When life scrambles your brains and you’re left contemplating that life-coach gig, join the crowd. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 21.6 percent of adults got a bit more familiar with the chaise lounge in the therapy office in 2021, up from 19.2 percent in 2019.

Whoever said you need the golden ticket of a doctor’s referral to book yourself some therapy, lied. You don't need a mental health issue stamped on your chart in order to launch an in-depth investigation on your emotional health. In the infamous words of Christine Crawford, MD, MPH from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, ”Therapy is for everyone.”

When the weight of the world feels a tad too heavy, talking about it is, in fact, a form of preventive care, and that's where therapy kicks in. Y’know, leaving that overwhelmed feeling to the-calorie-counting fitness gurus.

Therapy – we’re talking about the gabbing kind, not the experimental beetroot detox – can be a game changer for those grappling with conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and a long list of others. Bottom line is, therapy ushers in real life transformations – for the better.

Plus, common reasons for people to slip into the therapist’s room range from the mundane stressors of life, relationship woes, and feeling like you need extra support, to full-blown addiction and mental illness issues. Exploring conditions like anxiety disorders, mood disorders, addiction, eating disorders, personality disorders, and the likes are all part of the package.

Even if you're not hosting a diagnosed mental illness party inside your noggin, you're still on the guest list for therapy. 28 percent of therapy-seekers dive into it after life decides to serve a sucker-punch, according to a survey by Barna Group. Job loss, sickness, accidents, divorce – y’know, the usual suspects. While another 19 percent take the plunge amidst life transitions.

Dr. Crawford puts it perfectly, therapy is all about commandeering control of your mental health and self-care. Think of it as an exclusive club for reflection where you have a tour guide ready to navigate. No pretense, just self-work. And it can be a lifesaver for issues like coping with chronic illness, familial tragedies, financial problems, workplace stress, relationship hurdles, recovering from abuse, traumatic experiences, and even sexual hang-ups.

About 75 percent of folks getting a hefty slice of the therapy pie see some positives, according to a 2023 survey from the American Psychiatric Association. Not only do they enjoy an improved mental health, but they also notice fewer medical episodes and a slap-up increase in job satisfaction.

So, if you're finding life plain overwhelming for 14 days or longer and traditional methods of self-care or chit-chat with friends don't seem to be doing the trick, take a step. Therapy isn't only for those hanging onto the end of their rope; getting a handle on your mental health before it snowballs into something bigger can save you immeasurable distress in the long run.

You don't have to be clinically depressed or have severe ailments to sign up. It’s about handling life with aplomb, so embrace therapy like an athlete in training. There is no hard and fast rule as to how long your therapy stint should last. Savings from your Stocks, Shares and avocado tree thriving in the backyard can finance an ongoing relationship or a few quality sessions depending on where life takes you.

Regardless of if you're navigating choppy waters or merely taking a sprint through the rain, remember that therapy is your friendly umbrella-holder, telling you it's okay not to be okay.