By Dr. Raymond Zakhari, NP

Psychotherapy can be a helpful tool for people who are struggling with a variety of mental health issues. It can help you to understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to develop coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and difficult emotions.

If you are considering psychotherapy, it is important to be aware of the potential benefits. Psychotherapy can help you to:

• Improve your self-esteem. Psychotherapy can help you to develop a more realistic view of yourself and your abilities.
• Reduce stress and anxiety, eventually. Psychotherapy can help you to learn how to manage stress and anxiety in a healthy way.
• Improve your relationships. Psychotherapy can help you to improve your communication skills and to resolve conflict in your relationships.
• Cope with trauma. If you have experienced a traumatic event, psychotherapy can help you to heal from the experience and to move on with your life when you are ready.
• Make better decisions. Psychotherapy can help you to develop the skills you need to make sound decisions about your life.

Feeling and Dealing

If you are ready to make some positive changes your life, psychotherapy can be a helpful tool. Here are six realizations that psychotherapy can help you make:

1. You are worthy of love and respect. Everyone deserves to be loved and respected, regardless of their past mistakes or current circumstances. Psychotherapy can help you to see your own worth and to develop healthier relationships.
2. Your feelings are real, but they are not facts. It is okay to feel sad, angry, or scared. Your feelings are valid, and you don’t have to bottle them up. Psychotherapy can help you to understand and express your feelings in a healthy way.
3. You are not alone, and you are not special. Everyone struggles with challenges in their lives. You are not alone, and there is help available. Psychotherapy can help you to connect with others who understand what you are going through.
4. You are capable of change, but you may not want to. You are not stuck in the same patterns of behavior. With time and effort, you can change. Psychotherapy can help you to develop the skills you need to make positive changes in your life.
5. The past does not define you unless you allow it to. The past is over, and you cannot change it. However, you can learn from the past and move on. Psychotherapy can help you to let go of the past and to focus on the present.
6. No one can control the future. You can control how you respond and your attitude amidst the circumstances.

“If you want to heal, you’re going to have to learn to feel and deal” means that in order to move on from pain or trauma, you need to allow yourself to feel the emotions that come up. You can’t just ignore or suppress your feelings, because they will only come back stronger later. Instead, you need to acknowledge your feelings, sit with them, and process them in a healthy way. This may involve talking to a therapist, journaling, or doing other activities that help you to express your emotions. It’s also important to find healthy ways to cope with your feelings, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, or spending time with loved ones.

It’s important to remember that healing is not a linear process. There will be ups and downs, and you may have setbacks along the way. But if you keep working at it, you will eventually heal.

Here are some tips for learning to feel and deal:

• Acknowledge your feelings. The first step to healing is to acknowledge your feelings. This doesn’t mean that you have to like your feelings or that you have to dwell on them. But it does mean that you need to allow yourself to feel them without judgment.
• Name your feelings. Once you’ve acknowledged your feelings, try to name them. This can help you to understand what you’re feeling and to process your emotions in a more effective way.
• Express your feelings in a healthy way. There are many healthy ways to express your feelings. Some people find it helpful to talk to a therapist, while others prefer to journal, write poetry, or create art. There is no right or wrong way to express your feelings, as long as it is a healthy way for you.
• Take care of yourself. Healing takes time and energy. It’s important to take care of yourself during this time by eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising. You may also want to avoid alcohol and drugs, as they can interfere with the healing process.
• Be patient with yourself. Healing is not a quick fix. It takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and don’t give up. If you keep working at it, you will eventually heal.