The One Where I Start Therapy

This one is going to be a bit... real and personal (although, let’s face it, everything on a personal blog is personal).

About a year and a half ago, I started going to therapy. The reason? Self-diagnosed chronic stress. I was stressed all the time. Actually, why am I even using the past tense? I am still stressed all the time, but I’m learning how to manage it better.

When my stress levels peak, it affects me physically—I can’t eat, I feel nauseous, I get stomachaches, headaches, and sometimes even migraines. Looking back, this probably started around college and escalated once I entered the workforce. My baseline for what feels like “normal” stress is likely much higher than that of most people.

What I’ve Learned About Myself So Far

Therapy has been eye-opening in so many ways. It has encouraged me to reflect on myself—my past, my future, my behaviors, and even the behaviors of those around me. Here’s a summary of some key things I’ve learned about myself so far:

• Self-esteem is a struggle: This wasn’t exactly news to me, but therapy has helped me uncover new ways in which low self-esteem impacts my life.
• I’m a perfectionist: I set unrealistically high expectations for myself and don’t allow myself to fail.
• Fear of failure holds me back: Because of my perfectionism, I often struggle to finish projects or activities—what if the result isn’t perfect? (Ah, the irony.)
• Starting something new is hard: I hesitate to try new things because I worry I won’t be “good enough.” Good enough for whom? Myself?
• I’m an introvert: This wasn’t a revelation, but therapy has helped me understand how this shapes my interactions with others.
• Relationships need reevaluation: Therapy has made me take a closer look at the people in my life and how those relationships affect me.

And that’s just scratching the surface! This is definitely not the last time I’ll write about self-discovery and therapy—there’s so much more to unpack.

The Good News About Therapy

One thing I’m grateful for is that mental health is finally starting to lose its taboo status. Many insurance companies are now prioritizing mental health services, which means a large portion of therapy costs can be reimbursed. This is such an important step forward because mental health care should be accessible to everyone.

If you’ve never tried therapy, I’d wholeheartedly recommend giving it a shot—even if it’s just one session. Nobody is perfect; nobody is 100% okay all the time. And if you find the right therapist (I’ve been lucky enough to find one), it can feel incredibly validating and healing.

What Is Therapy—and What It Isn’t?

Let’s take a moment to demystify therapy because there are still so many misconceptions about what it actually involves.

What Therapy Is:

• A safe space: Therapy provides a confidential environment where you can explore your thoughts and emotions without judgment.
• A collaborative process: It’s not about being told what to do; instead, you work together with your therapist to gain insights and develop tools for coping or growth.
• For everyone: Therapy isn’t just for people experiencing severe mental health issues—it’s for anyone who wants to better understand themselves or improve their quality of life.
• A journey: Progress takes time; there’s no “quick fix.” But each session builds on the last, helping you move forward in meaningful ways.

What Therapy Isn’t:

• A magic cure: Your therapist won’t hand you all the answers or wave a wand to make problems disappear overnight.
• Only for crisis situations: You don’t have to wait until you’re at rock bottom to seek help—therapy can be preventative as well as restorative.
• Like TV portrayals: Forget the cliché image of lying on a couch while someone silently takes notes. Modern therapy is much more conversational and dynamic.

What Happens During a Typical Therapy Session?

If you’re new to therapy, it’s completely normal to feel nervous before your first session—or even your first few sessions! Here’s what you can generally expect:

• The first session (intake): Your therapist will likely ask questions about your background, current challenges, and goals for therapy. This helps them understand how they can best support you.
• Subsequent sessions: These are more like guided conversations where you explore your thoughts, feelings, patterns of behavior, and experiences in depth.
• Time commitment: Most sessions last about an hour.
• Homework (sometimes): Depending on your therapist's approach, they may suggest exercises or reflections for you to work on between sessions.

Therapy isn’t always easy—it requires vulnerability and effort—but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

Therapy Is for Everyone

One of the biggest myths about therapy is that it’s only for people who are “broken” or dealing with extreme problems. The truth is that everyone can benefit from therapy in some way because we all face challenges in life.

Think of therapy as self-care for your mind—just like exercising keeps your body healthy, therapy helps keep your mental and emotional well-being in check.

So whether you’re navigating stress (like me), working through past trauma, or simply looking for clarity in life, therapy could be exactly what you need.

To sum up: Therapy has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself. It’s not always easy—it takes courage to face yourself honestly—but it’s worth it. If you’ve ever considered trying therapy but weren’t sure if it was “for you,” let this be your sign: Give it a try! You might just learn something amazing about yourself.