Why We Need Professional Counseling

The world we live in today comes with a lot of pressure from all aspects of life; it could be work, family, health, the environment, politics and even problems from around the world. Whether you admit it or not, we often succumb to these pressures and wish that there was someone who could shoulder the burden for us. The best among us have to qualms sharing their problems with friends, family or even strangers. Unfortunately, there is another category of people who would rather take their problems to the grave than give an inkling to their suffering. This article may help change your mind.

Professional counseling

Even the boldest people in the society are often quick to dismiss the notion of seeking professional help to deal with certain matters. The idea of sitting in a counselor’s office going through the chapters of your life seems like a strange notion, and some people will even call it cowardly. They prefer to drown out their sorrows in a bottle of their favorite liquor and dance the night away hoping that their worries will find another victim. Well, victim or not, we all need to let off steam at some point in our lives. While some of us need it need more than others, there is no victim in the counseling room, only a winner determined to stay sane. So, what type of problems can counselors solve?

Common problems solved by counselors

Professional counselors do more than getting into your business; they listen with the intent to unearth the source of your issues in a bid to help YOU, deal with your issues better. After a round of counseling sessions, the patient signs off equipped with tools to cope with the particular issues. The most common problems that call for professional help are as follows:

1. Drug addiction and alcoholism

Many additions that plague today’s society ranging from television, the internet, gambling, food additions, etc. However, alcohol and drug dependency is top of the list of addictions that many citizens grapple with from day to day. Alcohol addiction can stem from childhood problems, the pressures at work, bad relationships with family or spouses, significant losses, etc. Whatever the source of the dependency, alcohol and drug addictions have ruined lives and shattered families for generations. If you need a chemical substance to cope with everyday responsibilities, seek professional help before you begin a downward spiral that leads to bigger problems such as failing health and even death. You may ask, why do people get addicted or hooked? The lucky among us can enjoy a sundowner every day or drinking binges while on vacation and still, resume our normal lives. Count your lucky stars because not everyone can manage this. A therapist with experience in this field will be the first to admit that treating alcoholism is an arduous journey that cannot guarantee results. It is common for patients to get ‘cured’ only to fall right back after a couple of months or years. The rule to surviving alcoholism is taking it one day at a time and staying away from triggers.

2. Stress and depression

Mental disorders are a common problem in society, but we tend to downplay them to avoid opening the proverbial Pandora’s box. We face everyday stressors such as work, family, business, endless bills, etc. While a little bit of stress is essential to keep up on our toes, too much of it can easily progress to something bigger. Mental health is a vital part of our general well-being, and it is for this reason why professional counselors will recommend distressing now and then. Take a few moments from your day to appreciate yourself and the amazing things you are trying to accomplish. This little break will not only relieve stress but also boost your enthusiasm to tackle tasks that lay ahead. Most people often interchange the term stress and depression. While the two may stem from similar issues, they are completely different animals. Depression is much more advanced and requires professional counseling to manage. Find the best therapist for you and stick to the program.

3. Relationship problems

This type of problem is all so familiar to many of us who have gone through bad relationships with lovers, siblings, parents, coworkers, neighbors and even the mailman! As professional counselors will tell you, our tendency to fall into a series of poor relationships can stem from our childhood. Your therapist will ask “What happened to you as a child?” If you are the recipient of this question, you may be tempted to think that the doctor is fishing for material to fill up the hour for billing purposes. Who can blame you? Your counselor is right to ask this question because our childhood has a lot do to do with how we relate to people in our adult life.

Conclusion

If you have suffered a trauma and cannot stop pondering about it, make an appointment with a therapist at the earliest opportunity. Seek a therapist outside your home area if this makes you more comfortable.

The post Why We Need Professional Counseling appeared first on Lifehack.