I Need Help: The Benefits of Speaking to a Psychologist

Those days when you feel nothing but sadness or when dark thoughts start creeping into your mind is a moment, for me personally, when I feel I need to get help or speak to someone. When you're feeling at your worst with your mental health, it takes serious guts to admit to yourself that you need to speak to someone as professional like a psychologist, counsellor or therapist.



Speaking from personal experience, there was a feeling of failure and even embarrassment when I realised that I couldn't work my way through my personal issues myself. Everything felt overwhelmingly scary and I just couldn't cope. I kept saying to myself - "How can I possibly speak to a total stranger about my problems when I can't even admit them to myself or help myself overcome them?!" It does sound bad, I know.



However, please believe me, the benefits of going to see a professional outweigh the non-benefits (I can't think of a word for the opposite of benefits).



Going to speak to someone who is unbiased can be much better than speaking to a family member or close friend, you'll feel you can open up much more speaking to someone who is non-judgemental and unbiased. A loved one can sometimes only tell you what they think you want to hear. It's not overly helpful to yourself and your mental health, it's just like papering over the cracks.



Talking to a professional means you can completely get out there whatever is on your mind. The feeling afterwards is just unreal.



From giving you some self help guidance and mindfulness exercises to do at home, you can gain so much for your mental health by speaking to a professional. They're a great way to help you get back to your best self.



You'll be surprised how effectively you can work out your issues yourself, you think that its the counsellor that's doing it for you, but the only person who can help you is YOU.



After your first session of speaking to someone, you feel (excuse the cliché) a great weight has been lifted off your shoulders. A sense of relief takes over you and you no longer feel the world is against you. That fighting strength suddenly makes a reappearance and you feel like you can conquer the world once again.



Another thing to mention as well is that you don't have to have a deeply personal problem to speak to a counsellor or therapist, it could be that you just want to talk, it's surprising how liberating and freeing it feels when you get stuff off your chest. At the end of the day, they're there to listen.



I hope this will help someone who is feeling scared, alone and anxious about making that first step to go and speak to someone in a psychologist's capacity.



I am very fortunate that at my clinic down the hospital, there is a CF psychologist at the end of the phone if I need to speak to her or make an appointment. It's so relieving to know that she is at there when I need her. I won't lie, I've seen her a few times in the last few years, I'm not saying I'm going or are mental, but sometimes my life just overwhelms me and I need help to get out of the black hole I sometimes find myself in.



If you feel you need to speak to someone, go to the NHS website through this link -
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/free-therapy-or-counselling/
There you can find your local psychological therapy services in your area. You don't necessarily need a referral from your GP - you can refer yourself. But if you would prefer to speak to your GP, then go and speak to them so they can refer you. The above link will explain how to refer yourself to your local therapy session and what type of psychological therapies are on offer. I make it sound like something you can get at your local Tesco.



If you are struggling to find anything in your surrounding area, these charities are absolutely incredible in helping -



Mind - https://www.mind.org.uk/ (for mental health)
Cruse - https://www.cruse.org.uk/ (for bereavement care)
Relate - https://www.relate.org.uk/ (for relationship counselling)
Samaritans - 116 123 (free phone number)
Anxiety UK - www.anxietyuk.org.uk - 03444 775 774 (helping those with anxiety)
CALM - 0800585858 (for men aged between 15-35)
YoungMinds - 08088025544 (for child and adolescent mental health)





Lucy
20 comments
  1. Knowing we need help and accepting that it is OK to seek it is a huge step for us all x

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  2. I love that you mentioned that you don't need to have a personal issue to seek help and can simply just want to talk. It's great to have someone to talk to who won't be biased x

    https://www.femaleoriginal.com

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    1. Absolutely Faye! It's good to talk to someone who is not just going to say what you want to hear rather than what you need to hear x

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  3. I've actually spoke to a therapist before and at that time in my life that help and guidance was invaluable to me! Thanks for sharing lovely x

    Kayleigh Zara ❄️✨ www.kayleighzaraa.com

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    1. I’m so happy to hear that speaking to a therapist helped you so much Kayleigh! x

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  4. This was a really great post! I definitely get how people can feel embarrassed on scared about going to speak to someone but I’ve heard from so many people who have spoke to therapists and they say that it’s really helped them through! X

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    1. Yeah I think there is a kind of stigma attached to going to see a therapist, it doesn’t mean you’re crazy, it just means you need a little helping hand getting through a tough time in your life! x

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  5. This is a great post. It's very brave to know that you can't fix things alone and reach out! And that's totally fine! It's great that your CF clinic has someone that you can talk to if/when you need it x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. Thank you Sophie, it's always good to know that you can talk to someone if you need to x

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  6. I've spoken to a number of therapists before and it really does you the world of good. While it's nice to talk to your friends/family, I think talking to a professional has the edge because they can help you focus on your goals and work towards your recovery. Some great advice here, thanks for sharing :) x

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    1. You're right Amy, therapists can help you want to reach your goals x

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  7. Thanks for this! I was recently diagnosed with anxiety and depression and, while the medication helps somewhat, I think it might help to talk to someone too.

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    1. I hope you are doing ok lovely, I'm glad the medication is helping you

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  8. I always find I feel so much better after having a therapy session. It's so nice to be able to get your feelings off of your chest in a non-judgemental and neutral environment. I'd recommend it to anyone working through something difficult!
    Alice Xx

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    1. It's such a relieving feeling when you speak to someone who is neutral and can help you through your issues and help you reach your goals xx

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  9. I adored this, such an honest and frank post, and more people need to talk about things like this! Thank you

    https://www.dxsired.co.uk

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  10. Talking can help so much to be honest and psychologists can be so helpful!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

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