If anyone knows me, you’ll know how much I preach the praises of my therapist. For the past 5 months, I’ve been seeing my therapist once a week. It’s been my saving grace. She’s the one who helped me realize I need to travel, helped me decide I needed to quit my job, and helped me realize my passions and goals. She’s awesome, and going to therapy is something that’s really helped me a lot.
I don’t know what the stigma is, but it seems a lot of people feel that going to a therapist means you’ve sold out, that you have a shit ton of problems, that you are a crazy ass bitch. But au contraire, mon frère, going to a therapist makes you a badass.
I’ve seen therapists since college. While in college, I saw my therapist whenever I needed to vent about classes, my long distance relationship and my job. It was when I first fell in love with the idea of having a therapist, someone who you can confide in and feel safe around. I made the decision to see a therapist when I felt like I needed an outside opinion, someone who wasn’t biased, someone who could come into my life and tell me how it is without the fear of hurting my feelings or making me upset. I needed advice from someone who didn’t know me.
I’m here to tell you that going to a therapist has saved me. When I was in the depths of my depression, she was the one I could talk to and get real, thoughtful, truthful advice. Yes, at first I was intimidated. And don’t get me wrong, something about crying your eyes out in front of a complete stranger and telling them your secrets is a little weird at first. But it also makes you a badass.
Keeping your feelings bottled up and feeding into your depression is not fun at all. Baring your soul and not being afraid makes you a badass. Acknowledging that you are hurting and you need help makes you a badass. Stepping outside of the box for alternative options to help you with your depression makes you a badass.
Now I know most of you are like….well….aren’t therapists expensive? If you aren’t insured, yes, it might be hard for you to find an affordable therapist. But there are also TONS of therapists that work on a sliding scale, meaning you pay whatever you can comfortably afford. If you are in the Los Angeles area, here is a good source for you. If you live anywhere else, a quick Google search should lead you to affordable therapy.
Your health is so much more than your physical health. Your health includes your mental health, so just as you go to the doctor for regular checkups and physicals, make sure you take care of your mental health as well. Because being healthy in body AND mind is badass.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Well said chick!! I’m really glad to hear that it has helped in the past and that it’s helping you now. Everyone here in Britain is so ‘reserved’ that even though we get our healthcare free, people still don’t take advantage of it. I had it last year after returning from my trip and was depressed/delayed grieving – I didn’t do much but cry my eyes out in our sessions but it helped a bit. Girl power! =D
Girl power for sure!!! I think it’s a common thread everywhere though, no one wants to admit they go to therapy, or even go in the first place. But I think if more focus was put on mental health awareness, people would realize that it’s not a bad thing at all! it’s actually really great and really helpful once you find the therapit you mix with.
Wow! I admire you for writing this post. It takes a lot of strength, from an American perspective. I must say that the views on “going to therapy” are varied in an international context, and it seems that in the good ol’ USA this still has a certain amount of stigma attached to it. Here in France, there is hardly anyone that doesn’t see a therapist! Of course, if your government’s social security pays for it, it does become more affordable.
Nevertheless, you are headed to Argentina, another country in which people are very open about their frequent therapist visits. I hope that in the US, one day, this will be openly discussed sans embarrassment also.
I hope so too. I used to be afraid to tell people that I go to therapy, but my therapist was like “um…why? this is perfectly normal, you are fine just the way you are.” And she was right. Nothing is wrong with me, I’m not a lunatic or crazy. I just need to talk to someone once in awhile. Nothing wrong with that!
I’m glad I discovered your blog. It’s pretty badass! Loved the post. Away with the going to therapy stigma!
Thank you! Everyone deserves the right to get help for their mental health and not be looked down on because of it!
Just de-lurking to say AMEN. I could not agree more. Currently on the hunt for a new therapist. Definitely a badass thing. Love your blog!
Grace
Thank you!! Let me know how the hunt goes
I 100% agree with you! I’ve never actually seen a therapist, but mostly because I was so stressed out during the 6 years of getting my undergrad and masters degrees that I didn’t feel like I could take the time for regular appointments. Now I’ve got the time and feel like I’m in a good place to start working through some of my issues…. but we’re traveling full-time! I think that’s probably one of the biggest drawbacks to being location independent – I can’t develop an on-going relationship with various professionals (therapist, doctor, trainer, etc.). Le sigh.
Hmmm, I totally forgot about that aspect of being location independent. I’ve come to rely on my therapist, and when I left the one I had in college, I felt terrible! I guess it’s something I gotta really think about when I finally get on the road.
I think I would have been more comfortable with therapists had I not been forced into them as a kid. It is amazing how quickly your mom will change her mind on Prozac if a doc tells her is will make her 16 year old less angsty.
as with you I am seeing a therapist and I do tend to agree what you are saying here + i am glad you find it helpful. It got me thinking about loosing the social stigma about it is that schools today should make a class for kids about psychology, or “being human” – or some kind of philosophy class made for you8ng kids as I think its way more important to get into the human psyche and have a betetr udnrstanding of how important it is top relate and understand other people – instead of hardcore chemistry or something along those lines…im not saying chemistry or biology is a waste of time I just wish we could imprint and make it so – because it seems depression is here to stay if we dont deal with it – and making it a stigma just makes it all worse.
I totally agree with you. So much focus is put on the science, but not enough of on psychology and acceptance. I think teens especially need to realize that being depressed and having anxiety is common, and nothing to be ashamed about. Nowadays, people just over medicate, thinking that’s going to solve problems, but it really just masks it.
I never got to see a therapist because, here in the UK, they’re really expensive. :S But, actually, I’ve found that blogging and reading other people’s blogs have been like a therapy to me. Planning my travels and knowing I’m heading out to the unknown has helped pull me out of this.
Reading other peoples blogs was honestly one of the first things that helped me a lot. Realizing my wanderlust was out of control was really helpful!
Thank you so much for writing this!
I’ve been trying to make therapy a regular part of my life for the past two years or so and it’s been hard for multiple reasons. But at the end of the day, it can be really helpful and I’m trying to go regularly nowadays. And as for the money, I’m going to a center where I see a MSW (social work) student and paying $25 a session. At first, I was a little wary about seeing a student but I’m really enjoying her company so far…so look around and keep an open mind
and you are most definitely bad ass
Thanks! I’m so glad you’ve started seeing someone. And remember, if you don’t click with a therapist, you don’t have to stick with them. I hope the one you are seeing works out!
Ive never visited a therapist but I refer to one of my closest friends as The Therapist. I tell her, pretty much everything, and she has a tendency of probing and asking tons of questions so she can get the whole story and gauge how I truly feel about something via my responses. She’s freaking good! I think it’s absolutely imperative that you have someone to talk to. There’s no sense in keeping it all bottled in. Let it out!
Totally, completely right. My boyfriend acts as an honorary therapist for me, I feel so bad for him sometimes hahhahaha!
I’m brazilian and I’ve found your blog when I was looking for the word “wanderlust” at google. Then I stopped to read your posts and I really like this one… I’ve seen a therapist more than a year and it’s helping me a lot. Unfortunately most of people thinks going to a therapist a bullshit, but I think it’s necessary…and I think everybody should go to a therapist at least once in a life. Just because of therapy, now I know exactly what I want in may professional life and I’m learning more about me.
Love this post. I definitely need a therapist. Question. Did you interview therapists before you decided on one?
Sending you an email lady!
Thank you for helping to reduce the stigma and for being proud of taking care of yourself, since that’s what therapy is really about! My profession is counseling and I really think everyone deserves a minimum of an hour a week to just talk and focus on themselves. Travel, of course, is great self care but if you don’t have enough awareness of yourself to appreciate the new things around you or understand why travel fills you up, you will miss out on a ton you could be learning about yourself! Kudos.
Hi Maureen! Thank you for the comment! I wish there were more people like you in the world.
Hey how did you choose one? I’ve been a few times… I have so much anxiety. I just can’t find someone I gel with.