Is talking to a therapist worth it?

[deanyd_17]

Always. Always always always. In my opinion, even people who are not immediately struggling with any sort of mental illness or anxiety related problems can benefit from having a trusted person to talk to who is going to remain impartial and who you don't have to worry about betraying your trust. Friends are nice, but a lot of people cannot handle some of the heavy stuff that the world throws at us. They'd rather stick with the niceties and give cliches as answers.


As others are saying, though, find a therapist you trust (even if you don't like them). Sometimes, the advice that you need is the hardest to hear. Don't look for someone to just tell you what you want to hear.

 

[darosk]

I come from a developing nation, and I'm not sure I've ever even seen any mental health professional 'places' in my city. My guess would be there might be such professionals at the General hospital. Talking about mental health issues/anxiety is still somewhat of a taboo in the culture I grew up in - it seems you're either 'normal' or 'crazy', and if you're crazy you belong in mental hospital. 'Crazy' is often used as a blanket term for any and all mental disorders/conditions. I guess being more exposed to Global culture in these modern days is starting to make people open up to these health issues. Oftentimes, I still feel like there just isn't even any option here for someone to get therapy - even if they were completely open to it.

 

[HappyKoi]

It's worth it, and it's worth finding the right person. I recommend giving someone at least three sessions to see if they're right for you. There are lots of therapists out there. It also seems scarier to talk to a stranger than it actually is. It's going to take time for trust to develop, and a good therapist understands this. You probably won't be asked to tell your deepest, darkest secrets on the first day. One of the benefits of talking to a therapist is that you have someone who is neutral, who understands your illness, and a time where you know that someone is taking the time to focus on your needs and your concerns. I would say that it's worth a try, if nothing else.

 

[SoItGoes]

Talking to a therapist is worth it' date=' but I don't know if it is necessarily worth all the money. [/quote']
See, this is my sticking point. Not to sound arrogant, but I feel like I have a good handle on my issues and some steps I can take to improve them. I guess I feel like I don't want to pay someone a lot of money to tell me things I already know. Given that a portion of my anxiety is tied to lack of finances, it just seems counterproductive. I can go online and learn relaxation tips for free. If I want to vent I have family, friends, and even anonymous strangers on the Internet. I know therapists are trained and can provide a different perspective, but I just not sure it's worth it for me. I can understand why it would be for a lot of people.

 

[theduck7]

Yes I think you should try to find a therapist to talk things over with. It isn't good to bottle things up and a therapist will not only listen, they will also give you suggestions and ideas to help you deal with your situation. It might take a while to find someone but it will be worth it in the end.

 

[dreeklass]

Hmmmm. It is tricky to answer this question, as many therapists just are not all that helpful. I like to think of myself as a very deep thinker also, so it doesn't help when you appear to know more than the therapist, especially if they don't seem all that engaged. One therapist told me that she was shocked that I had social anxiety because I was so confident, which I have always been a confident person. From that point on, I knew that she was not going to be able to offer me much support or help with my condition. Finding a good therapist is imperative. If the first one is unhelpful, then I would tell you not to give up - to keep looking for one that resonates with you.

 

[HappyKoi]

As far as the finances point that was raised, there are some organizations that charge on a sliding scale that goes all the way to free. I know Catholic Charities does this, and there are a lot of other ones. If you call and ask your local Department of Human Services or some charitable organizations, they can probably give you a good list. Or you can check your DHS website or other organizations that offer support and assistance to people with depression, anxiety, or whatever you're seeking therapy for. Granted, free and low cost mental health care isn't as widespread and easy to find as it should be, but there are options out there. If you have health insurance, even Medicaid, some places will take that as well.

 

[rz3300a]

I feel that talking to therapists can be beneficial because it gives you a sense of outside perspective. Things like bipolar disorder' date=' depression, and anxiety have a tendency to trap us in our own heads and it's good to step back and see issues from a different light. If you aren't comfortable talking to the people in your life about these issues, or if those people in your life aren't helpful (or if you need to talk to somebody about them cause their actions are part of the problem), finding a trained, unbiased professional that can lend an ear is something that can be really helpful for people, in my opinion. [/quote']
Yeah I agree here. The more eyes that you can get on an issue usually the better able you are to be able and take a step back, and see things more holistically, which I think helps. Certainly it depends on the therapist though, and I know that I have had my experiences with some pretty lousy ones. That said, though, I have also had some good ones, and so they are out. Do your research and find a good one, and I hope that they are able to help. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Dove]

As many of the previous posters (not movie posters *badumtuss*) have said, I think it depends on the therapist. The engagement and willingness to help sadly varies depending the health professional. Try to look up online for reviews of specialist that focus on your issues, and from that information try to decide. I do think it is important to look for help, and the decision itself shows that we are looking for our self-improvement.

 

[KellyLake]

I honestly believe that almost anyone can benefit from therapy - but as others have stated, finding the right one is very important. In most places there are a lot of community resources available, and many therapists price on a sliding scale. It might take a bit of research, and seeing a couple different therapists until you find the right one. Be prepared to share things that you don't feel comfortable sharing, and I think you will find that it is far easier to open up to someone who has no presence in your actual day-to-day life than it is someone you actually know.


One person mentioned being nervous that a therapist would tell their wives or husbands about what you discuss...that is completely not going to happen. Therapists see multiple people per day, and trust me they have heard it all! One great piece of general life advice that my first therapist taught me when I discussed with her a similar fear - is that at any given moment, most people are really only thinking about themselves. That person you made eye contact with at the grocery store is probably thinking about what to cook for dinner. The guy who cut you off in traffic is probably late to work - not because he's trying to make you angry. You get the idea. The same goes for your therapist - as soon as they leave work, they are focused on their own life. That's the beauty of it, your relationship with them only exists inside that room.


Anyways, I think it's worth a shot. It sure isn't going to hurt to try!

 

[TayH]

I probably have a bias opinion on therapy, I'm a therapist. But, talking to a therapist is useful if you can build a good relationship with your therapist. Just like in day to day life not everyone gets along, and that's ok. It's all about finding a therapist you are comfortable with to get the most out of it for you. Being able to talk to a therapist without judgement in a therapeutic environment can allow people to be completely honest and open. Some people aren't lucky enough to be able to expect this same level of non judgement from people they know personally or the confidentiality that can be found by talking to a therapist.

 

[pnx626]

Talking to a therapist is worth it' date=' but I don't know if it is necessarily worth all the money. [/quote']
See, this is my sticking point. Not to sound arrogant, but I feel like I have a good handle on my issues and some steps I can take to improve them. I guess I feel like I don't want to pay someone a lot of money to tell me things I already know. Given that a portion of my anxiety is tied to lack of finances, it just seems counterproductive. I can go online and learn relaxation tips for free. If I want to vent I have family, friends, and even anonymous strangers on the Internet. I know therapists are trained and can provide a different perspective, but I just not sure it's worth it for me. I can understand why it would be for a lot of people.

You could always see if there's any kid of support group in your area. They can be good place to learn coping skills and it's usually a lot less expensive.