Going to the doctor when you're ill carries no stigma, but what about seeing a therapist to work through issues or find support as you deal with mental illness? Similar to how a doctor treats your body, people who seek therapy find a way to treat their feeling or emotions. However, they often deal with unfair presumptions and misconceptions about why they seek therapy and what they must be like.

We contacted therapists inside and outside of our network and spoke with clients to dispel these beliefs and replace them with the truth. Continue reading to understand the truth about why people see therapists and to battle the stigma associated with mental illness.

• Mental illness is an incurable, lifelong condition 

With the proper care, prompt diagnosis, and prompt treatment, the majority of patients make full recoveries and experience no further episodes of illness. Others may experience relapses of their mental illness and need ongoing care. Many medical ailments, including diabetes and heart disease, are analogous to this. Mental illness can be handled in the same way as these other chronic health disorders, allowing people to lead complete lives.

Although some persons with persistent mental illness become incapacitated, many others, especially those who have very severe episodes of illness, lead full and productive lives.

• People have mental illnesses from birth

Some mental disorder may have familial predisposition. However, it can occur as well without family history. 

The start of a mental disorder is influenced by numerous factors. Stress, bereavement, failed relationships, unemployment, social isolation, a serious medical ailment, physical and sexual abuse, or disability may be among them. Many a time these condition lead to nerve transmitter imbalance. Our knowledge of what causes mental disease is expanding.

• Mental health problems need to be manageable by individuals

Nobody expects you to walk off the pain if you break your leg. You should expect to receive treatment for a mental health issue in the same way that you would receive care from a doctor for a physical ailment. You might think that you must handle your mental health issues by yourself. In fact, there is a ton of support available to make you feel better.

The following are a few indicators that you might benefit from receiving expert mental health support:

• You've been under a lot of stress, worry, or sadness.
• You're experiencing constant agitation, rage, worry, frustration.
• Your level of productivity at work has dropped significantly. 
• You're avoiding relationships or experiencing relationship issues.
• You no longer feel motivated and/or find it challenging to focus.
• You now consume more booze or illicit substances.

• Only specific individuals can develop a mental ailment

Anybody can experience mental health issues. No matter their age, education level, income level, or culture, everyone is affected.

• People who have supportive social networks do not require counseling

Compared to friends and family, therapists offer different kinds of assistance. Both, but in different ways, support good mental health. Support for professional mental health is:

• Confidential - Because mental health professionals are subject to privacy rules, people frequently feel more at ease opening up to them.
• Goal - The therapist's job is to listen carefully and provide you with the tools and tactics you need to feel better. There is no chance that they will judge you, take a side, or turn the information you provide against you.
• Specialist-trained counselors, therapists, and mental health coaches can customize treatment to meet your requirements. Research has shown that many people employ treatments that work.
• A personal flaw is what leads to mental disease.

• Mental disease is not a weakness in character 

A complex interplay of biochemical, social, and environmental & genetic elements is the root cause of it. Being strong and resilient means asking for and accepting help & treatment.