The growth in popularity of self-care has spawned a slew of Instagram influencers, self-help gurus, and fashionable hashtags, shows, and songs—it makes embarking on a mental health journey seem like the best thing that has ever happened to you. And it's possible! However, getting to the point of a life-changing breakthrough can take a lot of self-work. And this is often where people seek help via therapy.
What most people don't tell you is that, while therapy can be transforming, it can also be really difficult. Healing will not occur immediately, and the life-changing insights and breakthroughs that we seek will not always seem pleasant. Things might occasionally get worse before they get better.
Don't get disheartened if you've just started therapy or if you've been on your road for a while and haven't seen any results. We asked people to share their therapeutic breakthroughs to demonstrate how different they can be over months (or even years!) in therapy.
We've got five people who offer their finest advice and most essential lessons learnt in therapy. If you're feeling down or unmotivated, these words of encouragement can inspire you to stay on the path to recovery. Because managing your mental health will be difficult at times, but it will be worthwhile in the end.
*names have been changed to protect their privacy.
1. You shouldn't harshly judge your current self based on how your past self behaved.
"You may not be proud of some of the things you did or said, but if they were the result of a lack of knowledge, insight, or experience at the time, you should consider the fact that as long as you've learned from them, you've sincerely repented, and your conduct is consciously better going forward, you're probably not nearly as bad a person as you think you are."
- Neha, 32, Software Professional
2. Replace the negative self-talk with words of affirmation and watch your life change.
"My biggest 'aha' moment was realising that I should never say something to myself that I wouldn't tell my best friend. My life hasn't been the same since I replaced negative self-talk and self-deprecation with positive self-talk and thankfulness, and it's for the better!"
- Jyotika, 28, Policy Advisor
3. Everything about you is thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
"The triangle of cognition and behaviour. Your thoughts have an impact on your feelings, your feelings have an impact on your behaviours, your behaviours have an impact on your feelings, and your feelings have an impact on your thoughts. They're joined at the hip. If your emotions are out of control, you must adjust the way you think about things. You will affect the way you feel about yourself, people, and your environment, as well as the way you conduct if you can change the way you think about things in a straightforward and consistent manner."
- Smriti, 33, Marketing Communications
4. Don't take things personally.
"I have anxiety and depression, and I'm not sure what else I'm dealing with. I take rejection very hard, and my depression makes it difficult for me to get out of bed. I tend to simply observe things from my point of view. I learnt to not take things too seriously. It's often not about you, but rather a slew of other things."
- Manvi, 23, Student
5. People do not have the right to have unlimited access to you.
"You're not an emotional sponge. You are under no obligation to assist anyone. People do not have the right to dupe you into acting as their therapist. People do not have the right to throw their issues on you without considering the consequences. You have the right to say "no" to anybody and everyone, and they will just have to deal with the consequences.
- Samridhi, 28, PR Professional
Please Note: Always seek medical advice regarding your health and well-being. Her Circle posts are for educational reasons only and are not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Also Read: 5 Positive Affirmations To Boost Your Mental Health
Also Read: Positive Self-Talk: Be Your Own Cheerleader