When should I see a therapist? A case of depression and burnout

Do you believe that you have to reach the extreme of exhaustion and demotivation to take action?

Seeking therapeutic support is still a taboo topic these days and many people can't even think of it as an option or a solution, even when they've reached their limit, but why is that? Do we need to reach our limits to seek therapy? Read on to understand better with an example

Social and family influences on our choices can put us into an abyss

I want to share a personal story with you. In 2006 I started working for a company in the financial market. I was very young and got a position early on, where I gradually gained ground and was recognized and valued for my work. My family and friends praised my achievements and said things like: “how wonderful to have this opportunity to start so early” or “you're going to be very successful and get a good position while you're still young” and even comments like “I really wanted to be in your position, you have a dream job”.

Of course, all this made me feel good and important, but I didn't realize the shadow that lurked behind this scenario. In the midst of so much praise and approval from the people around me, how could I think that this job could generate something bad for me?

When do we know we've reached our limit? Symptoms as warnings from the soul

In fact, it took me a long time to notice. I worked for this company for seven years, but when I was there for about four years, I started to notice something odd. Little by little I developed tendinitis in both arms, I had horrible pains that burned my wrists, but I kept at it, took medication, and carried on because I didn't imagine leaving the team without my support.

I'd tell myself “it'll pass soon, it's just a moment” and when my vacations came, I'd rush to book physiotherapy sessions to take care of myself, because after all, how could I do that during working hours and threaten to affect the flow of the team? I had a role there! I was important! I wish I'd been in therapy at the time to have someone help me think about it.

Over time, in addition to the tendinitis, another health issue gradually took hold: depression. I didn't see it coming, but I began to find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, I stopped feeling motivated and saw no purpose in it all. I started drinking more often, smoking and staying awake only by drinking a lot of coffee during the workday. When I got home, I thought I didn't want to do it anymore and I kept waiting for the weekends and fearing Mondays.

The harm to our health

Unfortunately, I didn't see therapy as a possibility at the time. My friends didn't talk about it either and I realized that many were following similar paths and even wanted to get out of that cycle, but didn't see how.

I finally reached my limit. Depression took over and I had to end that cycle. It was hard to hear comments from friends and family who were against my decision. They didn't understand what I was going through and I didn't know how to talk about it either, but I discovered how depression can make someone see no meaning in life.

Therapy is an investment! How could it have helped me at the time?

I know that many people may not realize how they are living their lives either, but the therapeutic process ends up being a good investment from the perspective of “saving years of life” (and sometimes even saving one's own life).

When we enter a therapeutic process, we have the support of a professional with an attentive hearing, who can take in our anguish and make us reflect on our decisions, helping us to always adjust the course of the journey.

Within the Analytical Psychology approach created by Carl Gustav Jung, with which I work, it is possible to bring various patterns in our lives to consciousness and thus avoid falling into an abyss of depression, anxiety, burnout, or other disorders, as well as being able to come back from it if you already find yourself in this scenario.

Through the dialectical process, the exploration of unconscious contents, the dream analysis and talking about ourselves in session, we have the chance to confront our challenges based on the relationship that is built up between the analyst and the patient so that something new can emerge. This process helps a lot in clarifying and becoming aware of issues that are at blind spots in our lives.

If I had known all this in the past, I'm sure my path would have been different and perhaps I would have enjoyed life with much more mental health and balance over the years. Today I can see how transformative the therapeutic process can be in someone's life and that's why I'm here offering this support nowadays.

How do you see yourself today? If you've identified yourself and feel in need of a warm listening ear to talk about your issues, get in touch to schedule an appointment.

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