any time can be the right time to commit to therapy if you have goals. Let’s explore what some of these goals may look like when deciding to commit to therapy:

1. You need to process something
   
   There can be past, present, and future life events that weigh on you. Whether it’s a past relationship or pressure at work, life can simply be overwhelming sometimes. If you’re feeling overcome by the thoughts and emotions revolving around these incidents, it may be beneficial to walk through these times with a therapist. You can take comfort in simultaneously lessening your isolation and receiving guidance on how to navigate these times in a more fulfilling way.
   
   
2. You feel like you don’t connect with others in healthy way
   
   Relationships with other people are important for our overall physical and emotional health. We need healthy relationships, but we aren’t always given the tools we need to create them. Do your relationships have a lot of conflict that leave you feeling like the underlying issue isn’t getting resolved? Or perhaps you avoid other people and keep them from getting too close? Learning how to build and maintain healthy relationships is a great example of a goal you can pursue in therapy.
   
   
3. You have biological symptoms that can’t be explained at the Doctor’s office
   
   Your body, mind, and emotions all connect and interact with each other. The central nervous system activates and counteracts other systems in the body. If you find that you experience: rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, fatigue, getting sick often, digestive issues, etc. without a medical reason, your mental and emotional health may be the cause.
   
   
4. You’re having trouble with sleep
   
   Any kind of troubling sleep patterns can be an indicator of underlying mental and emotional concerns. This may look like having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much. If you find yourself struggling with these issues, it may be time to reach out to a therapist to consider possible anxious and/or depressive symptoms.

Gabriella Stogner, MFT
The Marriage Point