How do you know if you need therapy?

 

Feeling you are out of your depth is a key indicator that it’s time to ask for help. Think of therapy when you feel trapped, with nowhere to turn, when it seems things aren’t getting better, when worry becomes chronic and never leads to any answers, or when emotional unease spills over and affects the way you eat or sleep, or takes a toll on your job or personal life.

 

The mind and body are closely connected, and some signs that therapy may be helpful are physical. Unexplained, often vague symptoms - fatigue, frequent headaches, backaches or other troublesome pains, frequent digestive upset, even pesky skin conditions can reflect depression, anxiety, or an increased level of stress. Such problems may accompany emotional distress or take its place.   When a thorough medical work-up finds nothing, consider a psychological explanation.

 

 

 

 

We have compiled yes/no questions to help determine if you need to see a mental health professional. Please answer honestly.

• I feel very sad, unhappy and low for most of the day, nearly everyday.

• I have trouble sleeping or sleep too much.

• I feel worthless.

• I have experienced one of more episodes of panic attacks in which I was trembling, and sweating, feeling I was going to lose control or die.

• My partner and I have severe difficulty when it comes to communicating and solving problems.

• I have little or no desire to engage in sexual activity.

• I am in a relationship that is emotionally, physically or sexually abusive.

• I can’t prevent certain persistent and disturbing thoughts from popping into my head.

• I have disturbing recollections about a traumatic event I experienced in the past.

• I experience pain, illness or physical dysfunction that cannot be accounted for by standard medical tests.

• When one relationship ends, I feel an urgent need to be in a new relationship as soon as possible.