Stamp Out the Stigma

I will never understand the stigma that surrounds going to counseling or seeing a therapist. Society has turned something that is supposed to be inviting into something that is feared and looked down upon. Many people in today's world, whether they know it or not, will look at you differently once they know you're seeking professional help. I've experienced it many times in the 18 years I've been alive. Talking with a friend and they ask what my plans are for the rest of the day and I mention my therapy appointment later that afternoon. "You go to therapy?" they say with a judgmental waver in their voice. Or even getting glances or weird looks in public as I talk with my mom about an upcoming appointment. Therapy is a normal practice just like going to the chiropractor or the physical therapist is, although in today's world it's not thought of like that.

In high school I always shied away from telling my friends my plans for the day included a therapy appointment. I feared judgement and ridicule, being thought of as weird or broken, even among the people whom I trusted the most. Most people associate therapy or counseling with someone who has major issues and a lot of things wrong with them. When that isn't always the case. Sure there are people who are required to see a therapist or counselor as part of a treatment plan, or seek professional help because of loss of an immediate family member. But there are also people who go to therapy or counseling to better understand themselves and to grow as a person. Just because someone says they go to therapy doesn't mean they are crazy or a risk to society. Sometimes people just need a shoulder to cry on, a person who will listen and not judge, who will give non-biased feedback, or who will show them they are not alone in their day-to-day struggles. 

The stigma that is attached to therapy and counseling was created by us. Society. So we have the power to change it. We need to say "to hell with the stigma" and focus on creating an environment where people can freely talk about their mental and emotional wellbeing. An environment where going to therapy or counseling is equal to going to the chiropractor or physical therapist. We should be praising the people that go to therapy or counseling. Giving them kudos for knowing that they needed help, support, and advice from a licensed professional. It takes a lot of courage to admit to others let alone yourself that you need help. So why are we breaking people down for doing what they recognized as best for themselves? That is the stigma that society has created. That is the stigma we need to stamp out.