In recent years, therapy has been a major topic of controversy, with debates about its legitimacy, effectiveness, and relevance in today's society. But what exactly is therapy?

It is simply a type of treatment, with several different types available, and numerous benefits associated with it. In fact, around 90% of people report improved emotional health, while 67% report better physical health as a result of therapy (Lamers et al., 2011). So, why are some people still reluctant to accept it? Let's debunk some of the most common myths surrounding therapy.

Debunking the 3 main myths surrounding therapy

Myth #1: Only those who are "mentally disabled" or those who "think they may have a mental health illness" need to go to therapy.

Therapy is for everyone, regardless of their psychological state or condition. Often, people are not even aware that they have bottled up emotions, unaddressed issues, or matters left undiscussed, which can manifest in subconscious ways that hinder them from living their best lives. Through therapy, one can understand more about their own mind and have tools to understand others better. Therapy is often more of a tool than a cure. You don't need to have an issue as a prerequisite to join therapy. The Neurum app can help you stay on top of your mind health, whether you want to learn skills to thrive through life's various story arcs,  thrive at work or get better sleep.

Myth #2: Therapy is "just talking about your emotions."

Therapy does involve talking about your emotions, but it's not just that. It may also consist of breathing exercises geared towards regulating your bodily reactions, as oftentimes what we think is purely "psychological" can also be "physiological." For example, someone with childhood trauma may know exactly how their mind works and can have all the appropriate labels for the way they react to certain situations, yet they may still have high anxiety levels. Calming exercises such as breathwork for 5 continuous sets can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the "rest and digest" mode, effectively helping you to be calmer. There's a plethora of breathwork, mindfulness, and journaling exercises that can be taught during therapy. It requires a lot of effort and strength, as something as simple as learning to set boundaries with someone (using something called I-statements) can be challenging. So, get ready to put in some work that will be extremely rewarding in the long run.

Myth #3: Therapy is the same for everyone, so you can just ask your friend in therapy to give you some tips.

Not all therapy is the same!

A therapist personalises a treatment plan specifically catering to your needs. So, simply "leaching off" of your friend for advice by asking them what their therapist offered them may not work for you. For example, your friend may be prone to symptoms of rumination (constant dwelling), whereas you may be prone to having more anxiety-related symptoms. The breathwork exercises, as well as the content of what is being discussed, may be completely different for both of you. Additionally, therapy is completely confidential, so you shouldn't be asking your friend exactly what happened as that is their private matter. Before going into therapy, you may be asked to fill in the 21-questions DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) with varying questions that will show your stress, anxiety, and depressive symptom levels based on your answers. With that, the therapist will highlight which areas you may need to work on and via the Neurum app, you can select a therapist based on your needs, budget and time, all within your finger’s reach!

With different types of therapy such as CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) to psychoanalysis, therapy is an individualised, unique treatment geared towards your own needs.We’re imperfect, we’re humans but just remember that the choices we make for ourselves defines who we are, not our circumstances.