There are many people that have experienced abuse in the past. Some were able to seek professional help after it happened, and others were not. However, what you may not know is that therapy can help you address abuse from your past, regardless of when it occurred.
Where to Begin
If you are someone that has experienced abuse or is currently being abused, this may be the right time to get mental health support. It is never too late to talk to a psychiatrist about past abuse, especially considering that it may still be affecting your life and routine. A professional will also be able to diagnose a mental health condition if you are experiencing one. Then they can do their best to begin treatment on it.
You can visit with a therapist in their office or talk to a counselor via an online therapy app. If you opt for working with an online therapist, you will be able to interact with them on a computer or smartphone. This means you can reach them anytime and anywhere you happen to be. In some cases, you may find this is more convenient for your circumstances.
How Therapy Can Help
Once you find a therapist to work with, there are different types of therapy that may be able to offer you benefits. One is cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy might assist you in working through trauma and being able to change how you act and feel in some situations.
You may also consider psychotherapy. This involves talking to a counselor about your life and what you have experienced. It can offer an opportunity to discuss past trauma and abuse to a neutral individual. They may be able to offer you a perspective that you haven’t considered before.
For more information on abuse and treatment options, check out this site: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/abuse/.
Other Considerations
While you are seeking treatment to deal with past abuse, there are a few other things you can do which may help you out.
- Write Down Your Thoughts. Anytime you are having a bad day and are feeling stressed, it may help to write your feelings down. This will allow you to get them on paper and might aid you in organizing your thoughts as well. After you write down your thoughts for a while, you may be able to note certain things cause you to have stress or bad days. Then you can do your best to limit or avoid these things.
- Have Me Time. You need to take care of yourself when you can. Take an extra-long shower every now and then or eat that dessert you have been wanting to try. Even simple things can help improve your mood or lessen your anxiety.
- Exercise. Start an exercise routine if you don’t already have one. You may begin with as little as 30 minutes a day; you just need to get moving. This can help you loosen up your muscles, sleep better, and lower your stress.
- Get Some Sleep. Address your sleeping schedule as well. You should be sleeping a minimum of 6 hours each night. Otherwise, you may find yourself unable to make decisions or have difficulty regulating your moods.
- Talk to Loved Ones. Are there people that you count on when you are having a bad day? Make sure you nurture these relationships, so you can continue to talk to them when you need to. Sometimes a friend’s kind word or a family member’s advice is able to make a difference in how you are feeling.
Overview
Therapy may be able to help you work through abuse you have experienced in the past, and it doesn’t really matter how long ago it occurred. There are different types of therapy that can have an effect and other things you should try while you are seeking treatment as well. Go ahead and reach out for mental health support when you need to; it is always available to you.
About the author:
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.