Therapy. It has become less taboo to go to therapy than it was ten years ago.
If you think about it, the fact that it was ever taboo at all – is laughable. We shamed people for wanting to work through their issues and have a better relationship with themselves or others. Why would that ever be a negative thing? I am so happy this idea of “perfection” is slowly being smashed into pieces and people can come forward with their problems without embarrassment.
Therapy. I’ve had my fair share of sessions. Sitting on the worn leather couch staring at a complete stranger. The stranger staring back at me with a pen and paper. Waiting for me to say something worth noting. Eyeing the room for the tissue box knowing whatever is uncovered deep within the recesses of my mind won’t be pretty.
What are they thinking? As they look at me at age 16, 23, 27.
Who was I back then?
Sixteen a young girl scared, confused, growing into my skin and not knowing if the skin I was growing into was something I liked. Twenty-three a young woman filled with anxiety, depression, broken relationships, questioning the skin I’ve now grown into. Twenty-seven a woman wondering if I’ve taken the right path and what the future holds.
Who am I now? Who will I be in five years?
For now the answers to those riddles are better left for less busy days which begs the real question, do I think maybe this the time I need therapy the most?
One things for certain, writing is like therapy for me. But I often get envious of the individuals who block out an hour of their time to talk to someone else. I don’t think it’s taboo at all. Seeing someone totally outside your world with an objective opinion. It’s refreshing. I think it’s brave. Incredibly brave. You uncover things about yourself that you may not want to uncover. And once you see those issues in the daylight there’s no going back. I’d rather not walk through those issues alone. I need someone who has a safety raft in case we wade to deep. Someone who can teach me how to swim through the emotions of my life.
It’s funny the amount of times I’ve encouraged others to see a therapist because they needed it to feel spiritually and mentality at peace. I should be following my own advice. It’s so easy to look at others and see the pain, problems and resolutions.
I wonder what someone’s resolutions would be for me?
But are we ever fixed? Really? It’s the broken pieces that make us who we are. Maybe it’s about living with the broken pieces and finding perfection in the imperfection. Maybe the idea is really to allow ourselves to be a little bit easier on one another. A little bit easier on the person staring back at us in the mirror.
At any rate, lately I’ve discovered that the world is evolving and now you can talk to someone online. I may just take them up on that offer.
If you are interested in virtual sessions you can click https://www.betterhelp.com/online-therapy/. The company is called BetterHelp and to be honest they reached out to me which I saw as the universe tapping me on the shoulder saying hey… look what we have here. You need this.
Betterhelp has graciously sponsored this post which I will be forever grateful. To be able to talk about mental health in an open and honest space is exactly what Harness was made for. You can also find more information here: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/
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Ashley Rector, Founder of Harness Magazine
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