The Subtlety Of Therapy Just Might Surprise You: Mental Health Awareness
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. And therapy is often life-changing.
The Subtlety Of Therapy Helped Me Understand “Why”
Sitting down with a counselor, and basically talking to a stranger about what is bothering me -and why -has helped me in ways I never imagined. I’m one of those people who needs to understand why things bother me the way they do. And what my feelings stem from.
I’ve gone to therapy off and on throughout my life. I started, for a short while, when I was a teenager. Yes, I was a bit of a rebellious teen. For some reason, my parents thought it would be good for me to talk to somebody. I, of course, thought THEY were nuts. I was just a typical teenager!
So I talked to a counselor for the first time when I was 16 years old. I made a remarkable discovery talking to that stranger. I discovered I was a perfectly normal rebellious teen. Yes, just what every parent wants, right? A typical teen, who didn’t like authority. Who does?? But I also found a few other things out.
Number one, my parents were right – it really was good for me to talk to a counselor. And yes, I did tell them many years later that I was thankful. Number two, EVERYONE can benefit from therapy.
The subtlety of therapy has helped me so much over the years. I often don’t even know that it’s helping me, or that it eventually will. Until I have that “a-ha” moment. It’s not a big BOOM revelation, but a slight – but powerful – realization.
For me it’s about why things bother me the way they do. And why I deal with them in the way that I do – or DON’T.
Therapy Helped Me Deal With Loss And Grief
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve dealt with very different things from when I was that 16 year old rebellious teen. And I’ve gone back to therapy as I feel I need it. For “fine tuning.”
Loss has become a lot more prevalent in my life as I’ve gotten older. And it’s hard, and it’s sad.
I’ve lost a lot of family members over the last few years. Sadly, we will all go through that. And we will all deal with it differently. There is no “right“ or “wrong“ way to deal with loss. But I needed to speak to a therapist to figure that out.
I was very sad after losing my mother, my father, and then one of my brothers. But I never really dealt with it. I’m a comedian, and I do morning radio. So I did what comedians do. Just got back on stage, was funny, and kept everyone laughing – except me. I had this overwhelming sadness.
I lost my “bar” when I lost my parents. Even as an adult. By “bar,” I mean my level of right and wrong. The “ok” from those who were my biggest cheerleaders. The ones who told me I could be anything I wanted to be, and encouraged me to do just that..
And when I lost my oldest brother, after a very short, and horrible battle with cancer, felt like I lost the whole order of my family. I came to find out, through the subtlety of therapy, that these feelings were normal.
I realized that I had never really let myself grieve. I know – how cliche. But it was true. And it was a thing. I had to talk about it – with a stranger – and deal with it. And I still am, and it has helped – tremendously.
Therapy Should Be More Accessible And Embraced
Therapy, counseling – it is much more commonplace now than it was not so long ago. But it’s often still hard to take that step, and to talk to someone. And let’s face it – health insurance still isn’t very friendly towards it. And finding the right therapist could take a minute. But it is so important that you do, if you feel you need it.
The subtlety of therapy has increased my self-awareness, because I understand where my emotions come from, and why. And I can control those emotions better knowing that. My thought process has shifted. There are a lot of things we know, but don’t always do. I now try my best do them. I try to tackle those things that directly affect me, and not those things I have no control over.
I know – “therapy speak,” right? Maybe so. But that is what I mean about it being subtle. I’ve heard a lot of these things said, but now I’ve learned how to do them, and live them.
If you’re considering talking to someone, definitely do it. Insurance will generally cover a certain number of visits a year. And many therapists will work with you on a ‘sliding scale,’ to help it work for you, if insurance does not cover it.
I keep referring to the subtlety of therapy, because that is exactly what it is. Talking to a therapist helps you dig a little deeper than just talking to your friends, or family. And frankly, even as much as they love you, they probably don’t want to keep hearing it.
Talking to a professional has been invaluable to me. I hope if you are considering therapy, that it will help you just as much as it did – does – me.