If you find yourself in this place, do not panic it’s okay. It does not mean that you are doomed or that there is no hope. You and others like you have become so accustomed to functioning at a survival level that you are unaware of what your body and behaviors are trying to tell you. This means that you are in need of outside support. The ability to care for others and the expectation to be “OK” or “fine” has likely pushed you to burnout.

There are many things that can and should be done at this level. First and foremost, the ability to neglect your own needs without professional support no longer exists. Counseling is beneficial and accessible. If you have problems or worries with your schedule and expectations, consider telehealth as an option to fit it into your routine. The past is casting a heavy shadow over you. It is easy for us all to find relief in a quick but unhealthy manner with things like shopping, binge eating, tobacco or alcohol, as well as escaping the problem with sleep and isolation.

Don’t be scared of what counseling could look like or that you would be considered “weak” for talking with someone about these areas of struggle. It’s time to face what’s happening so you can get it turned around. You do not have to face this alone. It’s possible to change old habits.

Our parents have an impact on our behavior in ways that we may not even realize. When a parent is an alcoholic, the impact on their children can have consequences that follow them into adulthood. Some adults may not even see the impact it has had in their life. When you have grown up in an environment raised by caregivers who struggled with alcoholism, you can develop a set of coping skills in order to survive. These skills directly contribute to your sense of survival and serve a purpose at the time, but when that time has passed, how do you get away from that normal? Staying in that sense of survival from childhood can translate into relationship issues and mental health concerns in adulthood.

As mental health professionals right here in Northeast Louisiana, we are recognizing a need for mental health support like never before. We are all so used to living with a need of survival and feelings of helplessness that we have made our normal lifestyle. Finding Solace Counseling has created a space to help you bring a new normal to your life where you don’t have to feel like you are in a constant state of survival. If you were struggling with your physical health, you would not (or at least should not) wait to seek help from a professional. There is no reason for your mental health to be any different. Whether it is a sore throat or body aches, a depressed mood, or feeling anxious, there are professionals there to help.