Many individuals seek therapy for various reasons, such as facing a difficult life event, dealing with trauma, experiencing strong emotions, relationship issues, or poor mental health. Regardless of the trigger, deciding if or when therapy is the right choice can be tough. If you’re reading this, it might be the sign that now is the right time. If you’re considering therapy, something is likely troubling you, and you want assistance. Take this as encouragement to reach out. If you’re still uncertain, continue reading.
Our thoughts can sometimes work against us, but therapy can assist in understanding why you think, feel, or behave in certain ways, and help you develop healthier patterns. This includes: identifying and overcoming internal barriers, challenging limiting thoughts and beliefs, enhancing mental health, managing mental illness, and creating lasting positive changes in your thoughts and behaviors, which can improve all aspects of your life. No two people in their 20s or 30s experience the same life. You might be saving for a home or struggling to afford rent, navigating dating apps, or figuring out childcare. Whatever your current challenges, our Quarter Life series offers articles to share with friends or simply remind you that you’re not alone.
Explore more from Quarter Life: recognizing when it’s time to stop therapy, preparing for a new leadership role, or talking about climate change with older family members. Everyone encounters negative emotions in tough times—like sadness after a breakup or anxiety before a major event. But when do these emotions become a concern? That’s when poor mental health comes into play. Mental health and mental illness are related yet distinct concepts. Mental health involves your internal ability to manage life’s challenges. You have good mental health if you find joy in life, feel connected to others, handle stress well, and maintain a sense of purpose, identity, and strong relationships. Poor mental health can make adapting to changes like a breakup, moving, loss, or parenthood difficult.
Therapy can bolster your mental health, build resilience, and help maintain well-being. Mental illness pertains to distressing disruptions in thoughts, emotions, and perceptions that hinder daily life. There are various types of mental illness, each involving distinct thoughts, emotions, and actions. Signs of mental illness may include: hopelessness—feeling stuck, unmotivated, or helpless; apathy—loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities; anger—frequent or disproportionate feelings of rage or resentment; stress—feeling overwhelmed or unable to relax; guilt—continuously feeling ashamed, undeserving, or responsible for bad outcomes; anxiety—constant worry or intrusive thoughts; exhaustion—experiencing excessive sleep, difficulty getting out of bed, or low energy; insomnia—trouble falling or staying asleep.
Both poor mental health and mental illness provide valid reasons to pursue therapy. Ask yourself: Am I struggling to cope with life’s challenges? If the answer is yes, therapy might be beneficial. Individuals often manage the aforementioned emotions in varying ways. Some gain or lose significant weight, while others engage in unhealthy behaviors such as toxic relationships, risky activities, forming damaging habits, or procrastination. Some isolate themselves from friends and family or constantly ruminate on negative experiences. If left untreated, mental illness typically worsens and can significantly impact life, potentially leading to unemployment, broken relationships, poor physical health, substance abuse, homelessness, imprisonment, or even suicide.
Ask yourself: Is mental illness hindering my functioning or well-being? If the answer is yes, consider therapy. Many delay therapy, believing their issues aren’t severe enough, but you don’t need a major reason to begin therapy. Some people attend therapy to better understand themselves, enhance skills, relationships, or productivity. Others seek assistance in achieving goals or because they’re unhappy without clear reasons. These are all valid reasons to start therapy, even if they don’t seem like traditional “problems.” You can explore therapy simply to learn more about yourself or your life. Therapy is a process. Its effectiveness depends on various factors, including time, effort, and finding the right therapist. There is no quick fix for mental health challenges; symptoms may take weeks, months, or even years to improve.
This process can be frustrating or discouraging, but therapeutic success requires time and commitment. Sometimes, individuals attend therapy with skepticism or resistance, which makes it less effective. To benefit from therapy, you must be willing to invest in it. Since therapy is a vulnerable process, building trust and rapport with your therapist is vital. Therapists have different specializations and methodologies, so finding one that suits you is critical. Now might not be the ideal time for you to start therapy for various reasons: financial constraints, other priorities, or fear of revisiting trauma.
That’s understandable. Therapy can be costly and challenging, but ultimately rewarding. If now isn’t the right time, it doesn’t mean there won’t be a better time later. If you decide not to start therapy, that’s okay, but reflecting on why you’re hesitant can be beneficial. If you’re worried about others’ opinions, remember that people are often more compassionate than expected, and there’s nothing wrong with seeking to improve your health or happiness. If you’re facing mental health challenges, you’re not alone. Mental health issues are common, and seeking therapy doesn’t imply there’s something wrong with you. Worldwide, mental illness affects 970 million people and is the leading cause of disability. One in five adults and over one in 10 children and teens experience mental illness. Roughly 15 percent of Canadians utilize mental health services annually.