The decision to see a therapist, no matter your reasons, can make you feel the most alone person in the world.
You might feel uncomfortable by the thought of seeing a counsellor. You don’t think anyone will understand why you need help. Maybe you don’t understand why you need help. All you know is, you don’t feel right.
With these doubts running through your head, it can be difficult to commit. To make the jump. To book the appointment. Drive to the clinic. Sit in the waiting room. “This is ridiculous” you think to yourself.
That’s the moment when you need to know about the others who have come before you.
Many others.
Psychologists have shared, through Ask Reddit, the most common things they’ve heard from patients in their clinics. These insights will help you realise you are not alone. That fear, dissatisfaction, emptiness? Others have felt it too. They’ve sought help. They’ve gotten better.
Here’s what you need to know:
“I don’t know if I need to be here.”
Very often, clients start with, “I don’t know if this is relevant/ I don’t know if I should say this” or some variant of this – Thatsockgirl.
“I feel guilty asking for help.” – Cerebella.
“I’m only here because I was ordered by the court to get therapy”. Followed by: “I don’t have a problem.. I just got caught.” – DiepSleep, a past substance abuse therapist.
“I told myself I wouldn’t cry coming here. Sorry.” – Cerebella
“I wish I could go back in time.”
For people under about 60, what I often hear is something along the lines of “I just want to be like I used to be.” Unfortunately, most of us can never go back, especially when you consider the effects of normal aging and our tendency to look back fondly on the past and overestimate our abilities and existence. – Zombiewooof, neuropsychologist.
Top Comments
Could the unreal world (hyper reality) with which we are bombarded with constantly in the media (advertising especially) have a big part to play here? From a very young age we are presented with something to strive for that doesn't actually exist. I read an excellent book on this topic recently called "The Trouble With Paris" by Mark Sayers. I found it very helpful and enlightening.
This was an excellent article. Thank you.