5 Warning Signs it is Time to See a Therapist

According to data from Mental Health America (MHA), over 50 million Americans are currently experiencing a mental illness. Due to the pandemic, these numbers have risen dramatically over the past few years. In fact, 664,000 more people have reported suicidal thoughts in 2022 than last year. Though alarming, this information isn’t meant to terrify you. If you’re going through a personal struggle, it’s important to know you’re not alone. Countless other people feel the same way, and trained professionals can guide you. If you’re feeling more anxious, depressed, and stressed than ever, then it’s probably time to seek help from a therapist. Unfortunately, due to the stigma surrounding mental health, few people do so. Trust your instincts. If you’re experiencing any of the following signs, your body is telling you it’s time to seek assistance.

1. You Can’t Get Relief

In life, we’re always grappling with challenges. Whether it’s a stressful time at work, a complicated relationship, or grief due to loss, there’s always something to contend with. When we aren’t suffering from a debilitating mental illness, we’re able to create a healthy balance between stress and joy. Things like a strong support system or a fulfilling hobby can provide us with light in dark times. However, if you feel like you can’t get any respite from overwhelming thoughts and feelings (or enjoyable things no longer give you joy) it’s probably time to see a therapist.

2. You Feel Like There’s No one to Talk To

Do you sometimes feel like your mind won’t “turn off”? Perhaps you feel like you have a lot you need to get off your chest, but there’s no one to speak to. Maybe you’re worried about burdening others with your emotions, or you’re scared they won’t understand. In some cases, you just might not have the support you need from others. A therapist is an unbiased third party who is trained to communicate with and guide you. Why not let them listen?

3. Your Normal Habits Have Changed

Throughout our lives, we’re always growing and changing. However, some of our habits can start to change in a negative way. Let’s say, for instance, that you always used to sleep soundly. Now, you can never get a good night’s rest. You wake up in the middle of the night, can’t sleep at all, or you never feel rested. Maybe you’re turning to risky behaviors or isolating yourself from family and friends. Take a step back and ask yourself if these apply to you. If they do, it’s time to see a therapist. They can help you understand these changes and translate what your body is trying to communicate to you.

4. Your Coping Mechanisms are Hurting You

We all have things we look forward to that lift our spirits: a good meal, a night out with friends, or our favorite music. When life becomes too overwhelming to bear, however, we might turn to other coping mechanisms like alcohol and drugs to ease our pain. In some cases, we may even use the dizzying effects of love and flighty romantic relationships as a sort of drug. It can seem as though these things take away all our problems. Unfortunately, this feeling is only temporary. Relying on outside elements to help us is like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. Coping mechanisms can cover up damage momentarily, but underneath the wound is still there. In actuality, these things inflict even more harm to us over time.

5. You’re Wondering if You Should See a Therapist

If your gut is telling you that you need help, listen. Chances are, you’re right. If you’re wrong, there’s nothing to lose. A therapist isn’t only there to help us when we’ve reached our lowest point. Therapy is also preventative. It’s time we prioritize our mental well-being. Most importantly, therapists can teach us how to meet life’s challenges with a fighting spirit. If you’re wondering if you can benefit from seeing a therapist, why not give it a try? In truth, everyone could benefit from added support. If you’d like, you can even receive therapy in a group or with a family member.

Meet with A Therapist and Partner with Lead4Life, Inc.

At Lead4Life, we strive to empower every participant in our programs so that they may find their purpose, achieve their goals, and become poised, productive members of their community. We advocate for those in need and assist each and every individual by providing compassionate education and valuable resources and tools so that they can make the very best decisions and develop important life, social, and competency skills. We also offer individual and family therapy to help you overcome obstacles of all kinds. Visit our website for more information, or contact us at 240-499-8949.

Why Every Child Needs a Non-Parent Mentor

Parents do everything they can to ensure their children’s success and well-being. However, kids need additional relationships outside the family in order to develop strong life skills. When it comes to human development, childhood is a crucial period; this is when we build our cognitive, emotional, social, and rational abilities. As they continue to grow and change, kids need more than parental figures. A friend, teacher or non-parent mentor can introduce children to new ways of thinking and help them form interpersonal connections. This has far-reaching benefits, including better results in school and increased confidence. Plus, mentorship is especially helpful for at-risk youth. With help from a mentor, they are 52% less likely to skip school and 55% more likely to attend college.

Why Every Child Needs a Non-Parent Mentor 

A Third-Party to Confide In  

A non-parent mentor is an unbiased third party whose job it is to listen. Every child’s situation at home is different. At times, kids may not feel comfortable sharing their innermost feelings with their parents. Non-parent mentors are trained to get on their level and guide them in the right direction. They do this by letting the child communicate about things they might not vocalize normally, whether it’s bullies, poor grades or other worries.

Development of Self-Efficacy

As kids continue to grow and thrive, they need to know they’re capable of standing on their own two feet. You may be thinking, “Hold on! I don’t have to think about that until they turn 18, right?” Actually, this is something we should be thinking about long before our kids pack up for college. The skills we build as children are like tools we obtain and put in a backpack. We carry this backpack around for the rest of our life, and when things come our way we can retrieve those tools we acquired earlier. This means that most children can benefit from developing a strong sense of self-efficacy. By working with a non-parent mentor and making connections outside of family life, kids get the chance to learn about themselves and develop confidence.

Mentees Love Giving Back

90% of kids with a non-parent mentor show interest in becoming mentors themselves. A statistic like this serves to demonstrate the importance of mentorship. Mentors have a massive impact on their mentees, and the kids will always look back on that time fondly. It encourages them to help others, develop leadership skills, and give back to the community. Additionally, working with a non-parent mentor fosters empathy, compassion and understanding. Children will take the spirit of altruism with them on their journey through life.

Lead4Life, Inc. Can Introduce Your Child to a Trained, Non-Parent Mentor

Does your child need a non-parent mentor? Visit our website and check out our mentoring initiative for more information, or contact us at 240-499-8949. At Lead4Life, we strive to empower every participant in our programs so that they may find their purpose, achieve their goals, and become poised, productive members of their community. We advocate for those in need and assist each and every individual by providing compassionate education and valuable resources and tools so that they can make the very best decisions and develop important life, social, and competency skills.

Tips for Becoming a Great Mentor

Through mentoring, you have the opportunity to guide a young person in a positive way and make a difference in their life. This can be an incredibly positive and uplifting experience for both you and your mentee. During your time together, you might even learn a thing or two from the teen you mentor! The act of supporting another individual can be incredibly meaningful, but it also comes with unique challenges. Considering this, you may be wondering not only how to be a good mentor, but a great one. If you are looking to take your mentoring skills to the next level, here are some ideas to get you started.

Be Open

A mentor shouldn’t be an authoritative figure, but a reliable friend. How can you be more of a friend to your mentees? One great way to build a friendship is to open up yourself. Think about how you can share your life and impart knowledge from your own experiences. While it’s important to remember your role and purpose, there’s no need to be overly formal and reserved with your mentees. Get down on their level and see the world from their point of view. If you can be honest and forthcoming, they will be willing to open up with you in return.

Build Trust

When young people confide in you, they want to know the information they choose to share is in good hands. Breaking that trust by responding in a negative or unhelpful way can dissolve the mentor-mentee relationship. Of course, some situations may require the involvement of others such as parents and guardians. If the individual you’re mentoring is in any kind of trouble and communicates that to you, it’s your responsibility to ensure they get the help they need. However, when it comes to day-to-day conversations, your mentees should be able to come to you without judgement.

Get to Know Your Mentees

At some point in our lives, someone will come to us for guidance, support or advice. Consider the important relationships in your life. When you provided that kind of support to someone else in the past, was it effective? If so, why was it successful? Almost certainly, it was because they felt comfortable receiving support from someone they knew and respected. Correspondingly, you were able to give your friend or family member support because you knew what would work for them. Getting to know your mentees and spending valuable time with them will help you help them.

Become a Great Mentor with Lead4Life, Inc.

Do you want to become a great mentor? Visit our website and check out our mentoring initiative for more information, or contact us at 240-499-8949. At Lead4Life, we strive to empower every participant in our programs so that they may find their purpose, achieve their goals, and become poised, productive members of their community. We advocate for those in need and assist each and every individual by providing compassionate education and valuable resources and tools so that they can make the very best decisions and develop important life, social, and competency skills.