Why is it that we invest in so many things besides our mental health? According to the National Institutes of Health, as of 2021, over 22 percent of people in the U.S. had a mental health issue, but fewer than half of those had received help recently. We invest money, time, and energy into our careers, kids, entertainment, hobbies, and homes, but we often lose sight of other things that matter—our marriage, a healthier family, or our own well-being. It’s like making sure to get our tires rotated and brakes changed while neglecting to maintain the engine.
It can be hard to balance work, personal life, and family, and unfortunately I often hear stories from clients about how they put themselves or their marriage on the back burner, never realizing the serious negative effects that would eventually come from doing so. They share about feeling stressed and overwhelmed, which then leads to depression or anxiety. Couples describe repeating the same fights, feeling disconnected, being focused on their kids, and being unable to remember the last time they had a date night.
Putting effort into our kids, our career, or other positive areas isn’t a bad thing, but we can fall into the trap of saying yes to those things and no to ourselves or our spouse. Many people have a hard time prioritizing themselves or their marriage until a bomb goes off that makes it impossible to ignore the issues. It’s important not to wait until things get that bad; just as if you waited until you had late-stage cancer to see a doctor, the odds of you walking away unscathed are much less in your favor.
Knowing where to start can be overwhelming, especially when things aren’t going well. To make it easier, there is a local resource available called the Dripping Springs Counseling Network. You can view profiles of local mental health professionals in Dripping Springs and the surrounding areas, see who’s accepting new clients, and filter by specialty, insurance, ages seen, or type of counseling. Whatever getting help looks like for you, I encourage you to make it a priority and take the next step today. It’s an investment worth making!
DSCounselingNetwork.com
As of 2021, over 22 percent of people in the U.S. had a mental health issue, but fewer than half of those had received help recently.