Therapy

 I have been going to therapy for over a year now. 

It's still taboo to say that out loud. So much stigma around it. Especially when it comes to the older generations.

I, too, have been afraid to reach out to a therapist. I've put it off for years. 

I thought I could deal with it myself. I couldn't rely on my GP either as he thought he knew better and I just had to deal with it. He gave me antidepressants and that was that. Mind you, at the time I was only 16!

Of course it helped in the beginning but the side effects weren't nice and a few years ago I said to him that I had the feeling they weren't working anymore. So you know what he said? Take more - up the dose - it will help. 

I refused, I knew that wasn't where I wanted to end up. Maybe it would help for a little while but the roots of why I was struggling weren't taken away with it. So instead I asked him for a referral. He reluctlanty gave me one. 

So the search began. The first thing I encountered was the pricetag. To get professional help - especially mental health help, you need to have the financials. The costs are not covered by insurance - it's only now - 2 years later - that things are starting to change. On average a therapysession costs about 70 euros. If you have a session every fortnight, that's 140 euro. And of course your health, mental or physical, is important, but it's a hard nut to crack. 

Luckily I knew my way around the social system as I had studied in the social department and knew there was an organisation subsidized by the Flemish government where you could go for all kinds of help, including mental health help. A therapysession there was 'only' 11 euros - a significant difference.

And so the second hurdle came along. There was a a lengthy waitinglist. I still decided to go for it. A few months later I could start. From that moment a huge waited lifted of my shoulders. Even though nothing had really changed mental health wise, the feeling of finally really doing something to get better, was amazing. 

From that moment on I also decided to be vocal on my struggles. I posted about it on my social media, esp Instagram, and it felt liberating. I have yet to encounter one negative comment about me being open about it. 

Over the years I really felt something shift in my generation, the millenials, regarding mental health and the taboo around it. And despite all the negativity around celebrities, I think they are a massive positive influence in this. The likes of Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato, Eminem, Dwayne Johnson, Robin Williams, Adele, Kristen Bell, ... all shared their struggles with their mental health. To let the people know they have to open up and speak up, that's what we want to hear from celebrities. And that's one thing I am thanking them for!

So, if you struggle, in any way, shape or form, with whatever it may be, speak up! Speak to someone, speak to anyone, let them know you struggle and that you want help.

And if you are one of the people that someone confides in, listen - just listen, ask how you can help. Don't judge. Listening is the most important thing anyone can do!