We all struggle from time to time with our emotional, social or psychological well-being – our mental health. In fact, by the age of 40, a staggering 1 in 2 Canadians will have had a mental health issue. Even more concerning is that only about 40% of those who do will have sought treatment. Read on to learn more and to find out if anxiety therapy is right for you.

Mental health care is still health care. Just because your struggle is not visible does not mean that it is not real. It is also important to remember that preventative care is just as important as treatment. Therapy can help you maintain good mental health so you are better equipped to handle the challenges in life that may otherwise throw you off course. You do not need to wait for a diagnosis in order to receive help for issues that are affecting your mental health.

How can you maintain positive mental health on your own?

The following is a list of things that you can do to take your mental health into your own hands:

  • Being physically active – moving your body daily and getting out into nature can be a (literal) breath of fresh air for your mind.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet – we now know a lot more about the “brain-gut connection” and the positive effect that eating the right foods can have on your mental health.
  • Stay positive – no, this does not mean constantly skipping around and only seeing everything as unicorns and rainbows. It simply means appreciating the good times and having hope in tough times, knowing that you have the strength to get through them.
  • Being social/connecting with others – having a good social support system allows you to know that your people have your back, and you are supported when you need it.
  • Laugh! – we all know the saying that “laughter is the best medicine”, but it really is true. Science has shown that laughing daily can help boost your immune system, strengthen social connections, help combat the negative effects of stress, and can even reduce pain!

So, we know that taking care of our mental health is important, but how do you know when your own efforts might need a bit of a boost in the form of counselling?

How do you know if anxiety therapy is right for you? If you experience any of the following, you could benefit from the help of a counsellor or therapist:

  • Anxious or intrusive thoughts – while occasional worry is normal, if these thoughts are taking up a significant part of your day or is causing physical symptoms, you could benefit from therapy.
  • Overwhelm – feeling like you have too much going on or too many things to deal with is a sign that stress is becoming a problem. You may be restless and unable to focus. You may even find that you have difficulty breathing. Addressing this early can help avoid more serious symptoms later.
  • Apathy – a loss of interest in your daily activities, social connections, or even life, in general, can be signs of depression or anxiety.
  • Fatigue – constantly feeling tired is a symptom that often goes with many mental health issues. It can disrupt your life by causing you to sleep too much or by making it hard to get out of bed each day.
  • Experiencing anger or resentment disproportionately – anger is a normal feeling but experiencing anger or resentment often for reasons that are not always apparent or feeling extreme anger in situations that don’t warrant it are reasons to explore it further.
  • Feeling hopeless – feeling like you are losing motivation or hope is often a sign of a mental health issue. We can all experience this occasionally, especially during low points in our lives, but it can be harmful if it persists for long periods of time without being addressed.
  • Social withdrawal – If you are feeling distressed or even fearful when socializing with others, therapy can help you better understand where these feelings are coming from and how to deal with them.

Anxiety can disrupt your life and make you feel like you have lost control of your feelings, your thoughts, and even your body. Thankfully, anxiety is treatable and the coping skills that you will learn in the process will last you a lifetime. If you think that you would benefit from anxiety therapy or would like to learn more, contact me for your free consultation.