No, You Are Not the Only One

Am I alone in feeling this way? Am I the only one? Is it me against the world? Can anyone understand my thoughts and feelings? These are just a handful of the questions we have run through our minds when thinking about our symptoms, exploring treatment for mental health, or reaching out to a loved one for help. The answer is, NO, you are not alone. It often can feel very lonely as we struggle with and experience symptoms of various mental health disorders. It can feel lonely as we feel disconnected from loved ones, our partners, and ourselves. Our values get lost in the chaos and we soon experience a disconnection from ourselves and our story. It is common to feel lost in life, common to question a purpose, common to feel like you are going through the motions and not really experiencing life and joy. Often, people feeling this way can’t put words on what they are experiencing and believe they are the only ones experiencing these thoughts and emotions. Talking about mental health or relationship struggles is not a common topic of conversation in our society; it is improving, but still has a long way to go. As I join Love Story Therapy, it is my mission to help people reconnect with their loved ones, their hobbies, their joy, and most importantly, themselves. I bring a non-judgmental, compassionate approach to assist you getting back to yourself and reconnecting with your values. We live in a chaotic world that is constantly throwing curve balls at us. You are not the only one struggling, your relationship is not the only relationship struggling. We see you and we hear you. Coming to therapy can be nerve racking as you are not sure what to expect. Therapy can bring a safe space for healing. Willingness to come in and share your story is a must, but if willing, you can see great changes. Be honest in therapy, even if what you need to be honest about is feeling the treatment model or your therapist is not a good fit. If anyone can understand this, it’s your therapist. Your therapist’s feelings won’t be hurt if you say it’s not working or bring up a concern for an open discussion. The goal of therapy is to get you in the right place to heal and have open, honest conversations and dialogue. We often believe we have to “do things alone.” When you are ready to start your healing journey and change your story, you don’t have to do it alone. Yes, you have to take the lead on your journey, but you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s create a safe space for healing and reconnection and get you the story you deserve. You can reach me at penelope@lovestorytherapy.com to get started today. Written By: Penelope Hatter, LMFT