Therapy changed my life
The biggest challenge around therapy is that mental health is non-existence in my family and culture, and it's sad to say that in the church as well. While I sincerely appreciate the prayers and love from those in my life, and I know that I am where I am because of it, it hasn't fully helped me cope with past and present traumas.
I believe that the church (referring to my home church) has been a form of escape in my life, but it doesn't necessarily know how to handle my hurt and deep suffering. It's helped to the extent of offering a prayer. But even if they'd want to do more, it's out of their capacity. Believe it or not, we fight mental battles that cannot be resolved by positivity alone but with a person that's educated and equipped to help in this area.
Mental health should be discussed more in our churches because I know many believers like me that deeply love God but sadly battle with depression or anxiety. If this is you, know that God loves you the same, and you're not weak for your emotions. You are a human who doesn't know everything all the time, and that's okay. You don't make God any less God because of this. I'm a firm believer in Jesus, and his words and I'm pro-therapy, and I know that this is a resource that I just can't take for granted. If we heal now, the next generation won't have to.
I lived many years in survival mode, and I came to terms with myself; maybe, just maybe, therapy will help me heal. I did some research and found out what was important for me when it came to finding a therapist. I knew I wanted to talk to someone with a similar background to mine, and that was faith-based, and I kicked off from there.
What is a therapist?
Therapists are licensed and trained professionals who provide mental health treatment and rehabilitators to individuals - a therapist's areas of expertise include couple's therapy, children's therapy, abuse survivors and more.
Why working with a therapist is far more effective than venting to a loved one?
Therapists focus on your behaviour and addressing your emotions, and they then provide professional support and resources to help your brain relearn new and healthier patterns. A big part of therapy focuses on your own personal goals and working towards achieving them.
Therapy can and is going to be hard work because you're not only venting about your life, but you're sharing experiences that might be uncomfortable for you to share. However, the hard work and effort it's not in vain because you have a trained professional guiding you through healing and overcoming past traumas.
My personal experience with therapy
After I started seeing my therapist from the very first session, my life completely changed. I'm 27 years, and for the first time in my life, I'm finding myself, and I'm getting to know who I am and why I am the way that I am. I can't fully express what it means to me to have a safe space with someone where I'm heard and where all of my brokenness is brought up, but I'm not condemned for it. This is something I never had growing up.
I've learned to find the resources in my life that will help me cope with things. I've also learned to study my behaviours when alone, and especially with others and how to regulate such. If something used to make me anxious, I know how to identify where that anxiety is coming from and how to handle that feeling so that I'm not anxious. I still have a long way to go, but it's been the best decision I ever made.
My sessions are never the same, and neither are the sessions' outcomes. Sometimes they're super heavy and charged with emotions, but even so, it's such a relief because some things feel like I've been carrying them my whole life, and I can drop them, and it's freeing. Other times, it can be just about my week or something that happened recently. My therapist also has a great sense of humor, and checks all the boxes of what I needed in a therapist.