It's Ok to Need Help
By Dr. Gregory Hall, Bentley College
In western culture we are raised and constantly reinforced to believe that proactively attending to our physical health is appropriate and responsible. Such old sayings as: "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" persist in our culture. Regular physical malady we diagnose the ailment and develop a course of
treatment. In short, we develop a plan and take action! Occasionally, we determine that the physical ailment cannot be addressed independently. Thus, we seek professional help from a health practitioner.
For some unknown cultural reason we have not been taught and reinforced to address our emotional health in the same manner as our physical health. This is a mistake. Mind and body are integrated. We all experience emotional maladies in the same way we experience physical ailments. Most of the time these emotional issues can be addressed independently. We diagnose the problems and develop a course of treatment. In short we develop a plan and take action! Occasionally our emotional ailments cannot be addressed independently. Thus, we should seek professional help from a health practitioner just as we would for a physical ailment. Taking such action is appropriate and the sign of a responsible person.
If you are unsure of how to seek professional help the following links will provide you with assistance:
The APA Help Center
(http://helping.apa.org/)
Talk to someone who can help.
The APA Help Center offers information on coping with job insecurity and stress, family situations, the 'mind-body connection', mental health conditions, therapy and how to find a psychologist.
Befrienders International
(http://www.suicide-helplines.org)
Talk to a Good Samaritan that can help.
For people who are lonely, despairing and considering suicide, these centers are a place of hope - places where you can talk in complete confidence about your deepest fears and darkest secrets.
How can you tell if it's time to ask for some help?
(http://helping.apa.org/)
How to find help for life's problems.
There are many types of mental health providers you can choose from. What's important is that you select a provider with appropriate training and qualifications.
a FREE NEW book will help you learn to find your personal solutions!!
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