I can remember it as if it were happening right this moment. The Analyzing, the dread, the feelings of unease and hopelessness. When I would become plagued with anxiety I would have absolutely no idea how to deal with myself, I would be lazy, sluggish, and not very good company. So what did I do to better deal with my problem? I sought help, I went to see a therapist. Now I know what some people may think about seeing a Therapist, thoughts like "Am I crazy", "What will people say" and other classic fears having to do with the stigma floating above the mental health industry was hovering above my head. However, what everyone would do good to realize is that that is not the case.

Those of us that seek help are not crazy, we are not damaged goods. We are simply having struggles and are seeking help. Life is hard. There is no shame in seeking help. Your problems, no matter how unique or small, are valid. When you see a mental health professional, you are not wasting their time with your issues. It is their job to listen to you and they want to hear what you have to say. Most therapists that people go to see genuinely want to help you and make sure that you are successful. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health, If one were to break their arm they would know doubt go to the hospital, then in the same sense, one who is experiencing anxiety or another form of internal distress, they should absolutely seek out professional help. Everyone has their own demons to work out and seeing a professional, for many can be just the push they need in order to control them.

I have found in my own personal experience that I can not only control my anxieties better, but I can keep panic attacks from happening and get out of my states of hopelessness much easier than I could before receiving treatment. However, one visit is not a quick fix, it takes time to learn how to control our problems. Soul searching, self-discipline, and perseverance are all required outside of the therapeutic setting to make sure that improvement will be made no matter what. It has been a process of recovery ever since I received my initial therapy. Fixing one's thinking is no easy task, but for me, I have found that with professional help I have received the guidance needed in order to move forward. Without that guidance, I don't know where I would be, but with it, I know that I have been able to love myself in a way that I would never have thought possible without the help I have received and the impact it has had on my life.