Why Is Therapy Important?

One in five Americans suffers from a mental illness and one in 25 Americans suffers from a serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or recurrent major depression. Despite the numbers, less than 60 percent of people with a mental illness don’t receive treatment for their condition, and nearly half of children ages 8 through 13 don’t either, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Excerpt from https://www.lehighcenter.com/the-importance-of-seeking-mental-health-treatment/

These are only numbers from America but very similar situations occur worldwide.

Why do we have high numbers of untreated mental illnesses in this world?

There are certainly a number of different reasons but some do stand out. Below some of the most common ones:

• Fear of being criticized - so people do not admit to mental illness

• Fear of stigma because of lack of information in our societies - so people do not seek treatment

• Lack of affordable professional support - so people go without

What kind of experiences have you had in this regard?

Why Seeking Treatment Is Important

While some mental health problems, such as mild depression or anxiety, can be relieved with support, self-help, and proper self care care, symptoms which persist and disrupt one’s daily life in a disturbing way need to be addressed.

Having to cope with a mental illness all alone, when it needs professional treatment can lead to:

• Decrease of mental and physical health resulting in a decrease of the quality of life

• Feelings of helplessness and consequently loss of hope

• Severe Depression

In a study carried out in 2019 Oleguer Plana-Ripoll and his colleagues from Aarhus University in Denmark, analyzed records from close to six million Danes. They found that being affected with one mental disorder increased the risk of developing another.

Do teens really need therapy and what about seniors in our societies? Isn’t therapy only for the working class?

Sadly there are misconceptions in our societies about who should get treatment (therapy is only for the working class, not so much for teens or seniors), what it is about and that it is only for treating disorders and not for growth, just to mention a few.

How do you feel is the best way to treat the challenges you face?

Seniors

One study found that as many as 1 in 10 people older than 60 may suffer a bout of major depression, but as many as 90 percent do not get proper treatment. Those who receive any treatment at all are usually prescribed antidepressant medication by their primary care provider, not by a psychiatrist. Talk therapy is rarely in the conversation. Older adults commonly experience depression and anxiety, yet are under-represented in psychological treatment services.

It's important to recognize and treat mental disorders in older adults. These disorders don't cause only mental suffering, they can also make it harder to manage other health problems. This is especially true if those health problems are chronic.

Having your mental health treated can offer many benefits , it can also improve your productivity, allowing you to focus on daily tasks and give you the motivation to get things done in a timely manner. It helps improve relationships with self and others by learning the required coping tools. At any stage in our lives it is important that we understand our thoughts and feelings. A good state of mind is as essential as being physically fit.

Therapy is for anyone who wants to improve their mental health with the support of a professional.

If you are looking for online therapy at 7cups, there is a paid option. More info here https://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/?ob=1

One of the reasons people need to tell their story to someone is revealed in the quote by Maya Angelou "There is no greater agony, than bearing an untold story inside of you"

Teens

Sometimes a teen’s distress might rise to a level where it's important to seek professional help. Mood disorders often start during the teen years. And if left untreated, depression can last into adulthood. It can help to prevent minor issues from turning into major problems, below just some of them:

• Problems at school due to bullying

• Problems at home

• Sexual identity issues

• Drug use

• Obesity

Excerpts form https://www.verywellmind.com/top-reasons-teens-go-to-therapy-2609138

When you are or were a teen, what have been some of the issues you faced?

You don't have to struggle in silence, you can reach out for help.