How to Use Professional Help Wisely

You know you need to get professional mental health if:

1.  You've been depressed or anxious for a while--usually two weeks or more.  Or you've been thinking about harming yourself and others.

2.  You feel helpless to fix the problem.

3.  You keep using the same old/same old ways to change the situation--and with no results.

4.  You are--and have been--very unhappy.

5.  You're abusing food, alcohol and other substances.

6.  You can't sleep--or you sleep too much.

7.  You can't function at work or home.

8.  You've lost interest in your interests.

How to Maximize Your Use of Therapy

1.  Ask your friends and doctors for a recommendation.

2.  If you don't have any funds, go to one of the sliding fee scale agencies.

3.  On the Internet, go to www.apa.org or www.naswdc.org to get a list of therapists in your area.

4. Before your appointment, answer the following questions and write them down and bring them with you.

a.  How long has the problem been going on? 

b.  What have you done to fix it?

c.  What has worked, if anything, in the past when you had this problem?

d.  What's bothering you the most?

e. What is your best guess as to why you are having this difficulty now?

Remember, truly strong and smart people get professional help.

Good luck.

LB Wish