I know I talked about this before, but it’s time to revisit the topic.  There are lots of different kinds of therapy.  Some good, and some not so good.  There are formal types of therapy, including talk therapy and evidence-based practice (EBP) therapies that include the help of a trained therapist.  There are also self-help books that you can get at your local bookstore that can help you process information.  There are also therapies that can be detrimental to your health, including drugs and alcohol.  I can argue that substance abuse is a form of therapy, although not very effective and can lead to death. Then there is another form of therapy that I want to introduce that I would like to call get out of the house therapy.

Formal therapies can be very helpful.  With the help of a good therapist, many people have been able to manage trauma including abuse.  Talk therapy and EBP therapies are very different.  EBP therapy is more directive and organized, where talk therapy is more open and free flowing.  Some people do better with talk, but others need the more structured EBP approach.  Talking with a therapist can help you better understand and define a method that will work for you.

Self-help books can be great, as long as you are careful about the goal.  Managing childhood abuse and neglect is hard with just a self-help book.  Other issues such as assertiveness and exploring your own goals could be better defined by reviewing self-help information.  Topics like self-discipline and self-love seem abundant in bookstores.  Many people start with a self-help book and go into therapy if that doesn’t work.  Some improve with just a book.  A book, or even online research, is something you can do to better define your concern and get you through a time of need.  Just don’t open a wound that you can’t manage without support from family and friends.  Make sure they know what’s happening and make sure they help you with support if you get stuck.

Many people use substances, including drugs and alcohol, to numb emotional pain.  Even though medication prescribed by a doctor can be a form of therapy, street drugs and alcohol are not a healthy form of therapy.  There are so many people out there masking real pain and suffering by taking substances.  Please don’t fall into that trap.

So, let’s talk about get out of the house therapy.   Please know that there is no substitute for getting a therapist to help you manage significant mental health issues, but if you are experiencing lower levels of depression or anxiety, there are huge benefits to just getting out of the house.   Don’t underestimate how therapeutic going out for ice cream can be.  Going to a park and watching people can remind us that good things are happening, and we could be a part of that in the future.  Going for a walk can help with exercise and even traveling can help with perspective. 

If you are struggling, find a healthy type of therapy that works for you.  Find a good therapist.  Pick up a self-care book at the local bookstore or library.  Stop using substances to hide from the pain and face it.  If you can, get out of the house to see the beauty in the world in which we live.  There is so much beauty to see and experience.  That beauty is a part of being happy, for life.