Should You See a Therapist?
Depression robs people of the motivation to do even small things to help themselves. The attitude is, “why bother?” typically based on the belief that nothing can help, nothing can change. But that’s the depression talking and what it’s saying simply isn’t true.

You may think your problems are so unique or complicated that no one can help you. But that’s the depression talking you into resigning yourself to simply accept your suffering as inevitable. It isn’t!

Your “blind spots” naturally prevent you from seeing yourself clearly, a statement that’s true for all of us. The value of having someone else to talk to who can fill in the gaps and guide you along a clear path out of depression is immeasurable.

A good therapist is worth their weight in platinum. A good therapist who is knowledgeable about depression and can get to the essence of where to focus their help in your service can intervene quite efficiently and most often briefly as well.

You can overcome depression but not by endlessly chasing your own tail.

 

When to Seek Professional Help?

Here are some guidelines for helping you decide whether seeing a therapist would benefit you.

  • If your depression has led you to develop thoughts of death or suicide (an especially important reason to get help right away);
  • If you are depressed and have no idea why, you know you need to do something, but you have no clue what to do about it;
  • If you are suffering distressing symptoms that directly or indirectly interfere with and diminish your quality of life;
  • If your depression is negatively affecting people you love, especially your spouse/partner and children.
  • If you are getting feedback from others that you need help, and although you know it’s true but don’t want to face it, then the only responsible thing to do is to get help;
  • If you have no one close enough to confide in and get feedback from who can challenge and divert you from some or all of your depressed thinking and behavior;
  • If you have repeated episodes of depression and have no real understanding as to what your risk factors for relapses are;
  • If you are depressed and you have to make a major life decision (such as seeking a divorce, quitting or taking a job, dropping out of school, etc.), and depression may lead you to make a poor decision you’ll end up deeply regretting later. Depression is usually a poor frame of mind to be in when making potentially life-changing decisions.
  • If you’ve continued to try to manage it on your own and have not been as successful as you’d like.
How to Choose a Therapist