If you are experiencing any emotional or behavioral problems, the idea of counseling may have already crossed your mind or may have been recently recommended to you. Seeking mental health services such as counseling absolutely does not make you a weak person. Many strong, resilient people need therapy. In fact, recognizing a problem and seeking help makes you stronger than the people who deny or hide their problems. People visit counselors for many reasons, but this article will discuss three in particular. 

Significant Changes

You may want to look into counseling if you are undergoing a lot of life changes. This includes changing jobs, changing a field of study, moving to a new house, entering new stages of raising children, learning to live independently or with dependence, starting a new relationship, marrying, or any other change that significantly alters daily life. Counselors are prepared to help you adjust to such changes. They can offer perspective, coping mechanisms, positive affirmation, and much more.

Potential Disorders 

One reason to consider mental health services is that you may be experiencing a disorder without knowing it. Presumably, you would already know there was a problem if you had something like Bipolar Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder. However, some common mental illnesses can escape notice. According to one source, anxiety disorders are the most common psychological problems in the US, affecting 18% of the population. The source also notes that Major Depressive Disorder affects 6.7% of the adult population. If you constantly feel anxious, or if you have been feeling extremely down for a while, you may find relief talking with a counselor.  

Grief and Loss

Finally, seeking mental health services may be helpful if you are suffering grief from loss. Loss is not limited to a loved one's death; grief may happen, for example, at the loss of a job, loss of a dream, loss of friends, or separation or breakups with significant others. Grief and mourning are natural responses to loss. People process their grief in all different ways, and many of them find it beneficial to talk things out with a therapist. The counselor can offer support, resources, and skills to deal with negative emotions.  

Final Note

Life changes, grief, and potential development of disorders are all prominent reasons to think about receiving mental health services. If you are experiencing an emotional or behavioral problem that actively interferes with your daily life, you should see a psychologist. If there is a problem, but it's not significant enough to intrude on daily activities, you usually do not need counseling. If you think you might have a problem but are not sure what it is, seeing a counselor would be best, since the counselor can help identify the problem. 

For more information, contact local professionals like Dr. Stephen Brown & Associates.