Do I Need Therapy?

If you’re stuck in a rut, feeling down, filled with anxiety, or struggling with a major life change, you may be wondering how long these feelings will last. Sometimes a weekend of self-care, dinner with supportive friends, or self-help techniques such as journaling and practicing mindfulness can help get you back on track. However, while discomfort may be temporary, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders can linger or become debilitating. Feeling overwhelmed or being unable to take actionable steps toward your goals can mean it’s time to find a therapist near you who specializes in your area of concern and who embodies the kind of approach that will make you feel comfortable sharing your story. 

If you have any of these symptoms lasting longer than two weeks, it may be time to consider therapy, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):

• Feeling a little down
• Feeling down, but still able to go to work or school
• Some trouble sleeping
• Feeling down, but still able to take care of yourself or others

Feeling Sad vs Feeling Nothing

Some people who are depressed are consumed with a deep, lasting sadness, but depression may also manifest as the absence of feeling, an inability to feel, or a feeling of purposelessness that lingers for years.

Apathy is a lack of interest, energy, or emotional involvement. It can happen gradually or suddenly, emotionally or behaviorally, and its corresponding utter lack of motivation makes it difficult to respond to well-intentioned advice or to make positive choices that might boost mood. 

Anhedonia is an inability to experience positive emotions, such as happiness or pleasure. It can affect social activities, including actively avoiding other people, or physical aspects, where food, touch, and sex feel meaningless or bland. Both can be symptoms of physical or mental health issues, including depression, and both can typically be treated with therapy, medications, mindfulness, lifestyle changes, or a combination of modalities designed to help re-introduce participating and enjoying hobbies and relationship engagement.

Dysthymia, or persistent depressive disorder, is a low-mood form of depression that lasts for 2 years or more, causing feelings of emptiness and a sense that life is meaningless. Dysthymia symptoms include low self-esteem, low energy, low appetite, a gradual lack of interest in activities, and disruptions in sleep and the ability to concentrate. “People with dysthymia are more likely to ignore their symptoms for the simple reason that symptoms are more tolerable than those of major depression,” explains Lifeologie founder Melanie Wells, LPC-S, LMFT-S, a clinical fellow of the American Counseling Association and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. “If you have any of these symptoms, seek help now! Help can HELP!” 

You don’t have to have a tragic backstory to want to get better. These are just a few of the many reasons people seek help with their mental health. Everyone struggles at times, but there is no reward for suffering alone or any shame in asking for help. Take the time to research therapists near you or who offer telehealth if that’s a more comfortable option.

If you’re ready to start looking for someone who can help you get unstuck from the place you’re in, meet our team of mental health specialists by clicking here. You can also search by specialty and location on our website or find our team on Psychology Today!

Bonus points: 

Get ready for your first appointment by reading 4 Things Your Therapist Needs From You by Lifeologie Counseling Raleigh’s Richard Aab, LCMHCA. 

Find out more about how talk therapy works in How Does Healing Begin? by Lifeologie Counseling Frisco’s Elliot Lee, LPC-A.