Here’s Why Going To Therapy Will Be The Best Thing You Ever Do For Yourself

Something I’ve wanted to talk about for a long time is therapy. Therapy and all of its magnificent benefits.

But first a little back story.

My first time going to therapy was about nine years ago. I had just turned 20 and had fallen into a particularly bad bout of anxiety. I had never had anxiety before this, though—or so I thought.

As I’m sure many of you already know, as the brain develops, so does the conscious mind’s ability to recognize when something is wrong.

This was true for me. It was as if, as soon as I turned 20 years old, something switched on in my brain and all of these repressed feelings came flooding out of my subconscious. The dam had been broken and I had to do something.

With the help of my mom, I found a local therapist. We had one or two sessions and I decided she wasn’t for me.

Sometimes, it takes time to find the right therapist for you. Don’t give up. Keep doing the work within yourself and you will find the right person to help you grow. It certainly took me a while.

Years and a couple of other therapists later, I found the right one.

Not to say that those other people didn’t help me; they absolutely did. At the time they were probably just what I needed. Each person helped me dig a little deeper, know myself better, and ultimately led me to the counselor best suited to help me become who I wanted to be.

Once I did find the right person, though, that is when the real work began.

I went through hard months where I needed weekly appointments. I also went through months where I didn’t need any.

It took years. Years and hours of soul searching. Sometimes it felt as if I was shoveling this endless amount of dirt before getting to the root of my problems.

When I finally got to the roots, though, the payoff was incredible. But it did not feel this way at first.

Which is what I am here to tell you. With a licensed counselor, self-discovery and reflection—in its truest and most honest form—is work. But it’s work that pays like no other. The tools and knowledge you gain in becoming a happier, healthier you are priceless.

Therapy taught me how to better deal with life and all of its challenges. It taught me how to recognize the unhealthy habits I was using to deal with stress. When I felt myself self-sabotaging, I remembered that I do indeed deserve to be loved. When I made mistakes, I showed myself compassion instead of using negative self-talk.

Fast forward to today.

I still check in with my therapist. It helps me remember all the things I have learned as well as helps me check in with myself.

We are always changing and growing. It’s a journey, not a race, and the self-reflection journey is a part of life.

Therapy lines you with the tools to master your journey. With time, you will find yourself enjoying life in a way you never could before.

Advocate for yourself. Make that call. Get on Google and research therapists near you. Your happiness is too important to put off.

I promise, it’s worth it.