While we make our way through our lives, there are inevitable high points and low points that hit us all and making sense of life’s great adventure can often be challenging. As guaranteed as the sun will rise each day, you can be sure when things are going well; life likely has a little hurdle, just waiting around the corner to trip you up.
Change is inevitable in life, but it often comes at the least expected times, and dealing with unanticipated problems can throw us off course. However, just the same way as you’d go and see a doctor if you broke a bone, often seeking professional help when your mind hits a block can be the best way to get yourself through the difficult times.
Changing attitudes to therapy
Thankfully we now live in a world that is more aware than ever of the psychological issues we can all face in life. Where once seeing a therapist was considered just for the crazy, in recent years, there’s been a growing acceptance and awareness that, very often, the best course of action for mental difficulties is to engage with a trained therapist. While we all like to think we can weather any storm, frequently taking a course of therapeutic mentoring to help during a family crisis is the best way to identify, address and resolve underlying issues. There are even consultations available virtually like this one from an online alcohol treatment which has effective treatment programs.
As the old saying goes, “A problem shared is a problem halved,” and even just the act of speaking with friends and family can help lift a weight from your shoulders. However, frequently, just talking isn’t enough to get to the root of the things that are troubling you, and you may find it’s best to consult with a therapist who can give professional advice and help you find answers to your problems.
The troubling gender divide when it comes to suicide
Male suicide has been a growing problem worldwide for many years – thought by most professionals to be largely attributable to the somewhat nonsensical notion held among many men that to look for help is in some way to admit weakness. The sad truth is that women are normally far better at discussing their feelings than men, which often leads to feelings of isolation among males trying to address problems independently.
While it’s true, attempted suicides have been growing among both sexes; men tend to be far more determined in their efforts than women. This idea is borne out because research suggests women are three times more likely to attempt suicide – while men are two to four times more likely to die by suicide.
Signs that you might benefit from seeking help
While there are most definitely no hard and fast rules that govern when you should seek professional help to help with your troubles, there are some tell-tale signs that might serve as an indicator. Unfortunately, when we’re low, often the hardest thing is to realize that we might need assistance to get through. Below are just a few of the more obvious and frequent warning signs.
Recurring feelings of sadness or anger: Life can be brutal sometimes and accepting wrongs or losses can often instill understandable feelings of sadness or anger. However, suffering these types of negative emotions on a long-term basis likely points to an inability to resolve issues. If you’re having problems with long-term sadness or anger, it’s likely a sign you haven’t accepted a problem in the past and may be suffering from depression.
Losing a loved one: The loss of someone dear is one of the hardest things to deal with in life (whether that be through bereavement or relational breakdown). Most people struggle with the loss of a significant other, so you might find you benefit from speaking to someone to help put things back in perspective.
Loss of interest in the things you used to enjoy: One of the most common signs of the onset of depression is a lack of lust for life – particularly for the things you once previously enjoyed.
Abuse of alcohol, drugs, food, or sex: Very often, the abuse of substances (or food/sex) can be the sign of something significant missing in your life and an attempt to over-compensate with a short-term rush.
Experiencing major trauma: Trauma can come in many forms – anything from physical or sexual abuse to finding a loved one dead or being in involved in an accident. If you’ve been involved in a serious, life-changing event, it will likely take you some time to come to terms with the aftermath.
Physical, mental, or emotional abuse: Any form of abuse that strips us of our inherent rights as humans or makes us feel unsafe or unworthy can have a long-lasting effect on your psyche. While physical abuse results in obvious outward bodily signs, the scars left by mental or emotional abuse are cut much deeper and harder to resolve.
