How do I know if I need therapy?
You don’t have to be in crisis, and you don’t need a diagnosis. The most useful question to ask yourself isn’t how bad things are, it’s whether what you’re doing right now to cope is working. If you’ve been trying to manage the same thing by yourself for months and it isn’t shifting, that’s usually a sign. Other common signs you might benefit from therapy: you’re irritable or exhausted in a way sleep doesn’t touch, you’ve cut down on your life to avoid feeling a certain way, you keep landing in the same argument or the same spiral, or your body is carrying something your mind won’t name. Plenty of people start therapy despite the fact that they’re functioning fine on paper and yet something still feels off. That’s a legitimate reason. If you’re unsure, many therapists offer free consultations. They cost you a few minutes of your time and no money. Sometimes the answer is “not right now,” and that’s a useful answer too.
