by Shelly Barclay

Created on: August 12, 2010

It is difficult to find yourself in a position where your mental health is faltering. You may be experiencing symptoms that are frightening. They may even be having a profound effect on your physical health, job, relationships, etc. When you find yourself in the position of having compromised mental health, you have a choice. You can try to do something about it or you can let it get worse. However, doing something about it means admitting there is something wrong and allowing other people in on your problem-namely, a counselor. Is there anything wrong with doing that? No. In fact, it is commendable.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, roughly one out of every four adult Americans suffers from mental illness. That means that one-quarter of adults in the United States could benefit from seeing a mental health counselor. It is not as if mental health issues are rare or something to be mocked. They are serious and legitimate health concerns that can seriously impact a person's life. Counseling can also impact a person's life, in a very good way. Therefore, there is no reason to be embarrassed. No one with any compassion at all would see seeking mental health counseling as something to be mocked. It is something to be applauded.

One thing that can be said about mental illness is that it is disruptive. It is hard to live a successful, happy life when you are mentally and emotionally unbalanced. A counselor can help you cope with that and bring balance to your life. There is never a time when bettering your life without detriment to others is shameful. Seeking mental health counseling is a way to better yourself and your life. Would you be embarrassed to go to the doctor if you had pneumonia? Probably not. The same principal applies. Something is wrong with your health and you are seeking to fix it.

Sadly, the stigma surrounding mental illness causes people to feel like they should hide it. Hiding mental health problems lessens your chances of getting help. It is very likely that you only get one life to live. You do not want to live it under the pressure of hiding a mental health problem. Furthermore, you do not want to allow your mental health issues to get worse by avoiding seeing a counselor out of embarrassment. Once you seek the help you need, you will see that there was nothing about which to be embarrassed.

Sources

Statistics, retrieved 8/11/10, nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/statistics/index.shtml

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