I’m Doing Therapy and So Should You

I have chosen to do therapy as a preventative measure to avoid potential mental issues that could arise from the stress, overwhelm and exhaustion that comes from having a baby during COVID, being locked in because of COVID for over two years, raising three young boys, being married, being a professional working mom, and dealing with some of the difficult cultural expectations I have experienced as an Eritrean-American.

I have made a cognizant effort to improve my coping skills and seek balance before issues arise, and I am so happy I did. I highly recommend therapy and wanted to go over some of the reasons why you may not be doing therapy but should.

Therapy Is Too Expensive/I Can’t Afford It

This is an understandable concern, but I respond by asking you how expensive would it be to deal with the consequences of ignoring what’s inside? More specifically, stress and burnout can lead to many mental as well as physically illnesses. Doing therapy before there is a problem can save you money, time and heartache later.

We do constant checkups for our bodies, and should do the same for our minds, since they both work together to ensure our health.

Nothing Is Wrong with Me

My response to this is that you are probably wrong or ignoring something. It may be an issue you haven’t dealt with or didn’t even realize existed. Oprah and Bruce D. Perry put it best in their book, What Happened to You? They explain that the book:

“offer[s] a groundbreaking and profound shift from asking ‘What’s wrong with you?’ to ‘What happened to you?’…It’s the subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma, and it’s one that allows us to understand our pasts in order to clear a path to our future—opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven, powerful way.”

Therapy helps delve into what happened to you to shape you into who you are today.

My Problems Will Go Away

Sweeping problems under the rug will not solve them, but facing your issues head on with a therapist will. Prolonged stress and insufficient coping skills have detrimental effects. Living your authentic life benefits yourself and society.

Fear

What will others think of me if they know I’m doing therapy

Therapy especially in the immigrant community can sometimes be frowned upon. In my own community, I have grown up thinking of therapy as something you do when there is a huge problem. Mental illness is also rampant in my community, but many of the conversations surrounding them are not. This needs to change.

Talking about and working through your emotions is a good thing, and it does not make you weak...it makes you human. Yeah, I said it, and I’ll say it again. Talking about and working through your emotions is a good thing, and it does not make you weak…it makes you human.

I’ll be Exposed

Some may also fear that therapy could invoke negative emotions (possibly a breakdown), a divorce or an unwanted diagnosis. These are all possibilities but not definitive. I challenge this question by asking what would happen without therapy? Do you truly believe that ignored emotions go away as discussed above?

It is important to focus more on the amazing outcomes therapy could lead to. Therapy can help you reach your truer self, pursue a career you have always wanted to pursue, come closer to God, give you a safe place to vent about daily stressors and cause breakthroughs that will change your life.

Therapy is a Waste of Time

You may also be thinking that therapy is a waste of a very precious commodity, your time. You may waste hours trying to find a therapist, only to attend a few sessions and see no difference. You may also not really like the therapist you hire. Lastly, you may feel that your therapist is not making a difference at all. Well, the sooner you start looking, the quicker you find your right fit, and once you do, I ensure you that therapy is far from a waste of your time. Therapy delves into your past in a way that will ensure a better future. Does that sound wasteful? So, start your search now.

Until you find a therapist, I think my one-one-one Cactus Fruit Mom coaching session is just what you need to start exposing deeper emotions. Writing Cactus Fruit helped me expose feelings I didn’t realize were there, and I want to help you do the same as I explain in my poem “God Gave Me Thought”

God gave me thought

So I think

Ask questions

Seek

When I find

I write.

You should write too! If you are a hyphenated American, successful professional mom ready to use writing to expose your truth, book your session here.