By: Sheena Shajan, College Intern
“I don’t feel like myself”
“I don’t feel like going out and meeting with my friends”
“I just feel so out of place”
“I feel like I am struggling all the time”
“My life isn’t going anywhere”
Do these thoughts seem familiar? You may be surprised to know that having such thoughts is more common than one might suspect. At times, it can be really hard to get through the day. The realities of life can be tough and unimaginable. In addition to all of that, battling such thoughts can add to our challenging experience of life and diminish our sense of well-being.
Being unfamiliar with how to seek help can be a barrier to coping with such thoughts and feelings. Sometimes taking the first step can be the most difficult part of the whole process of change. As such, it is crucial to teach ourselves the importance of well-being so that we can navigate the chaotic world around us. Seeking help starts with prioritizing yourself and identifying whether you need support.
How do you know, you have reached your tipping point? You might feel a shift in your mental state. You might experience difficulty coping when stress becomes too much to bear. Some of the common signs of an emotional breakdown are described below.
Ways to identify whether you are at your tipping point:
- Unable to feel adequately rested or get proper sleep:
Stressful situations in life can have an impact on the quality and quantity of your sleep. Sometimes you might find it difficult to fall asleep. Alternatively, you may find yourself waking up early and not being able to get back to sleep. Such irregular patterns of sleep can result in an unproductive day, mood fluctuations, fatigue, and difficulties concentrating.
- You experience frequent mood fluctuations:
When you experience emotional distress you might feel like your mood is low most of the day. You might also feel highly irritated with things that happen around you. These unexplained mood swings can have an impact on your interactions with people in your personal and professional life. You might feel overwhelmed, depressed, and panicky––which can reduce your overall quality of life.
- You might experience disruption in your interpersonal relationships:
When your mental well-being is not at its best, it is natural for you to experience a feeling of disconnect from the rest of the world. You may find engaging in meaningful conversations and maintaining attachments with people around you challenging. You might feel like you have to make a lot of effort to maintain these relationships (both personally and professionally). Such struggles can leave you baffled, unsatisfied, stuck, and suffocated.
- You feel exhausted
Stressful situations can lead to exhaustion, wariness, and fatigue. The things that you enjoyed doing before might feel less fascinating and might become challenging. This can ultimately result in a reduced level of performance leading to lowered self-esteem and self-confidence.
Recognizing that you have reached your tipping point is an important first step to reaching out for professional guidance. When you begin to think of seeking professional help, you might feel apprehensive about the whole process. It might seem strange to open up and share your experiences, feelings, and thoughts with a random person –– especially if you’re unsure of what to expect.
What you can expect from your therapy sessions:
- Understand your feelings and thoughts
In the therapy space, you and your therapist navigate various challenging thoughts and feelings that weigh you down, together. At times talking about it to someone aloud in a place where you feel safe can be helpful in itself.
- Manage stressful situations
Through getting optimal professional help, you can learn ways to manage your stress, which helps in improving self-esteem and confidence. It can also motivate you to take on newer challenges in life.
- Have healthier relationships
Therapy can help you feel more equipped to handle the various stressors in your interpersonal relationships. Through exploration of the bumps you encounter in your relationships, you can gain a better understanding of how you show up in interpersonal interactions. Therapy can also help you positively contribute to and maintain these relationships––which could be a source for your healing, support, and growth.
- Find optimal ways to engage in self-care
A professional’s help can help you find ways through which you can take care of yourself when you are in challenging situations. This can help you feel more confident in navigating the obstacles that may arise as you go through life.
Experiencing a tipping point in your life can be quite challenging, but it can also be a transformative journey. Throughout this journey, your therapist is your partner to help you understand your life experiences better and help you tailor a better regimen for growth. This process can help you in becoming the person you were meant to be. At Georgetown Psychology, our clinicians are here to support you as you find your way back to becoming that person after reaching your tipping point.
