When and how to see a therapist?

We all know someone, whether from afar or a close person, who is seeing, or has seen a therapist.
When you think about it, you might come to the conclusion that this person really needed to do so, because there was something wrong with him/her. But when it's about us, then we're not as certain that we have to go see a therapist. Because taking such a decision is never easy ; you just don't set an appointment with a psychoanalyst, like you do with a dentist… and some even dawdle endlessly before seeing a dentist.

When should one take the step ?

Such a move always lies in an inner discomfort; a discomfort that affects your daily life, your work, your couple or your family… This gloominess may take various forms, depending on your personality and personal history. You might know the origin of this state (mourning, separation, marital problems), and sometimes, you might totally be unaware of it. It is during your therapeutic work that this discomfort is gradually relieved. How much time it takes really varies from one person to another, there are no general rules. It also depends on the psychotherapeutic technique adopted (psychanalysis, analytical psychotherapy, behavioral psychotherapy, etc.).
It is when you feel that this discomfort is getting out of reach, that you're no longer able to manage it, that you should address yourself to a therapist.

How do you become aware that you're going through a discomfort ?

It may happen that you don't realize you have any troubles. This is so because this inner discomfort may take various shapes, different shades. We each have our own way of expressing it and living with it.

For instance, you might have repetitive pains without any obvious physiological reasons, and in this case, it is your body speaking out, instead of your psyche. You might adopt a workaholic attitude, which will allow you to avoid being on your own and facing your inner problems; here you would be adopting an escaping attitude. In other cases, you might have sleeping problems (difficulty to fall asleep, you wake up many times, nightmares, etc.), or unusual petulance and sensitivity.

Once you are aware of your discomfort, the next step would be to ask for help. You might keep a therapist's number for weeks in your diary, without deciding to call for an appointment, or to postpone the call until the next day. In both cases, don't worry and hang on, it takes a lot of courage to face one's problems, and sometimes, it takes time. Self-discovery is the whole point of working with a therapist, and that might be scary, but… it will only enrich you even more… it's worth the journey!

Maha Rabbath