#HealthBytes: What is talk therapy and how does it help?
What's the story
There are these golden moments when we talk to a friend for hours and end up feeling lighter and happier. Meaningful conversations have the ability to lift us and to provide clarity. Talk therapy is a more professional outlook and involves talking to a therapist. It can be seen as a safe place where you discuss emotions, relationship issues, and other disturbing issues.
Therapist
Why choosing the right therapist is the first important step
Just like how you won't be comfortable sharing your troubles with a random stranger, with talk therapy, too, you need to get comfortable opening up to your therapist. Therapists often vary in their approach to handling clients and while a few of them may be friendly, others might just mean business. It is important to find your comfort zone for effective talk therapy.
Root cause
Psychotherapy helps you get to the root of your issue
Talking to a therapist will help you remove the cloud and get to the root cause of your concern. It can be childhood trauma, mental conflicts from years of societal conditioning, or it can be some cause that you really aren't even aware of. You may be surprised at how an unresolved issue in your mind negatively impacts every aspect of your life.
Physical symptoms
Your body reacts in stressful situations, therapist helps there, too
It is so common to be in a stressful situation and get a headache, sometimes a stomach, too. But while at it, we fail to notice that these are our body's physical reactions to the situation. Talking to a therapist will help deal with stress and anxiety and in turn, will do away with physical forms of stress exhibitors as well.
Perspective
Obsession over a certain thing gets removed through this
There are times when we often swallow up our thoughts without letting them out, and that's how we subconsciously become obsessed with them and look at the world through that lens. This can prove detrimental in many situations and can affect our relationships. Talking to a therapist will give you a new outlook toward life and will make you compassionate toward others as well.
Do note
Being heard should never be taken for granted
Fine, you are paying your therapist and this isn't a free service but isn't it a great relief when you finally know that you are being heard? Talking to a therapist is a great way to know that you are not alone and that you have a trusted support system. You may also feel relieved sharing emotions that you might otherwise keep to yourself.