Telling your family about getting professional help for your mental health
Have the courage to tell your family and access counselling
In this post I will be writing about counselling. And also about understanding the point of view of yourself and your loved ones after telling them you’re going to seek professional help.
Counseling is a course of action that is taken by some people who want to seek
professional advice and support with their personal and psychological problems.
It takes a lot of courage and strength to ask for
help from others. It is hard to put your ego aside and let yourself be
vulnerable.
As well as that, it also takes a lot to stand up for yourself to your family and friends and tell them you need professional help {via counselling}.
Not everyone will agree with you.
And because of this disagreement, they may just tell you to "snap out of it" or "there is nothing wrong with you".
And for them it is completely normal for them to react this way.
They just don't understand and would want you to sit down with them and
explain, even if they don't say it.
Telling your loved ones about getting help is one thing. Dealing with the
aftermath of telling them is another thing.
You telling them you want to get help for your mental health and the fact that
you are going to do that must be a big deal for you. It took you however long
to build up the courage and strength {sometimes support from those who advised
you} to tell them. And if you did happen to tell your family about this then
good on you.
I'm happy to say that I am proud of you for doing that.
However, you must look at this on the flip side and see the point of view of
your loved ones, family and friends.
With them being on the receiving end, it is a lot for them to take in and a
bittersweet pill that is hard to swallow. To them, in their eyes, they see you
as someone normal and nothing wrong with you due to a lack of understanding and
shame put upon the idea of getting help from a professional who happens to be a
"stranger" to you and them.
However the one thing about family is that we hope they'll come round.
Whether they like the idea or not, they will come round and eventually see the good in you getting the help you need. After all, they want to see you happy and get better.
And if counselling is the way to do it, then they'll end up supporting
you for it. Eventually.
The reason for this post, is because I want everyone reading this to know:
Family may not always understand your choices in life. They may want you to
explain and even if you do, they still don't understand. Regardless of what
happens, hopefully they will be there for you in the worst of times just as much as the
best of times. So have a little faith in yourself and reach out to your family
if you are going to seek help.
In the end, they matter. And you could tell them what is going on with you.
Even if they disagree and won't understand. After all, they are family.
Hope this post has encouraged you to tell anyone if you
are ever to seek professional help. You don't have to tell everyone in the
whole family. Even a few select people, who you trust, is fine. Just as long as you tell
someone, that is the most important thing.
Keep your head up high and remember. You are not alone. We are in this
together.
Written by @faizablogs
Mental Health blogger - Anxiety and Mental Health Awareness - Expressing what it feels like to live with anxiety on a daily basis.
The Muslim Counsellor and Psychotherapist Network (MCAPN) works to address the stigma of mental health and raise mental health awareness so that Muslim / BME communities and clients can more easily access mental health support and counselling.
To find a Muslim Counsellor you can search our MCAPN Counselling Directory: http://www.mcapn.co.uk/counselling-directory
