5 Ways That Therapy Changed MY Life
Therapists see therapists too! My journey with therapy started as a teen, and I don’t know who I would be without it. Below are 5 ways that therapy completely changed my life for the better.
Taught me mindfulness in my own mind and body - I never realized how disconnected I was from myself until I began going to therapy. My therapist helped me get in touch with what I was truly feeling, and she taught me how to ask myself the right questions: What emotions am I feeling? How do these emotions feel in my body? What is going through my mind? Why do I think I am having this reaction? What patterns do I notice? I got to know myself better than ever before. Learning to connect my emotions to my thoughts led me to a much more mindful, insightful way of being.
Challenged me to take accountability for my own life - Through therapy I have learned that only I can change my own life. I do not choose the circumstances of my life or my brain, but I am responsible for taking care of them! Therapy is not just about venting to your therapist, but also recognizing mistakes that you’ve made and taking responsibility for them. Taking responsibility for our own actions can also help us to see which parts of our story are truly not our fault. It may sound backwards, but it has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life to realize that many of the problems in my life were because of ME!
Exploring my upbringing - We are all shaped by the way we grow up, often in ways that we do not realize until much later. It has been deeply insightful and healing to reflect on my family of origin, past relationships, and the way that I grew up. It has helped me to understand why I do what I do and where many of my thoughts and patterns come from. It helps to lift the heavy burden of self-blame, and allows me to accept my situation. This is not the case for everybody, but after exploring my family of origin through a critical lens, I have been able to love and accept my loved ones even more.
Completely reprogrammed the way I speak to myself - Therapy is where I learned to show myself compassion and grace after years of being cruel towards myself. Over the course of many years, I have rewired the way that I view myself and speak to myself. My therapist modeled a lot of balanced and compassionate thinking for me, and it has stuck! Self compassion is the therapeutic skill that has absolutely changed my life the most. Am I perfect at it? Absolutely not. However, with lots of practice, I have slowly been able to truly show myself kindness, and it has made a huge difference in my day-to-day mental health.
Gave me a space to FEEL - Like many others, I have a tendency to be a bit avoidant with my own emotions. Therapy provided me a place to experience the full spectrum of my emotions, without distractions or excuses. It means the world to me that my therapist sat with me through these experiences and allowed me to release emotions that my body had habitually stored away for years. The release of pent up emotions allowed me to be more patient in my relationships and kinder to myself. Daily activities began to feel more easeful. Releasing emotions helps me to feel that the connection between my brain and my heart is clear.
Are you ready to make changes in your own life through starting therapy? Reach out to me at eada@morningbirdtherapy.com to schedule a free consultation.