When to see a Psychologist

All of us will go through life’s ups and downs. Life tends to be a mixture of joys and problems. Sometimes life’s troubles can begin to interfere with how a person carries on from day to day.

Usually people tend to make their own decision about when its time to get help. Sometimes family or friends will encourage this. Many people feel nervous about seeing a psychologist, worrying about what people might think if they found out, or worrying about what the therapist might think.

Here are some signs to consider when making a decision to consult with a psychologist:

• Do you feel sad most days?
• Is there a problem in your life that bothers you so much that you think about it almost all of the time?
• Do your troubles distract you at work, or do you find yourself spacing out when talking to people or driving?
• Have you gotten stuck in troubling relationships and can’t figure out why the same patterns keep occurring?
• Are you constantly irritable?
• Are you having trouble sleeping? Do you feel like sleeping all the time because you are low in energy or because you would rather avoid your troubles?
• Have you lost interest or pleasure in things you use to enjoy?
• Are you troubled by conflicts with your spouse or partner?
• Are you trying to cope with terribly hurtful experiences from the past that are hard to talk about?
• Do you use drugs and alcohol too much? Do people who love you worry about your drug or alcohol use?
• Have you gotten into problems because of your temper?
• Have you gotten so nervous or panicky that you thought you were going to pass out or have a heart attack, but you weren’t sure what you were scared of?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to consider setting up an appointment for yourself.