How Do You Know If It Is Time To Seek A Psychologist?

In life one will always encounter challenges and problems along the way. While there are others who take everything in stride and find solutions to their problems on their own, there are those who need a little help from close friends or family. There are also those who encounter problems so deep and overwhelming that even their own circle of family and friends cannot seem to help them anymore. If you are one of those people read on and find out whether it is time for you to seek professional help from a psychologist.

What are the signs of being in distress?

There are many reasons why you could be in distress. Whether it is going through a break up or divorce, or recovering from an illness, or adjusting to a new work environment, or moving to a new home, you will experience a loss of balance or a disruption in your daily routine which will make you feel stressed out and confused. The warning signs could include feelings of:

- Lethargy or being unable to do activities that normally interest you
- Loss of energy or enthusiasm
- Loss of appetite or a sudden increase in appetite
- Feelings of loneliness
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty concentrating on tasks
- Frequent irritability
- Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
- Having suicidal thoughts

Where and how do you find psychologists?

Deciding to go into therapy or counseling should be something that you should do on your own. If you are forced into doing it by other people then it is highly likely that it is not going to work. Once you are ready you may begin to ask around for the best psychologist in your area. You can begin by asking your own medical doctor for referrals. They are one of the best persons to ask because they have a wide network of doctors and psychologists that they work with. You may also ask your friends and family of anyone they know of who went through therapy and they could refer you to their psychologist.

What could you expect from psychotherapy?

The first thing that you should know is that the psychotherapy process is one of discovery. Therapists are trained to offer professional help by giving you an un-biased opinion on your situation based on the theories and schools of thought that they have learned about in their years of training.
You must be prepared to answer a lot of questions and to be able to verbalize your feelings. This is the only way that therapists can gain insight into your situation. You must enter a therapist’s office with an open mind and a strong desire to get better.
Psychotherapy services differs from the way your friends or family will help you solve your life problems. Because they are professionals and they have a confidentiality agreement with you, they can give you a safe and secure place to vent out your feelings without your fear of any consequences to your social or professional life.