Firstly, accepting that your mental health is not well and that you need to seek therapy is a challenge in itself. But people are not ready to accept that they need help.
We don’t understand why people are so afraid to get therapy. Why don’t they understand that mental health is as important as physical health?
According to Mental Health America, about 19% of US citizens suffer from mental problems. And that accounts for about 47 million citizens, including all age groups. That’s a lot! Right?
A stigma among people makes it difficult for you to ask for help. But therapy can provide the necessary measures needed. You should not blame yourself for being unable to handle your mental health issues. Only therapy can help!
So why not break the stigma and understand why seeking therapy is a sign of strength and not a weakness when dealing with mental problems?
Why Is The Stigma Attached To Mental Illness?
According to Chris Gustafson, when people look down on you because of something about you that they perceive to be unfavorable, they are engaging in the practice of stigmatization.
Basically, stigma is a negative stereotype. Some individuals categorize and discriminate among those who have mental health issues. Our society believes that people who deal with mental problems can be a danger to society and are violent or unstable.
These assumptions are all wrong! Though it is not just anxiety or depression that makes up mental illness, various things can be included. And what is true is that we cannot see mental illness with our naked eyes.
Many people believe they should be able to “overcome” their mental illness without seeking help, which is one reason why stigmas surrounding mental illness are so harmful.
You can’t just “beat” or “conquer” your mental illness because it’s all in your head. You need support to help and treat your mental illness, no matter how difficult it is to ask for help.
There is a wide range of mental health issues, but in popular culture, only the most extreme cases are depicted. People are dissuaded from seeking professional help because of the stigma associated with these views.
5 Reasons Seeking Help for Mental Health Is a Strength, Not a Weakness
No matter what stigma or shame gets attached to mental illness, you should know that you cannot recover without proper help. You should not care if people call you mental, crazy, or mad; you should not hear them and put yourself together.
It takes STRENGTH to ask for HELP. It is not a sign of WEAKNESS. Don’t keep it to yourself if you have depression, anxiety, or other complex mental health issues. Some professionals can assist you in recovering from it.
Here are five reasons why seeking mental health care should be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
1) You Will Know Yourself Better!
You can seek therapy in various ways, and it offers many benefits too. But the most important and long-term benefit is Talking Therapy.
You will know yourself better when you get therapy from a professional therapist. You will talk to them about your behavior, what you like or don’t like, or if there is anything else you want to share. Hence, through counseling, even you will know and understand yourself.
Furthermore, this can help you understand your behavior and help you calm down.
2) It Takes Courage To Get A Help
Getting help for yourself is not a sign of weakness. Rather, it is a sign of strength. Accepting and reaching out for health needs a lot of courage and willpower.
In the beginning, when you reach out for help, you might wonder, “What will people think about you?” But ultimately, you need to accept that you have mental issues, which is a big problem. You could not deal with this by yourself, and you need professional therapy for it.
3) Change Is Never Easy
Change is never easy, and it will never be. Coping with mental health is not a process of a day or two. It is a long-term process. During this time, you will fall, cry, and even struggle a lot. But if you are persistent and can push yourself through these problems, you will certainly achieve positive change.
We understand this will take you a lot of courage, and you must endure a lot. However, your hard work and patience will pay off one day.
4) Your Mental Health Is Equal To Your Physical Health
We have seen that medical health professionals ignore mental health or rather say they overlook it over physical health. They think that mental health is not that important
But that is not the case!
Mental health should be given equal importance to physical health. In fact, many studies have shown that mental health problems can lead to physical health problems.
For instance, your anxiety and depression can cause a lack of sleep, resulting in poor health conditions and lower energy levels.
5) Fight Stigma & Illness Simultaneously
Unlike physical health, in mental health, you need to deal with the stigma attached to the illness as well. This makes it even harder for you to take that first step.
We don’t understand why people have many misconceptions about mental health issues. Why don’t people understand that it is also a problem like any other disease?
You cannot deal with it by yourself, and you need to see a therapist to deal with it.
Conclusion
Don’t bind yourself with the societal stigma that comes along with mental illness. Rather, put yourself together and get all the strength and courage you have to get a therapist!
If you are suffering from any mental problem, learn to accept it and look for therapy to treat it.
You should understand that seeking help is not a weakness but a strength. It is just another problem in your mind that needs help; just like a physical problem, you see a doctor.
However, the type of therapy you seek depends on the type of mental problem you are dealing with. Every problem has a different solution, just like different diseases need different medicines. Remember to get the therapy from only the therapist that specializes in that therapy.
Meta: Many people think cowards opt for therapies. But that’s untrue. Read this article to find out why choosing therapy is a signal of strength and the benefits it provides.
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