I Need Someone To Talk To About My Mental Health

Updated March 1, 2023by BetterHelp Editorial Team

When you find yourself juggling multiple mental health concerns (including stress, work, relationships, mental and physical health issues, and maybe even an emergency) and thinking, "I need to ask for help," it is natural to want and need to talk to someone about your thoughts and mental health. Support from friends and family can make a difference in our capacity to manage all these stressors. Understandably, you would want to vent to a friend or loved one about what you're experiencing. However, they may not always you with some be available or know how to help you. This article will provide other tools and resources to contact when you are experiencing challenges or emotional distress.

Do You Need Someone To Talk? Know You Are Not Alone

Getting Help For Life's Challenges

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of people in the United States who are receiving mental health treatment is growing, with more people seeking help for symptoms of mental health disorders (such as anxiety and depressive disorders). If you have been experiencing symptoms of a mental health disorder or simply are looking for professional assistance in managing life’s stressors, there is no shame in talking to a therapist. 

A therapist is a dedicated mental health professional who is trained and licensed to guide people in learning to healthily cope with mental health problems and life issues. Through talk therapy and other treatment strategies, they help to navigate you through your intense thoughts and emotions when you are unable to on your own. 

Talk therapy helps people dealing with stressful situations and mental health concerns and provides them with support, empathy, and strategies to cope. Seeking mental health treatment is an excellent way to manage symptoms, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and take control of your life once more.

Know When To Get Help For Your Mental Health

There is only so much that friends and family can do to help when you need mental health support. Furthermore, many people simply do not have healthy support systems in place to assist them through difficult and challenging times. There are times when a licensed counselor can step in and help you develop coping skills to manage your life challenges.

For example, you may experience panic attacks regularly and you have talked to your loved ones about your anxiety. Though they empathize, they do not know how to help you with the condition. A trained counselor can help you learn grounding techniques to use when you are experiencing a panic attack. 

First and foremost, know that you do not need to have severe symptoms of mental health distress to reach out for professional support. Talking to a therapist before stress or other life events overwhelms your capacity to function helps you to identify warning signs of a developing mental health disorder. You also can learn strategies that help you learn coping tools as well as strategies to build resilience for present and future stressful life events. 

If you are interested in online therapy, many counselors at BetterHelp understand how to help people manage symptoms of mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. If you have a life challenge and are unable to solve it on your own, counseling can help. Your therapist wants to support you and help improve your mental health.

Utilize Support Groups

Even after speaking with a trained counselor, it is a good idea to develop a support network that understands what you are going through. Though your current friends may be a good option for you, keep in mind that not everyone is comfortable or knows how to talk about mental health with others.

Support groups give you the opportunity to meet with peers who understand your situation or mental health conditions. They can offer support and guidance when you are experiencing emotional stress or fear and may even have some strategies that can help you feel calm again. Furthermore, they are also a great source of social interaction if you simply feel lonely and want to connect with more people

Support groups are usually led by a licensed therapist or counselor. However, some are led by a pastor, minister, or a trained moderator who themselves manage a mental health disorder. Support groups are specifically geared towards those who tell a similar diagnosis or condition, this helps build a circle of trust that allow features to open and tell without judgement.

Who To Contact During A Mental Health Emergency

However, if you feel that you are experiencing a mental health emergency, do not wait for your next therapy session to talk about it. There are going to be moments when you need someone immediately to help you with your mental health needs.

For example, if you are experiencing depression or similar mental health conditions, you may at some point experience suicidal thoughts. When this happens, immediately call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support. This service is completely free and available 24/7. When you call, trained listeners will provide you with a safe space to discuss your thoughts and situation. They will listen to you with empathy and compassion and may also be able to point you to local resources, such as low-income mental health services. If you do not want to call, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also has an online chat, so you can discuss your situation with trained professionals more discreetly.

There are other crisis lines that help people with other specific mental health conditions and emergencies. Below are some other crisis lines that are available to you.

When you contact these crisis lines, you will discuss your problem with a trained counselor or other professional to help you with your crisis. Some hotlines also allow you to text them or use an online chat if you want to be more discreet. Furthermore, some of these sites offer an online forum so you can chat with others who know what you are going through.

If you are not someone experiencing these crises but know someone who is, you can still contact these hotlines for support and guidance.

Getting Professional Mental Help Support

The National Institute of Mental Health has recently reported that 53 million, or 1 in 5 people, in the United States are living with a mental health disorder. The demand for qualified licensed mental health therapists is greater than ever. You may be having trouble in finding an in-person therapist due to personal obstacles, a busy schedule, or simply cannot find an opening in your local community. 

If you are having a hard time scheduling an appointment, consider making an appointment with an online therapist. With online therapy, you can schedule sessions with your therapist at the time most convenient for you. You and your online therapist can communicate anytime, day or night through chat sessions, video chat, or texting therapy. Research has shown that online therapy is equally as effective in helping treat mental health as in-person therapy. For example, a study published in the peer-reviewed research Journal of Clinical Psychology  revealed that in over 100 different online counseling trials overall attitudes between both counselors and participants were as positive as with in-person counseling.

No appointment is ever necessary to chat with BetterHelp’s therapists. While an appointment is not required, online clients can schedule sessions in advance. On average, our online therapists check their messages twice a day and will answer you within 12 hours a big improvement from waiting six months for in-office therapy. The therapists at BetterHelp are trained to help you improve your mental health being  licensed therapists who can help you better cope with life and stress with specific solutions for the challenges you face. 

Take a look at the following reviews to get an idea of how BetterHelp supports their clients:

Therapist Reviews

Rebecca Navarre, MSW, LMSW

"Rebecca has helped me sort out things and reflect on things in a way I have never experienced with a face-to-face counselor. I can be way more open through messaging than face to face, so this works perfectly for me. She addresses and helps with many different aspects at once. She sees the overall picture and helps me to do the same. The way I look at things has changed, and my quality of life and the quality of my children's lives have improved very quickly in a short time."

Takeaway

After reading this article, if you are considering meeting with a therapist to help you, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an in-person or online therapist. With mental health therapy, you will not only have support and help that you need. but will learn strategies to improve the way you manage challenges that life gives you.
If you are managing mental health issues, anxiety, depression, or relationship problems, know these are all concerns that the counselors at BetterHelp understand and can help you with. They want to help support you through these obstacles. You can talk to them about whatever challenges you are experiencing and get the guidance and empathy that you deserve. The counselors here at BetterHelp are waiting to support and help you in the way that you deserve.

For additional help & support with your concerns

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.
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