Therapy really needs to stop being taboo

Tweet

As I mentioned in a previous post I see a therapist. This is something I hid for a very long time. It's not easy to admit you see a therapist in this day and age. Mental illness is sort of taboo. We don't like talking about it and it is very stigmatized. If you see a therapist you are automatically labeled as crazy. I am so tired of those labels. I still don't mention it to most people I know in person because of the looks I get and that's sad. Maybe one day I'll be able to speak about it under my actual name but I'm not there yet. Until we start speaking about mental health and taking it more seriously there are going to be a lot of people who refuse to see someone because they don't want to be labeled as crazy. Mental health is a very real issue and by treating it as something that needs to be hidden is hurting those who need it most. It's hard to reach out and I remember how hard that first step was for me. I remember how terrified I was to see someone and even when I first saw someone I had a really difficult opening up. I didn't know how to physically talk about what was going on in my head. I don't currently take any medications because I don't want to go through the process of getting the right dosage. I instead use self coping mechanisms which my therapist was surprised how many I already used without even being taught them but gave me a few more. I have anxiety and at times it can be almost paralyzing. I also have depression but not as severe as some people and I've never had suicidal thoughts well not exactly. I went through a time where I wanted to die but wasn't willing to kill myself. It was difficult. My anxiety sometimes runs me and then I have good days where I feel like I can do anything but those are usually short lived. No one should have to feel ashamed because they need therapy. No one should feel ashamed because they have a mental illness and yet we do. It's not something I can help. I have a great sense of humor because I've always been able to laugh at my problems. One of the fun things about waiting in the waiting room to see my therapist is looking around at everyone else there and trying to figure out why they are there and I'm pretty sure they do the same. I don't so much as judge as much as just try to play a game with myself to pass the time. I remember someone there talking to themselves and threatening to murder someone and moving down away from them. I mean there are people who obviously need to be there more than me and I couldn't be more grateful they were there. I've seen some people there who honestly I'm not sure should be allowed to be there without some sort of guard or something because they honestly did scare me a little. I don't judge them or begrudge them but when you hear someone talking about murdering someone or see someone punching themselves or something nearby it makes you a bit paranoid. All things that have happened when I was there. Therapy for me is about having someone to talk to and having them guide me. My last therapist really got to the root of the problem but just knowing why doesn't exactly make it any easier. Sitting and talking to someone helps believe it or not. I always offer up an ear to anyone who really needs it because I don't mind hearing others problems. I'm not a therapist but sometimes just talking helps. We all have problems and I am willing to bet almost anyone could benefit from seeing a therapist for one reason or another. It's not just for the mentally unhinged but for those who just need to talk to someone and need to be heard by someone who isn't judging them.