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Anyone trained in Mental Health First Aid knows that signposting is a key part of offering support on a first aid basis - including to counselling services. Here Melissa from Counselling Directory, explains how talking therapy can be a next step in dealing with uncomfortable emotions and memories, and shares her experience of how counselling helped her.
Let's face it, most of us lead a busy lifestyle. We’re so busy going about our daily routines that it can be easy to forget to prioritise our own needs and take care of our mental wellbeing.
It can be easy to bottle up our emotions and suppress our feelings, and sometimes we can even find it hard to face them. We’re so comfortable talking about our physical health but it’s easy to overlook the opportunities to talk about our mental health. Talking is the first step in dealing with uncomfortable emotions and feelings. Speaking to someone in a non-judgemental environment can help you feel comfortable talking about what’s concerning you.
Talking can be freeing - you feel a sense of ‘release’ as you’re not hiding your emotions and fighting them on your own. The saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ is so powerful as it’s no longer churning inside of you, and others will be aware of what you are going through.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a family member or a friend, you might choose to see a qualified counsellor who will be able to help you.
There is no pressure in a counselling room - a counsellor will encourage you to talk about what's bothering you in order to uncover any root causes and identify your specific ways of thinking. They are not there to make you feel uncomfortable or pressured. Whilst they are not there to solve your problems, they can help you shift your thinking patterns, and manage uncomfortable emotions by challenging your thoughts. Stepping back and looking at things from a different perspective may help you to heal.
There are also many different types of counselling that you can have. These range from group therapy, online sessions, telephone sessions and even outdoor counselling sessions. It may be difficult to know which one will be best for you, but if you feel you are not getting anywhere at any point, you could always try a different approach and find the best one to suit your needs.
I recently had face-to-face counselling myself to help me deal with uncomfortable feelings and intrusive thoughts which stemmed from my childhood. I have suffered with anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember, and struggled to control my worries and symptoms when I was younger. I used to worry about things that were out of my control and catastrophise every situation.
Going back and revisiting my past from an adult's perspective helped me to overcome and manage any uncomfortable feelings and emotions. I now have a better understanding and knowledge of my triggers and always talk to my loved ones when things are getting too much. It’s comforting to know that they’re there to listen and support me. They may not know how I feel and what I’m going through but they do try their best to understand.
Opening up and talking really is the first step - whether that’s to a professional counsellor or a loved one - and a helpful tool to help you manage your mental health.
To find a trained professional to talk to in your local area visit Counselling Directory, who have a database of qualified counsellors and psychotherapists.