In the world, the number of patients with various mental disorders is measured hundreds of millions. Every fifth adult has ever felt at least once what it is like to live when your own psyche fails.
The absence of mental illness is merely one aspect of mental health. Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person realizes their abilities, deal positively with life's inevitable stresses, engage in fulfilling activities, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
World health organization
Many find it difficult to understand why a psychotherapist is needed. Normal people have friends, you need to talk to them heart to heart, and then gather your strength - and all the problems will pass. And all this psychotherapy is a way of siphoning off money; before, this was not, and there were no depressions either.
One cannot but agree with the fact that previously they somehow managed without psychotherapists. But there is a person, who has a problem, and his desire is not to continue living "somehow, as before," he wants to live well now. A justified desire that psychotherapy can help to realize.
Read also: 30 Symptoms Of An Eating Disorder
Who is a psychotherapist?
A quick reference so as not to confuse who is considered a psychotherapist and who is not.
A psychologist is a person with higher specialized education; the diploma says “psychologist.” As a result of extensive education and experience in the field, a "clinical psychologist." The other labels, such as "gestalt psychologist" or "art therapist," simply refer to the techniques he employs. The psychologist helps to find a way out of difficult situations, to work out the problems. But he does not treat mental disorders and diseases, he consults healthy people.
A psychiatrist is a person with higher medical education, a specialist in the field of psychiatry. He treats those who suffer from serious mental illness, usually in a hospital, mainly with pills and procedures.
A psychotherapist is a psychiatrist who has received additional training. He can prescribe drugs, advise and treat with various psychotherapy methods.
A psychotherapist plays a role in both the rehabilitation of patients with significant illnesses and in the treatment of disorders that, in one way or another, impede daily functioning, working, building relationships, and engaging in creativity. Overall, psychotherapy helps people live better lives.
When is it time to make an appointment?
Mental disorders rarely appear out of the blue and tend to get worse over time. The following should alert
- The character has changed. A person becomes withdrawn, loses interest in business, does not communicate with previously important people and.
- Faith in oneself leaves, and so much so that one does not even want to start something because he is sure of failure.
- Fatigue is constantly felt; I want to either sleep or do nothing.
- The reluctance to move is so strong that even simple actions (taking a shower, throwing out the trash) turn into a daily task.
- Incomprehensible sensations appear in the body. Not pain, but just something completely indescribable or extraordinary.
- The mood changes quickly for no apparent reason, from violent joy to complete despondency.
- There are unexpected emotional reactions; tears when watching a comedy, despondency in response to "Hello, how are you?"
- Aggression and irritability are often present.
- Sleep is disturbed: insomnia or constant drowsiness comes.
- Panic attacks roll in.
- Eating behavior changes: systematic overeating or refusal to eat is noticeable.
- Difficulty concentrating, studying, doing business.
- Obsessive, repetitive actions and habits have appeared or have become more frequent.
- I want to hurt myself (or it is noticeable that a person injures himself: there are minor burns, scratches, cuts on the body).
- Suicidal thoughts appear.
These are not all indicative symptoms of a problem with the functioning of the mind.
The main criterion: if something interferes with your life and reminds of yourself every day, go to the doctor.
If you notice any symptoms in a loved one or friend, offer help. Do not scold the person, and do not laugh at him, do not force him to be treated. Say what worries you and ask how you can help. Find helplines or specialist addresses so that a person can contact them.
When you don't need to sign up
If you're in a bad mood because of the nasty weather, if you get a bad grade, get fired, or fight with your loved one, you don't need a therapist. This is all decided by a few days of rest, the very conversation with loved ones and a cup of hot chocolate or watching a football match.
If you have experienced severe stress, grief won't help resolve a conflict that has been raging on for a long time, and you truly need to sort out your emotions to understand what to do next, you should see a psychologist.
However, if you are afraid that all these situations will badly affect your life and decide to see a psychotherapist, it will not get worse. The doctor will help himself refer you to the same psychologist (or, if necessary, a psychiatrist, if it turns out that your illness is more serious than expected).
Also read: 5 Foods To Lift Your Mood And Fight Depression
What to do before going to a psychotherapist
Many of the symptoms that signal mental disorders are not always due to mental disruptions. General weakness, persistent exhaustion, agitation, sleeplessness, and depression can appear with common illnesses that have nothing to do with mental health. As a result, before seeing a psychotherapist, you must make sure that you are physically healthy.
No one bothers to simultaneously visit a psychotherapist and investigate the physical condition.
How to assess your health in the absence of pain, but in general, something is wrong.
- Contact a therapist and pass basic tests.
- Pass the required examinations.
- If you have a chronic illness, go to an appointment with a specialized specialist and check for an exacerbation.
- Visit an endocrinologist. Many symptoms of mental illness are associated with endocrine disruption.
But don't get carried away. Many sufferers spend years searching for the cause of sudden attacks of raging heartbeats or suffering from insomnia before admitting that the psyche is to blame.
Adapted and translated by The Cop Cart Staff
Sources: Life hacker
