Why do people have counselling? Because they feel like this…
Whether it’s something that happened recently or something that happened a long time ago but is only now making its emotional presence felt, there are some common feelings that clients often report that lead them to seek counselling. Do any of the following feel familiar to you?
- Feeling like you are going to explode: you’re at your emotional limit. You have literally no capacity to deal with even the smallest ups and downs. If you missed your train / the fridge started making a weird noise / you broke a plate you’d feel like you’d probably have a nervous breakdown.
- Feeling overwhelmed; it’s all just TOO MUCH and you don’t seem to be able to get anything done which just makes everything worse
- Short-fuse: losing temper easily, impatient, shouty and ratty with other people – sometimes to the point where people are asking if you need help
- “My life is great on paper – good job / relationship / friends / finances so why do I feel so miserable?”
- Suddenly you can’t sleep.
- Loss: of a loved one, and the irrational nightmare beast that is grief is flattening you
- Loss: of a job, an opportunity, a relationship, of identity, of your sense of self. “Who am I now? I used to be so much more fun / interesting / happy (insert as appropriate)… What happened to ME…?”
- Loss: of your future as you hoped it would be because a relationship has changed, you or someone you know has received a life-changing diagnosis or something has happened that has changed everything.
- Crying a lot, often unexpectedly and perhaps you’re not sure why (especially crying at dog / cat / baby videos on social media / tv / films but that’s the only time you cry)
- Feeling flat and disengaged, hard to get off the sofa and do something, because really what is the point? (That’s not normal, by the way, unless you’re having a rest day / week)
- Feeing unmotivated and lacking direction
- Persistent worry, constantly feeling anxious
- Feeling alone, isolated, disconnected or lonely (whether you are on your own or surrounded by people – you might even feel lonelier when in a crowd)
- Change has left you feeling ‘unmoored’ and unsure of yourself – you’ve lost your bearings in your own life
These are just some of the ways people feel when they seek counselling. There are lots of others but if you’re feeling any of these it might be a good idea to talk to to someone.