Good Afternoon everyone!

I want to first off start by thanking each and everyone for coming and reading what I have to say! Each visit or even just telling someone else about my blog helps more than you will ever know!

The moment everyone is waiting for: Let’s Talk Therapy!

The question that most people that live with a mental health disorder, should I go to therapy?

Well that is a question only you can answer. I was completely (1000%) against therapy for the longest time because I was terrified. Let’s be honest, who really wants to seek out a random stranger to go tell all of their problems to and relive every traumatic event that they have ever experienced? Who wants to decide if they can talk better to a woman or a man, and which sex will understand better? Let’s be honest none of this shit is fun lol. My goal with this post is just to provide information that will hopefully help you seek therapy if it’s for you, and if it’s not that’s ok too! One thing I can promise you for sure is you will never find any judgement here!

Let’s start here: What is therapy when it comes to speaking about mental health?

Therapy is the treatment of mental conditions by verbal communication and interaction.

I am one of those people who like to list the pros and cons of each thing in life. So let’s do that

Pros:

-Improve communication skills -Empowerment

-Build Stronger relationships -Meeting your goals

-Get treatment for mental health conditions -Less stress

-Learn healthy coping mechanisms

-Alter negative behaviors

Cons:

-It’s uncomfortable -You may be referred to a psychiatrist

-It can take time -You may have to try a few therapists

-You can be misdiagnosed -It can be expensive

-Fear of Judgment -What if it doesn’t help?

Now let’s talk about my personal real and raw experience with Therapy.

I am a very opened person. The reason I came to the conclusion that I was ready to give therapy a try is because I have had so many traumatic things happen in my life, most of which happened when I was a child. I have been through many things no human being should have to go through, especially not a child.

I have been through sexual abuse, mental abuse, and emotional abuse. These things cause so many emotions for me, even still today and I am almost thirty-years-old. In a perfect world I would have woken up the next day after each of these things took place and never thought about it again. Or even better it would have never happened in the first place. But sadly we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a real, raw and crazy world where bad things just happen and there is no specific type of person they happen to. So if you think “it won’t happen to me”, lose that mind set now. Trauma does not discriminate, and neither does mental health.

When I was in my freshman year of high school, I was convinced by a friend to go talk to the school counselor and try and discuss the sexual abuse. Once I walked into the counselors office, the first thing I asked is please don’t tell anyone what I am about to say, she promised she would not. However if a child discloses abuse to you, you are required by law to report it. So, she did her job, which now that I think about it as an adult she did the right thing. However, as a young teenager I felt betrayed and was so scared to open up because I was “forced to go to therapy”. and the therapist was very pushy, so it put such a bad taste in my mouth. I was absolutely against therapy from that point on.

Well, let’s fast forward to May of this year, which was only 2 short months ago. I watched my father pass away, and my brother pass away as well. So much loss so quickly and I have not been the same since. So I decided to give therapy a real chance. I got lucky and found a wonderful therapist, I do better speaking with male therapists I learned. I feel more comfortable especially since the therapist I see is closer to my age, so I feel he can relate more. I have been to 4 sessions so far. I’m not gonna lie, sometimes it’s hard to go and I look at him when I walk in and I say “Ya know I had no interest in coming here today”. His response is “Well I’m glad you showed up”.

So for me therapy is helpful, but it may not be for everyone and that is completely fine too!

If you decide Therapy is not for you and need someone to talk to send me an email, call me or text me. I promise whatever you are going through you are not alone!

Thanks for reading everyone!

Much Love: Samantha McCartha!