Everyone has a story to tell about grief, fear, sadness, failure and stress. Even the happiest and most successful individuals, families and couples go through difficulties due to stressful work, discordant relationships, clashing parenting styles, teen issues, children with bad behaviors, marital conflicts, etc. These concerns can sometimes go beyond your control, affecting your emotions and thoughts in ways you didn’t think possible.

When any of these has gone to the extent that you don’t want to wake up and face the day anymore, you may want to admit that you may need professional assistance. It takes courage to make that admission and it takes more than courage to stand up and take the necessary course of action to get that help. If you have decided to take action, you may still need to get through one of these 5 blocks before you pick up the phone and make the call to schedule your appt:

1. Looming social stigma: There used to be a time when consulting a professional therapist carried a stigma. It could elicit silent whispers, negative labels, insensitive discriminatory actions, and even ridicule from people you know. While the stigma has not completely dissipated, society has learned a lot through the years.

More and more progressive thinkers are realizing that counseling is meant for people who want their lives improved. If you are not completely over the social stigma, you don’t have to tell anyone. Professional counselors/therapists keep all your records private and confidential. Do it for YOURSELF because you deserve a better life.

2. Fear of reliving old pains and memories: Opening up your innermost self – thoughts, feelings, hopes, fears and most especially the sad and traumatic experiences of the past – can give you second thoughts about seeking professional help. While it is understandable that they need to get to know you and comprehend where you are coming from, opening up can mean reliving what you are so desperately pushing down in the deep recesses of your mind and soul. Reliving the death of a loved one or the heartaches of a divorce can reopen wounds and old pain.

Remember that the way to work through them is to first face them.   Pushing them aside or burying them deeper hasn’t worked for you.  It is time to try something new.

3. The negative mind: If you have been experiencing signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety and other emotional/behavioral concerns, there is a strong possibility that your mind is dominated by negativity. Pessimism is contagious and invasive; it can give everything a negative spin. It can make you think that seeking professional help will not be able to help you in the same way that your family and friends have failed in taking you out of the rut you are in.

To develop positivity, you need to overpower pessimism; you need an expert therapist who is outside of that negative mindset to do help you do that.

4. Relationships that hinder: Your family and friends will always be the invaluable source of the love and support you need during these trying times. Know, however, that they can also contribute to the distressing situation.

The best help you can hope to get will come from a trained therapist or counselor who is equipped to provide expert guidance and unbiased perspective, which is different from what family and friends can provide you. It takes a professional to identify the causes of your concerns, undertake a proper assessment and accurate diagnosis, and help you in making constructive transformations in your life.

5. The Cost of Counseling: If you keep a modest job, your income must be just enough to buy or pay for the most basic needs, which means food, education, shelter, clothing and healthcare. If you consider your emotional and behavioral health part of a healthy body and mind, you will take care of it like the way you care for your body.

Learn more about insurance and how it may help you. If you choose an experienced and skillful counselor, you can get more value for your hard-earned money. With a sound mind, you can do more, achieve more and earn more. Prioritize your mental/emotional health over your dining outings and that newest gadget or new pair of shoes.

Life is far from being perfect. The fast-changing world and lifestyles are posing new challenges and making adjusting more difficult. These road blocks are products of misunderstanding or misinformation. It can make you feel uncertain and even prevent you from seeking the right kind of help to make your life better.

If you seek help from professionals who are good at what they do, much of this resistance will be eroded.  Call Carolina Counseling Services – Sanford, NC to find the right kind of help from its independently contracted therapists. They can help you understand how counseling works to erode these road blocks. They can also work with you to attain a transformative experience, resolve concerns and difficulties and create a positive view of life.