Practice... what you preach...

I always like to compare working in mental health to working in the medical field...
People need a mental physical, or wellness checks if you will, and would probably benefit from at least one visit to a clinician per year. People go through periods of mild mental illness, like catching a cold, and would benefit from brief treatment. And there are some moderate-to-severe and acute mental illnesses that require specialized treatment by therapists, and those should be available for the public as well.

Though I make these comparisons, I hesitate to express this viewpoint with those outside the field, especially with my clients, because I don't want to be compared to doctors. I just want people to realize that mental health is just as important to maintain as physical health, and that going to see a clinician, or a therapist, or a counselor, or whatever you want to call the person you are "working with," is not so bad.

I say these things... but why is it so damn hard for some people (especially those with no exposure to talk-therapy prior to learning about it) to engage for ourselves? Why do we set ourselves up to do the same thing as the lay, in not seeking treatment?

Well, maybe it isn't hard for everyone, but it damn sure is hard for me to think about the idea and consider its practicality.

There's still this notion of "I don't need (or really, like asking for) help."
People who ask for help are weak, and I'm not.
I can handle my stuff on my own.
I've got this.

...the same as the uninformed.

for some.

Really? Because the last time I checked, we were often preaching the importance of seeking treatment, of "seeing someone," of taking care of business. It's important. It's necessary. It's critical for continued wellness... But in reality, many people are not seeking treatment. We are walking around with the world on our shoulders, carrying the weight of everyone around us as if it is our burden alone to bear. But life still happens. And in the same way that we see many people who reach a point where they feel they can no longer handle life, anyone not in treatment should wonder, when will the same happen to me?

So I said to myself... I said, "Self?"
myself said "Huh?"
I said "Self, make an appointment."

...and the other preachers too should follow.