How to answer the question – Do I need a therapist?

You may have been wondering – Do I need a therapist? Am I depressed? Should I be able to manage this on my own? Does this problem really warrant therapy? What will it say about me if I seek out therapy?

These questions are very normal to have as we live in a society that does not always encourage reaching out. However, we are as a society, starting to see value in counselling and therapy. We recognize how it can improve our quality of life, help us reach our goals, resolve issues and problems, and improve our lifestyle. It can help us learn to be happier and cope better with emotions. All of these are goals any of us will be proud to have. Yet, the illness paradigm makes us feel that need of a therapist is only for severe mental health problems. Yes, if you have been suffering severely, we are here to help you. However, if you want to work on well being, relationships or procrastination, we are here for you then as well.

Do I need a therapist? – Checklist

Here is a checklist that can help you ascertain if you need a therapist. If one or more of these rings true to you, you are likely to benefit from counselling and therapy. Do reach out urgently if you have selected one or more statements in red or 3 or more in orange.

I have difficulty regulating my emotions
  • I don’t feel as happy
  • I often feel irritable
  • I feel uneasy or restless frequently
  • I feel overwhelmed often
  • I feel extreme sadness often
  • I feel a sense of hopelessness
  • I have anger outbursts that later lead to guilt

My sleep is affected 

  • I don’t sleep as much as I would like
  • I sleep more than I would like
  • I don’t feel well rested even after a full night of sleep
  • I have has difficulty sleeping for a long time
  • I don’t remember the last time I slept well
  • I stay up awake for hours at night frequently
  • I wake up earlier than expected and can’t go back to sleep
  • I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep frequently

I am not happy with my eating habits 

  • I frequently skip meals
  • I frequently eat too much
  • I regularly skip meals or eat too little
  • I regularly eat too much
  • I often purge post eating
  • I have had noticeable weight loss in a short period of time
  • I have had noticeable weight gain in a short period of time

My performance at work or school is affected

  • I feel that I am not doing enough
  • I procrastinate a lot
  • I can see that I am doing less than I could before
  • Others have noticed that my performance has gone down
  • I am unable to do any work or get started

I have issues in my relationships 

  • I feel that I give more than I get in relationship(s)
  • I feel that I am not putting sufficient efforts in my relationship(s)
  • I feel that my needs in a relationship are not being met
  • I have difficulty family or relationship dynamics
  • I feel there is a lot of disturbance or toxicity in my relationship(s)
  • I have trauma from a past or current relationship
  • I have been a victim of abuse

I have lost interest in activities 

  • There are many things I want to do for myself but don’t get the time
  • I want to pursue hobbies and interest but don’t have the motivation
  • I have stopped doing some things that I liked to do though I want to
  • I don’t feel like doing anything fun
  • I don’t enjoy activities that I used to before
  • I feel there is no point left in doing the things I once enjoyed

I have had a loss 

  • I have lost a loved one recently and I feel great pain and difficulty
  • I feel a sense of loss but I am not sure why
  • I lost a loved one more than a year ago but I feel intense pain, and am reminded of them frequently

I want to work on myself 

  • I want to work on certain aspects of myself
  • I want to work on managing time/ reaching goals/ being productive
  • I want to work on my self esteem/ confidence/ self love
  • I want to work on my irritability/  anger issues

I have adopted unhealthy coping mechanisms 

  • I use social media / TV/ OTT platform excessively to distract myself from emotional pain
  • I use food and overeat when emotionally distressed
  • My use of alcohol or drugs is problematic
  • I engage in sexually risky behaviours/ use sex for relive emotional distress

I want to work on my negative thinking 

  • I often overthink
  • I want to think more positively
  • I worry excessively about little things
  • My negative thoughts disturb me frequently affecting my day
  • I find it hard to see anything positive in life
  • I frequently have have extreme negative thoughts that are difficult to come out of

I feel stressed/ anxious 

  • I often feel stressed out
  • I want to learn ways to cope with stress better
  • I am frequently stressed 
  • I am feeling burned out
  • I feel consumed by anxious thoughts
  • I am regularly afraid that something bad might happen
I want to know myself

  • I want to explore my identity
  • I want to gain a  better understanding of my emotions, thoughts and behaviours
  • I often have reactions that I don’t understand
  • I have difficulty describing/ understanding what I am feelings
  • I feel lost and confused about who I am
  • My reaction and moods usually seem to be coming out of nowhere 
I feel alone 

  • I sometimes feel lonely
  • I feel alone even among close friends and family
  • I avoid social situations
  • I have stopped going out and meeting people
  • I stay in my room along most days 
I have experienced a traumatic event 

  • Certain aspects of the past come back from time to time
  • I have been through  major trauma and it sometimes effects me even now
  • I have flashbacks/ nightmares of the trauma
  • I have difficulty carrying out my daily activities because of the trauma
I have other concerns

  • I am confused about the way ahead in life
  • I want to support a loved one who may be suffering
  • I want to have an unbiased and confidential person to talk to
  • I have stress due to WFH/WFO
  • I have COVID 19 stress
  • I feel that I should be doing more with my life
  • I feel that I have repeated pattern in life that I want to break
  • I have physical symptoms that may be stemming from emotional concerns
  • I have not been taking care of myself
  • I have been going through major life transitions
  • My physical health taken a toll
  • I am feeling pressured by my own or others expectations
  • I never feel like I’m doing enough
  • I need parenting support to help and support my child
  • I have tried many things on my own but they don’t seem to work
  • I feel stuck
  • I feel numb
  • I think I have symptoms of a mental disorder
  • I feel exhausted, tired or fatigued all the time without a proper reason
  • I don’t care anymore
  • I don’t remember the last time I was happy

If you are still in doubt and want a consultation, feel free to book it here. You can also call us, whatsapp us or email us

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