By G.I.N.A. (Game Is Not Allowed)
I was never one of those people against psychiatry. There are those who feel therapy is for “crazy” people, but with all that many of us have seen and experienced in life it’s hard to imagine anyone would survive unscathed. The truth is plenty of us are hurting mentally, emotionally and we need help.
Like many people I was used to dealing with my problems on my own. I would never share all I was going through, not even with my closest friends. I kept everything in and put my best face forward. Then I experienced a situation that would change me. As a result my emotions were out of control, mentally I was a robot and I didn’t “feel right.” Finally, when my nights became unbearable and my days lifeless, therapy seemed my only option. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with me but what I did know was I didn’t need judgments or ridicule; I wanted someone to listen, to help me make sense of what was going on.
Admittedly, while not a naysayer, I was skeptical. The intimate details of my life were, private. Beyond that I was expected to reveal them to a stranger! However, I was tired of doing what I’ve always done. I wanted a different outcome so it was time to change the way I operated.
Much to my surprise, both during and after therapy I encountered people who had feelings similar to those that sent me to bare my soul to an unfamiliar person. Many were despondent and each found it difficult to put their sentiments into words. The common thread was something just didn’t “feel” right. We were all in a funk that was eating away at our psyche and choosing to just live had the potential to maim us emotionally.
In 2008 cbsnews.com reported that according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about one in twenty Americans were depressed. That was roughly five percent of the population; with social and economic standing on the decline it is easy to imagine a much higher percentage now. Although the numbers vary based on race, gender and financial status, no group is left unaffected; of those with mild to severe depression less than half pursue mental health care.
Could it be the institution of therapy has been relegated to psychopaths, serial killers and the like? The mere mention of psychiatry raises the defenses of many people. Most are unwilling to share what haunts them often times because of learned behavior. Growing up many of us were never encouraged to express our feelings. In the midst of emotional turmoil often times we were told to suck it up, get over it or stop acting like a baby (as if only babies have the luxury of shedding tears). Over time the end results are adults so accustomed to suppressing their feelings that the pain of silence is more bearable than the stigma of seeing a “shrink”.
Not everyone who goes into therapy is depressed. Some folks are in a rut for the time being. Others may only need a nonjudgmental forum where they can express themselves freely, our friends and families don’t always make the best sounding boards. At the very least, therapy is a great way to find out about you. Therapy sessions expose the origins of idiosyncrasies that make the person you see in the mirror every day. Therapy is not about someone giving you the answers to your life’s questions but guiding you towards your own understanding. It offers clarity and makes you more aware of you. Sans the veil and smoke screens, at our essence do we know who we really are? Or are we simply a shell of what life and circumstances have made us?
Therapy is an expedition into your past to explain your present and enlighten your future. Yes, digging in your emotional crates to replay songs that have long been unsung can be painful; but how long will we continue to do what we’ve been doing in hopes for a different outcome. The proverbial couch is waiting (as well as a comfy armchair for those allergic to stereotypes). Therapy is a good investment to make in yourself, a great first step towards self improvement in that you not only learn what makes you tick but you gain control in correcting character flaws that may hinder you. Additionally you learn how to handle your world, and situations as they arise, you begin to live and operate differently which can be the start to a better outcome. Many employers offer programs that will fund your first few sessions and there are therapists available who work on a sliding scale. The help is there, it’s up to us to acknowledge the problem and seek the cure. At the risk of sounding cliché, aren’t you worth it?
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