It’s amazing what talking to someone can do to improve your mental health. This is exactly what psychotherapy is all about. Also fondly referred to as “talk therapy,” psychotherapy has long been recommended for people who are living with mental health problems, emotional challenges and psychiatric disorders. It can help to combat a range of problems, and can range anywhere from a few sessions, to long-term weekly sessions for years.
Here are three of the major mental health issues psychotherapy can assist with:
Combat Depression
Depression is the most common form of mental illness in the world. Globally, more than 300 million people have some form of depression, and leading mental health experts believe that 1 in 3 adults worldwide have experienced varying degrees of depression at some point in their life.
Depression is a mental state where the sufferer experiences low self-esteem and low self-worth. It includes mood swings, feelings of overwhelming sadness, mental and physical fatigue, and it can lead to suicidal thoughts if it is not addressed. Psychotherapy has been found to help combat depression – with the power of talk! The idea is to get the patient to gradually open up about whatever could be causing their bouts of depression, and to see if there are solutions that could assist. By talking about their challenges or problems, it’s hoped they will feel better about themselves and their troubling thoughts will improve.
Anxiety and Stress
Being an adult is never easy and it is not uncommon for people to experience a heightened level of anxiety or stress. The daily challenges at home, at work and in your social life can contribute to increased stress levels; and while avoiding stress-factors like traffic and people who “irk” you can help to reduce your stress levels, it may not be enough. Stress and anxiety can lead to high blood pressure and hypertension, along with a range of other mental and physical ailments, so it’s important that you are aware of it.
Having someone to talk to, especially a trained psychologist can be very helpful in combating anxiety and stress. Psychotherapy can work wonders in helping people relax and be calm, despite their worries.
Compulsive and Obsessive Behavior
Being focused on a goal is a good thing, but when your focus is bordering on obsession, it can be dangerous. If you act in an irrational, spontaneous way and do things out of compulsion, this too is a problem that needs urgent attention.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD is where an individual expresses an uncontrollable need to perform certain rituals at certain times daily. These people tend to get extremely anxious if they don’t carry out their compulsive behavior when due – which can create extreme stress and even lead to depression. It can be debilitating and affect your everyday life. If this sounds like you, Psychotherapy may be able to help.
Psychotherapy is also a recommended therapy for sufferers of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anorexia, kleptomania, and even for couples who are experiencing difficulties in their relationship. If you want to know more, get in touch with our friendly, experienced team today.