On Why the Strongest People Go to Therapy

I tell my kids, probably on a weekly basis, that therapy is the best money they could ever spend. I love my therapist. Having an hour every other week just to work on me is time well spent. 

Alli and I were arguing over this the other day. She doesn’t want to see a therapist and I think she should. She said “you’re making me feel like something is wrong with me.” 

It makes me sad that she has already received the mental health stigma message.  Why is a mental disorder considered to be anything other than a significant challenge that needs treatment just as something like cancer or asthma needs treatment? Why is taking care of our emotional health considered a weakness? Why would we choose not to use the resources and tools we have in order to feel better? 

I would argue that the strongest people go to therapy. Those that are in tune with their ups and downs and understand that they are not invincible are the ones that choose to work on themselves, to ensure that they are healthy. They know that the careful balance that is their lives can be upset in a matter of minutes. They give themselves the tools to handle both the normal fluctuations of life, and the not so typical changes that can occur. The strongest people understand that taking care of oneself physically, emotionally, and spiritually is just the smart thing to do. 

Taking time to work on oneself - to provide yourself with tools and resources, is a sign of strength. Those that do not see the potential to be fallible are the people who will one day have the hardest time in life. Those that believe they can string together a meaningful existence without a way to process a quickly changing and ever demanding world are only setting themselves up for failure. 

We, as a nation, need to start believing, and more importantly, to start talking about the strength it takes to examine ones challenges. We are all vulnerable to life. Sometimes that can bring great joy and sometimes it can bring great sorrow. If we don’t have the tools to manage life’s ups and downs, the likelihood of persevering is much less. 

Let’s be okay with getting help when we need it. Actually, let’s be okay with getting help before we need it. Let’s set ourselves up for the best life possible, knowing that we’ll all face challenges along the way. Don’t you think it makes sense to give ourselves the ability to hit those difficulties head? Don't you think it makes sense to fill our life toolboxes with all the tools we can. 

Therapy is a great tool. The strongest people know that. And they use it.