Is there a social stigma about therapy?

[PDQuick]

I was wondering about how you all perceive a person talking to a therapist. I know when I went, I felt really uneasy about it, but I had to get the pain to stop. I couldn't take it. My social stigma of it all was far overshadowed by my own internal pain. Now, I think it is the best thing anyone can do for themselves.

Will you tell me how you honestly feel? Noone will judge your responses.

[CaptainM]

I've been exposed to therapy since I was knee high to a grasshopper (growing up with an NPD sister does that to you) so it's always been normalised for me. I never personally felt shame or unease in going.

However...I would never tell my friends or coworkers about it because I feel it would give me a stigma, which I find sad. I have no hesitation in telling them I'm off to the dentist, or the doctor, and many co-workers are happy to share intimate details of their lives with each other - but therapy still seems to be a no-go zone. There were a few very close friends back in high school that knew I was treated for depression and anxiety but as you grow older there's more pressure on you to be the "tough man" and not the "angsty teen" anymore.

I think, at least in Australia, the public perception is slowly changing but there's still that notion of "men in white coats carting you away in a van" because you're "crazy". Hopefully the next generation will have mental health issues normalised a lot more. I regularly give to mental health charities and volunteer with homeless organisations (the % of mentally ill homeless people is staggering) but I still don't have the guts to 'come out' publicly and declare that I seek help (and always have) from therapists/psychologists - hopefully one day I will.

[MyLife]

Honestly, I used to feel there was a social stigma.  I immediately changed that thought after my very first visit, my first time going - heck, I would go as far to say it changed as soon as I sat down across from the therapist.   

[beguya]

I agree with you PDquick.  I think for healthy people there comes a time when their own desire to want to feel "normal" or without pain is more important than their fears or beilefs about therapy.

I know it was the case for me.  But i could nto convince my exBPDgf otherwise and therefore did not press her anymore on the issue

[eeyore]

I think for many others there is a stigma.  I also think many people are narrow minded. 

There are two categories of therapy in my mind. 

I'm open minded so I think people should be proud for seeking help rather than potentially harming themselves or others.   But I don't think that therapy should be so long term that it's an addiction or a crutch.  Therapy is to help someone overcome and be strong so they no longer continually need therapy. 

On the other hand if Therapy is part of a medical condition such as Schizophrenia that's different as the condition may be life long and therefore therapy could be life long to determine medication that would be needed.  I think the stigma comes from people thinking of therapy as only being needed for this category of Therapy. 

Just my ramblings...   

[Suzn]

Yes, I'd say there's social stigma. Which for me now, tells me exactly what kind of person you are if you automatically think a person is "Crazy" for seeking therapy. I know now that it is enlightening and a personal accomplishment to employ a therapist if there's a need to do so.

[PDQuick]

You know, I discussed this at one point in one of my therapy sessions, and my therapist was really cool. She had the best analogy for me.

She told me that therapy is like a gym for the mind. People who come to her "gym" fall into two categories. The first ones are the ones that are terribly out of shape, and want to do something about it. The second group are the ones that have kept up their shape, and continue to do so, so as not to lose their great build.

That really struck a chord with me, and I see her point.

[eeyore]

Here's an example I heard: 

We all know the best athletes have innate natural born talents. 

Michael Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions.

Phelps has trained under Bob Bowman since he was 11 years old.Bowman swam for Florida State University from 1983 to 1985. Phelps has said Bowman reminded him of a drill sergeant because of his disciplined and regimented ways. However, Phelps has said, "Training with Bob is the smartest thing I've ever done ... I'm not going to swim for anyone else."

Every great athlete has a great coach, who helps them achieve their goals. 

In life human relationship skills are learned not born with,  so just like all athletes need a coach sometimes we need a coach to help us accomplish our goals. 

[MyLife]

For myself, after the initial feeling better phase, I gained knowledge with therapy - knowledge of myself, knowledge of therapy, and tools available.  So even years after going to therapy, when I take the time for myself, I am reminded that those tools are still available to me.

I've realized my emotional health requires the same time and attention as does the others aspects of myself-for example, my physical health.  When I let go of my jogging or eating healthy I feel like crap - why would I expect any different for any other aspect of good health?  I'm relearning some bad habits. 

[magwitch]

Personally, I felt very uncomfortable telling people I was seeing a counselor. But today, a year after I started seeing a counselor with the Divorce process under way I have told many people. I usually tell them after they make a comment like, "you seem to be doing well." I usually respond that I have been seeing a therapist to help work through the feelings and emotions I was going through. My fear of telling people quickly subsided after several people told me things like, "good for you!"

I think my discomfort comes from my parents and upbringing. Seems to me their generation generally saw or interpreted it as a weakness if a person needed to see a counselor.

But my experience telling people tells me that people today are much more open and accepting of the idea than they have in the past.