It's Okay to Ask for Help

When people think of therapists, their minds often go to a stalwart person who just sits there listening while you talk your heart out. But this classic image isn't exactly accurate. A good therapist will be there to communicate with you and to provide you with the tools you need to help start getting over your depression. Here's what you should expect from a therapist.

Vent

The first and most wellunderstood thing that your therapist will do is be there for you to vent. Whether you want to talk about something that happened 20 years ago or just cry about something that went wrong with work yesterday, they're there to listen. Feel free to open up and share your darkest secrets; without intimate knowledge of how your mind works and how you're feeling, it'll be harder for your therapist to help you. Keep in mind that they're bound to keep your secrets, so you don't have to worry about anything you say being broadcast to the world.

Resources

Mmany people don't know what else therapists do. Among these is giving you the resources you need to start feeling better.

For example, your therapist will teach you certain exercises and tools that will help you to get past the worst days. In one example, if you struggle with anxiety, your therapist can teach you some relaxation techniques that will help to calm you down during an anxiety attack. Hate that nagging, negative voice that's always hard on you no matter what? Your therapist will teach you how to hush that voice and to no longer believe it as much as you used to.

Insight

Another thing your therapist will do is provide you with insight. If you've ever had a friend come to you for advice, you already know how an outside perspective can potentially open up someone's eyes to what they're going through and how to get past it. It's the same thing with therapists. They may be able to help you by explaining why you're feeling a certain way or by linking a fear, anxiety, or depressive trigger with something that happened in your past. By finding these connections, you can come to the realization that they're tied together and start to see your present as just that - your present, not an extension of the trauma in your past.

Therapists are there to help and do an excellent job of doing it. If you're tired of struggling with depression, then you need to reach out for help. Don't be afraid; it's what they're there for.

To learn more, contact a resource like Donald McEachran, PHD.