How BetterHelp Helped Me Realize Things That I've Never Even Been Able To Acknowledge Myself
Prior to starting therapy with a BetterHelp counselor, Anita had met with in-person therapists, but she found it difficult to open up. With BetterHelp, Anita has found herself able to discuss challenges like depression and self-destructive behaviors. Read on to hear directly from Anita about her experiences with BetterHelp.
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Did you try therapy before BetterHelp?
I had tried in-person counseling a few times before BetterHelp. While those services provided a good introduction for me to receiving support, I knew the people and organization through my work as we had many clients in common. This made it hard for me to open up and talk about my primary concerns and experiences. However, I was grateful for the experience as it opened doors for me to seek further support.”
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When did you switch to BetterHelp, and how’s that experience been overall?
“I have now been working with my BetterHelp counselor since January 4th, 2018. I signed up for help with depression, anxiety disorders, feelings of hopelessness, and what I felt was the start of some self-destructive behavioral patterns. I am now in a much more stable place emotionally and mentally, but I originally felt like I was one breath away from a nervous breakdown before I started seeking professional support.
I've admitted things with my counselor that I've never even been able to acknowledge myself.”
How did you find BetterHelp?
“I believe I saw an ad for BetterHelp on Instagram. The flexibility of BetterHelp’s online platform were major contributing factors in my decision to sign up to try it. Being able to do sessions over the phone when it worked for my schedule seemed convenient and ended up being one of my most enjoyable perks of the service.”
What did you enjoy most about BetterHelp?
“Having the flexibility to write out my feelings or struggles to later have my counselor offer support and guidance was super beneficial to my growth and healing journey. I ended up admitting things that I'd never been able to even acknowledge to myself previously, let alone anyone else allowing me to get to the root of some of my main areas of concern.
Finding support, validation, and tools for managing trauma and complex feelings
Additionally, having support to help me realize that I'm not alone, the confirmation that I was struggling with a lot of dysfunction in more than one area of my life, and the validation of my experiences both past and present were essential to my journey. Perhaps most importantly, I learned that there are skills or tools I can utilize to help manage trauma responses and more dense or complex, nuanced feelings.”
If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.
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Where are you in your healing journey today? Confronting “things that I've never even been able to acknowledge myself”
“Today, I find that I am better able to self-assess more often now, honoring what or how I'm feeling and truly “sitting” with any stress or heavy emotions I may be feeling or grappling with at that point in time.
Embracing self-care and growth through therapy and yoga training
I try to take the time I need for myself now, practice more self-care, and write a lot of my feelings out rather than compartmentalize them. I'm encouraged to get moving physically more often. I'm not quite where I want to be yet, but hope to be soon with the help of online therapy and the therapeutic yoga training I've enrolled in.
I've made some very big changes and decisions that I'm not sure I would have been able to do without my counselor's support. I am feeling grateful that I was able to overcome my pride and ask for help when I needed it.
Realizing the strength in asking for help
Being able to ask for help, I now realize, is a sign of strength and not weakness. I'm on the road to claiming all of my power back and feeling much stronger these days as I confront things that I've never even been able to acknowledge myself before!”
How can online therapy help those experiencing depression or feelings of hopelessness?
When someone is living with symptoms of depression or feelings of hopelessness, it can feel nearly impossible to get out of bed—let alone leave the home. This can present a potential barrier to support, as some therapeutic options require a person to be physically present. Online therapy allows people living with depression to connect with a therapist in a way that is comfortable for them, whether by live in-app:
- Messaging
- Audio
- Videoconferencing
- Or a combination of these methods
BetterHelp users can also send asynchronous messages whenever they have a question between sessions, and therapists typically respond within a day or two.
Finding the right therapist isn’t just important – it’s everything.
Find your matchIs online therapy effective?
As we see in Anita’s case, online therapy can be helpful in supporting those with a variety of mental health concerns. Recent research has found that online therapy is effective for addressing symptoms of:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Other conditions
One meta-analysis published in eClinicalMedicine found online therapy was more effective than in-person therapy for reducing depression.
Takeaway
What is one example of “things that I've never even been able to acknowledge myself”?
One example might be admitting feelings of self-doubt or fear you've buried for a long time, avoiding them because they felt too overwhelming to face.
How can I tell if online therapy is the right choice for me compared to in-person therapy?
Online therapy might be right for you if you prefer flexibility, convenience, or the comfort of connecting with a therapist from your own space, especially if in-person options feel less attainable or comfortable.
What should I expect during my first online therapy session with BetterHelp?
In your first session, expect to discuss your concerns and goals with your therapist, who will help set a comfortable pace and establish a plan tailored to your needs.
How does BetterHelp ensure discretion in my therapy sessions?
BetterHelp uses technology and follows strict standards to ensure all communication between you and your therapist remains discrete.
Can I switch therapists on BetterHelp if I feel like my current counselor isn't a good fit?
Yes, BetterHelp allows you to easily switch therapists at any time if you feel your current counselor is not the right match for you.
What types of mental health issues can be effectively addressed through online therapy via BetterHelp?
BetterHelp can help with a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, relationship challenges, and more by connecting you with therapists experienced in your specific areas of concern.
How to deal with not being acknowledged?
If you feel like you are not being acknowledged in some area of your life, it may help to be honest with yourself and others about what is bothering you. Doing so can feel vulnerable in the moment, but it can give you the ability to alter the course of your relationships for the better. In some cases, gaining a new perspective and looking at the situation in a different way can also make a difference.
Why do I feel so underappreciated?
There can be many reasons for feeling underappreciated at any stage of life. Social comparisons, low self-esteem, changing relationships, major life transitions, and many other factors can all play a role. For instance, you might feel underappreciated in your job after being there for several years without receiving much professional validation. Or, as you navigate the real world in your early twenties, you might feel that once-close friends have become so focused on their lives that they forget about your friendship. Or, you might feel that everybody around you is having more fun or enjoying more success than you are, while, in contrast, you feel helpless and stuck, afraid of what might happen if you fail.
What is lack of recognition?
Lack of recognition means not being acknowledged or appreciated for what you have done or who you are. People can experience a lack of recognition in many ways and in various circumstances. For instance, you might feel that your boss doesn’t recognize your contributions at work, or your parents don’t celebrate what you achieve and absolutely nothing you do seems to be enough for them. This lack of recognition can impact a person’s self-confidence and contribute to low self-esteem.
What to do when no one values you?
Having the feeling that nobody values you can be very painful. It can make you feel sad, lost, and alone, and you may even wonder if something is wrong with you. If this is something you’re feeling, there are a number of steps you can take to challenge this belief, cope with the pain, and move forward. To start, it may help to try to understand where this idea is coming from—is it rooted in truth and reality, or is it related to an underlying fear, sense of shame, or insecurity?
Consider how you speak to yourself, and if you notice negative thoughts swirling in your head, try to challenge and push against them. Try to remind yourself of all the qualities that you are proud of and grateful for, choosing instead to lead with kindness and self-compassion. Finally, consider taking action to cultivate your own happiness and self-worth. This can involve taking care of your body, doing one thing each day that brings you joy, letting go of things you can’t control, and knowing when to walk away from people or situations that no longer serve you.
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