There’s a large caveat in our society that if you see a therapist, you are C-R-A-Z-Y. This couldn’t be further from the truth! In a previous post, I talk about this misconception in a bit more detail. Just know that if you’re seeking help, you have more courage and humility than you think. Here are some ways to know when it’s time to find some outside help:

You feel like you’re in over your head.

Everything is piling up, one on top of the other. You don’t know where to even begin to break things down into manageable bites. Everything feels dire and if one thing drops, the whole dance breaks down. You’re feeling overwhelmed and under-appreciated. A therapist can help you sort through the muck without being biased. It’s easy for us to get our emotions wrapped up in situations. A therapist separates the essential from the not necessary to the down-right toxic.

You feel like nobody understands what you’re going through or trying to say.

This may sound like a cliche and a typical “duh”. But for some reason, people think that feeling this constantly is the “norm”. It’s not. It’s important that you’re heard and understood. At the very least, a therapist can lend an understanding ear. You may think that your problem is too minute or that it’s too “out there” and not comprehensible to somebody else. That kind of thinking is self-destructive. In most cases, therapists allow a couple of sessions as a test-run to see if it’s for you. No harm, no foul. Just try it.

You’re experiencing recurring problems in your relationships.

I didn’t say marriage or specify this as romantic relationships because it shouldn’t be limited to that. Maybe you do find that your partner does the same thing over and over again, despite making it perfectly clear how much you dislike it. Maybe your having a hard time expressing things to your overbearing parents. Maybe you’re finding it challenge to set boundaries at work. Regardless of the roots, there’s a pattern happening that isn’t helping you. A therapist can offer some perspective and new strategies. We can’t help what we don’t know.