Last week we talked about the myths around therapy. But frankly, despite it being a long post, we only just scratched the surface of the real problem. One of the reasons why therapy continues to get a bad rap is because people don’t really know what it is, and because mental health is a hush-hush issue everywhere in the world, it is easy to attribute all kinds of falsities to it. Fortunately, there are enough people talking about mental health now, and it is time to set the record straight. Let’s talk about some more myths that are attributed to therapy, and let’s understand why these are mere myths and not facts.
1. Children do not experience mental health problems and therefore do not need therapy
What a beautiful world that would be, where children were just free to be who they are. Unfortunately, the pressures of modern living compel society to put a lot of pressure and expectations on young children, pushing them into all kinds of mental health challenges. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention – an apex public health body in the US, nearly 50% of the mental health disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSMV) show their earliest signs in adolescents, and three-quarters of all mental health disorders begin before the age of 24. This means that we must keep a close eye on our children and young people so that they can receive the mental health help and guidance they need. Early mental health support can help prevent these disorders from interfering with their emotional and developmental needs, complicating them and making them harder to treat in adulthood.
2. People with mental health problems are violent, unpredictable, cannot hold down a job, and therapy cannot help them
While it is true that some mental health disorders do manifest violently, the vast majority of people suffering from mental health disorders are no more likely to be violent than any other person walking down the street. In fact, only 3% to 5% of people suffering from mental health disorders will eventually demonstrate any violence. Furthermore, while people may find it difficult to be productive when they are bogged down by mental health disorders, most employers report good attendance and favorable productivity from their employees who have reported mental health problems. In fact, studies in the US and the EU have shown that when employers offer effective mental health support at work, it lowers the total medical costs of the employee, increases productivity, lowers absenteeism, and decreases the overall burden of disability costs for the organization. Overall, therapy helps everyone - whether they are violent or not.
3. Mental health disorders are caused due to character flaws and personality problems, which are not treatable by therapy
Scores of personality theories, social learning theories, life course theories, and psychological theories exist to counter this claim. Simply put, mental health disorders are rooted in various different factors, including biology, life experiences, environmental influences, family history, and unmet childhood needs. A lot of people with mental health problems can recover completely with therapy, and most can lead fully functional, happy lives with the right combinations of pharmacological and therapeutic treatments. Therapy is the key to dealing with mental health disorders.
4. Self-help books are a better and cheaper alternative to therapy
Really? While therapy is designed with a person-centric approach, by professionals who have skills and qualifications in therapeutic counseling and treatments, self-help books are often based on popular culture notions and many of the authors have no training or qualifications in treatment. Not to decry the entire genre of self-help, but there are some excellent books out there, written by experts who have learned the ropes and have great experiences to share. However, claiming that self-help books can replace therapy is akin to saying that a one-sized glove can fit everyone perfectly. Clearly, neither of these statements is true.
There are still a lot of myths about therapy out there that need to be addressed. We have dispelled a few through our two-part series. This is not the end though. You may surely come across more nay-sayers, who claim that therapy is a waste of time, or it is unhelpful. The fact is, therapy can be really useful but it’s not magic. If you are coming to therapy with the intention of working through your disorders and healing, then you will get the help you need. But if you are coming to therapy looking for a quick fix, or refuse to participate in the therapy process, chances are, you would not really benefit. So keep an open mind, participate in the therapy, and trust the process. Therapy has worked wonders for many, and it may just do that for you too.
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