As life goes on we continue to grow and mature, but we also face life events that can take a toll on our mental health. We may have big events going on in our lives like tests or a new job, so we choose to sweep our mental health issues under the rug. Though it works temporarily, our mental health deteriorates little by little and it starts to impact our daily functions. When people’s mental health deteriorates, they typically don’t seek therapy right away, and only go once it’s too late. This harmful delay is most likely a result of therapy being viewed in a negative light. Being able to go to therapy should not be looked down upon; it should be looked at as an opportunity to grow and realize how strong a person is to realize that they need aid to heal their mental health.

During the last decade depression and anxiety have risen among teenagers, which puts a strain on their emotional health. One of the reasons why more teenagers are suffering from mental health issues is likely due to unrealistic standards set up by social media. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have added pressure on teenagers’ physical appearance and the number of likes and comments contributes to a need for validation from others. Another reason why my generation of teenagers is suffering with their mental health is the extended amount of screen time. The average screen time of a teenager is six to seven hours, so if a teenager spends that much time on their phone, they are not getting enough social interaction or meeting new people.

The reason why teenagers don’t speak up about their mental health or don’t seek therapy can be because they are worried that a counselor won’t understand how they feel. It can feel weird to open up your feelings to someone who is a stranger, but counselors and especially therapists are trained to help their patients out and identify their goals for the therapy sessions, identify what makes us feel what we feel, and what solutions can makes us feel better.

As someone who has sought therapy before, it has been one of the most helpful things that I done for myself while in high school. I already have to deal with my school work and extracurriculars, so dealing with personal issues was something I could not fix alone. I decided that seeking therapy would be beneficial for me. At first, I was hesitant about it because I was unsure if my reasons were justified. Still, I thought this situation I am going through right now is affecting my mental health and my ability to enjoy myself at school. Going into it, I was very pessimistic thinking that no therapy sessions could help me move forward in school and in my personal life, but four or five sessions later, I felt like I was carrying less every day because I had someone who helped me sort out my emotions. Not only did talking about my feelings help me identify them, but it also encouraged me to have the right mindset and be willing to heal and move forward. Having the ability to attend therapy was truly a blessing for me.

Life is not always perfect, and there will be times when you might not feel the best mentally, whether it’s confidence issues or a personal event that has impacted you. It is never a bad or embarrassing idea to seek help from therapy because it can be a perfect opportunity to grow as a person and get professional help to help you heal or get better. Therapists can be found in your school or your local community clinic center. Another option is getting therapy online, though a majority of online programs will cost money. The most recognized therapy websites are Talkspace, Brightside, and BetterHelp.