Professional Counseling Services In Daily Life

By Sarah Fader

Updated January 21, 2019

Reviewer April Brewer , DBH, LPC

Strategies for Living Better

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While many kinds of mental health issues can be debilitating to an individual's standard of living, it's also true that many, perhaps even most individual's mental health are not quite as good as it could be. This is part of the human condition, but there are certainly preventative steps that you could take to live happy, less anxiously, be more effective in relationships, and more productive in everyday life. What are some proactive ways to assist with improving your wellbeing? Here are some suggestions to improve your daily life:

• Try not to be so hard on yourself. When life deals you lemons, then it is time to make your best pitcher of lemonade! We take on daily challenges in life, no matter how big or small or good or bad we perceive them to be. The reality is with every decision we make in life, there poses a risk for a positive or negative outcome. Try to do your best and make the best decision that you believe is right. Try to counter self-criticism with positive praise, especially with even your smallest accomplishments throughout the day.
• Treat people how you would like to be treated. Be kind to others. Try to get involved with community events or even help a stranger today. People appreciate an unexpected helping hand. In addition, you will also gain fulfillment by helping others.
• Try to relax. There is healthy stress then there is also unhealthy stress. An example of healthy stress could be experiencing anxiety about an upcoming job interview in one week, finding out if you will be expecting a baby boy or a baby girl, preparing to go out on a date, or preparing for an upcoming examination. On the contrast, unhealthy stress could be cycling thoughts about if you will get back with your ex, get a new promotion at work, or worrying about bad things happening to your or your loved ones. Try to make your "peace of mind" a priority and relax. Relax by taking slow and deep breaths, listen to soothing sounds or music, watch a movie, practice meditation or yoga, go on a walk, go on an outing with a friend, or exercise to burn off some stress.
• Have some fun and enjoy yourself. Often times, life requires us to be serious and structured. When is the last time you had some real fun and enjoyed some alone time or time with family and friends? The same way that you schedule time for mandatory daily tasks, try to schedule time for yourself to unwind and enjoy yourself. After all, this could help uplift your mood and increase your self-confidence.
• Participate in a hobby or learn a new skill. What are some of your favorite hobbies? If you can't remember, maybe it is time for you to revisit this and get involved in a past hobby or finding a new hobby, a new leisure interest, or taking up a new skill. This could help improve your self-confidence, improve your mood, engage with people or meet new people, enhance your occupational skillset or prepare you for a new job.
• Increase physical activity/try to exercise regularly. There are various mental health benefits from exercising regularly. To name a few, you will feel more energized, it could uplift your mood, increased energy levels, reduces stress and anxiety levels, improves sleeping patterns, and improves your overall physical health.
• Try to eat healthier and nutritious meals. Eat well balanced, proportioned, and regular meals. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. And try to decrease fast-food outings (greasy, salty, and sugary foods & drinks).
• Sleep is an important priority. Are you well rested in the morning? If not, it is important to get into a regular sleeping pattern. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time regularly. Reduce the amount of sugar and caffeine intake prior to bedtime.
• Avoid using drugs and/or alcohol to cope with life. Alcohol and drugs will not fix the problem, they will only mask it, and likely make whatever "problems" or challenges that you are going through worse.
• Accept the reality. We often create unwanted stress and low mood by excessively worrying about things that are not within our control. Acknowledging and accepting what we can and cannot change in our lives, will allow us to cope in a healthier manner, then the distressful thoughts and feelings will eventually surpass and allow you to move on.

The Role of Counseling

Looking at the benefits of professional counseling services can certainly be a part of the strategy. We've all heard the proverb about forests and trees, but are you aware of how this applies to your own life and happiness? The truth is that problems, opportunities, and nuisances all look much bigger from close-up, this leads us to see them as more important or more threatening than they really are. While many kinds of mental health issues can be debilitating to an individual's standard of living, it's also true that many, perhaps even most individual's mental health are not quite as good as it could be. This is part of the human condition, but there are certain steps you can take to live happy, less anxiously, and be more effective in relationships and everyday life. Looking at the benefits of professional counseling services can certainly be a part of the strategy.

The Role of Counseling

We've all heard the proverb about forests and trees, but are you aware of how this applies to your own life and happiness? The truth is that problems, opportunities, and nuisances all look much bigger from close-up, this leads us to see them as more important or more threatening than they really are.

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Most times we turn to our family, friends, colleagues, or even strangers to discuss sensitive or pressing thoughts to. Sometimes we even choose to hold it all inside, until we feel as if we will spill over. All which may have negative outcomes. However, talking to a qualified therapist allows you an alternative option, the opportunity for a nonjudgmental listening ear to help provide you a sense of clarity and guidance to help improve your daily life and meet realistic goals in your personal and/or professional life.

Talking things over with a qualified therapist can help you keep your mental clarity and perspective even during stormy weather. The key to improving your state of mind is often just seeing things as they are and in proper context, whether this means knowing where you stand in a relationship or worrying less about the small stuff.

In addition, a professional counselor can provide knowledge regarding mental health issues that are often left undiagnosed, especially if they are not causing serious behavioral problems. Knowing that you might be affected, however slightly, by conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders is the first step towards taking action, whether this means pursuing treatment through talk therapy, learning ways to better cope with an issue's effects or ways to facilitate a condition's symptom relief.

Online Professional Counseling Services

By using the internet to connect with a therapist, you can have access to a qualified counselor at the tap of your fingertips via your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. While you shouldn't expect an instant response to the email messages you send every time, simply putting your thoughts and feelings into words can be of immediate relief and benefit, as can reviewing the course of your previous conversations you have had with the therapist. If you feel that it is needed, you can also schedule real-time live counseling sessions through instant messaging chat, phone call, or video chat.

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These services offer the same kind and quality of treatment as an office-bound therapist can, but at much lower cost and in a much more convenient format. Especially for those suffering from potentially severe mental health issues, chronic medical conditions, or physical limitations, online therapy now makes it possible to access effective professional help from anywhere at any time, while eliminating some common barriers such as financial, travel, and time constraints.