Thanks to many influential celebrities like Adelle, Emma Stone, Dwyane Johnson, Lady Gaga and many more, mental health is getting the attention it deserves. These famous and powerful people have shone the light on the taboo of mental health by sharing their stories and struggles.
Depression, bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, Panic attacks, OCD and ADHD, and many other mental health issues, don’t differentiate between rich or poor, educated or uneducated, and famous or unknown. There are no exceptions to this aspect of our lives. What makes mental health treatment unique and challenging to navigate, is the variability in the training on mental health practitioners. This is why it is absolutely imperative that you to choose your physician or therapist carefully.
Appropriate therapy with or without medication is an important part of treatment. It is important that you understand your diagnosis, treatment and be able to ask questions about the treatment options, without feeling rushed and hurried.
If you decide to pursue therapy, it is important to understand that not all therapy is created equal and therapy is more than just a conversation once or twice a week with your therapist. Therapy creates a frame of treatment between you and your therapist/psychiatrist, where your life experiences are reenacted between you and your therapist/psychiatrist.
This is a safe place that allows you to experience your feelings and explore your mind. The goal of therapy isn’t to change your essence as a human being but to develop a deeper and more meaningful understanding of your behaviors, and how they affect your relationships. A seasoned therapist/psychiatrist will appropriately challenge patients when needed, gently pursue them to analyse their own thought processes and bear witness to their most vulnerable moments. He/she can help patients tolerate their most difficult and painful feelings. Through appropriately and competently conducted therapy, patients can become aware of their emotional blind spots, strengths and weaknesses.
When embarking on this journey don’t shy away from asking questions about your therapist’s/psychiatrist’s views and beliefs about therapy, and their philosophy about the treatment they provide. Asking the right questions can make all the difference in your mental health journey, so don’t underestimate the power of asking questions.
