We all change all the time. Change is inevitable, as we grow older and collect more experience, we change without even realizing it. While not all change is good, the hope is that therapy bring positive change in our lives. One question that often arises when people are exploring personal growth is, When do I know it’s time to change something within me? The simplest answer is that healing becomes necessary when the consequences of not addressing an issue outweigh any temporary rewards. This is a principle commonly found in addiction psychology, where people often continue harmful behaviors until the cost becomes too high to ignore.
Personally, I try to stay mindful of my emotional wounds, but I don’t always have the time or energy to address them fully. There are certain situations, however, that signal to me it’s time to seek help from a therapist. Specifically, I look for therapy when I encounter a painful situation that:
- Preoccupies my mind and distracts me from other areas of life,
- Diminishes my ability to enjoy things I would usually find pleasure in,
- Prompts avoidance behaviors, such as numbing myself with alcohol, excessive phone use, marijuana, shopping, seeking attention, or over-involvement in activities, or
- Negatively impacts those around me, especially when I recognize the issue is about me, not them.
Most of the time, we can change or adapt, without any support from a therapist. Humans are adaptable. We could incorporate new situations or experiences and make changes subconsciously; however, some changes are harder. Some behaviour that worked previously, for instance with your family, does not work with our friends or colleagues. This also happens with feelings. Sometimes, we get tired of feeling sad or angry all the time, and we want more out of life. This is a good indication that it is time your heart, mind and body want a change, and this change sometimes needs the support or encouragement of a therapist.
