No, therapy isn’t only for people with (obvious) problems

Last updated on 6th July, 2022 at 12:44 pm

The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns triggered a global mental health crisis. Two years on, the impact on mental health is still being felt. For those who are battling – even on a small scale – here’s why therapy is a smart investment.

Before the pandemic, a 2019 Global Burden of Disease, Injury and Risk Factor study identified depressive and anxiety disorders as the two most disabling mental disorders, both of which, according to World Health Organisation, increased by 25% around the world with the arrival of COVID-19.

South Africa was not exempt, and experienced a sharp increase in anxiety and depression. According to an article published in The South African Journal of Psychology, a 2020 study by the Human Sciences Research Council reported that over 30% of South Africans were depressed, as many as 45% were fearful, and 29% experienced loneliness during the first lockdown.

Cape Town psychologist Ros Veitch isn’t surprised by these figures. “I have seen a significant increase in people seeking therapy since the pandemic, and myself and all of my colleagues are inundated with requests, so much so that we have taken to using waiting lists,” she says.

Removing the stigma

What is more alarming than the number of people suffering from mental health problems is how few of them are seeking the help of trained professionals to manage their anxiety and depression.

“Many people still associate those who go to therapy with being ‘unstable’ or ‘mentally ill’,” says Veitch, who has a number of patients who are unwilling to disclose they are in therapy for fear of being branded ‘incompetent’. The reality? Communities and corporates are more supportive, with many companies putting mental health at the top of the business agenda. “The majority of my patients who have disclosed to their employers that they are in therapy have received good responses and support,” shares Veitch.

Hayley*, also from Cape Town, can attest to this. Working in a corporate environment, she was nervous about asking for time off for her weekly therapy session, but was pleasantly surprised by the support she received. “My [employer] has been amazing!” she shares. “When you open up the conversation, many people are happy to talk, and you realise you aren’t alone.”

Knowing when to ask for help

There are myriad reasons to try therapy. For many, the pandemic triggered old traumas, while for others it created fresh anxiety and stress, particularly about finances. “Financial stress seems to be having one of the biggest impacts on mental health,” says Veitch. It’s unsurprising when, according to a survey by Sanlam, 54% of South Africans are unable to make their money stretch to the end of the month.

Financial loss aside, separation from loved ones also contributed to greater anxiety. In the same survey, 22% of people said isolation and loneliness had the biggest impact on their mental health. “People have been very isolated and disconnected from others during lockdown, and this means that they have had much fewer opportunities to re-energise. People have been locked in their own company with fewer distractions and more time to dwell on their difficulties,” says Veitch. To add, while many felt added mental pressure having to adjust to the upheaval of moving to a work-from-home setup, there is now another upheaval upon us: that of juggling the demands of hybrid working.

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Sophie*, a South African living abroad, found isolation incredibly challenging. “Not having physical contact with people during the enforced lockdowns further compounded my isolation. I had interactions with work and study friends online, and on the odd social occasion a ‘Zoom party’, but I didn’t have what humans are wired for: connection and co-regulation,” she says. “I wondered if I’d see my family again and whether my mother in South Africa would survive coronavirus if she got it. I felt helpless,” she says.

Finally, in 2021, she decided to seek help from a therapist. “Experiencing the impact of isolation on mental health to such an extreme, I wanted to come out of survival mode and expand my window of tolerance and be more adaptive to life when it resumed after lockdown.”

Tapping into the power of therapy

After eight months, Sophie has found therapy to be invaluable, and isn’t worried about judgement from others. “The benefits of feeling validated, and to be provided with helpful strategies and tools to deal with challenges far outweighs any stigma for me. Therapy is an opportunity to talk honestly about my fears, process my emotions and lean into my vulnerability. It has helped me share (and normalise) my feelings instead of ruminating on them and recycling them in my brain and body. In the same way a physical workout might help to clear out the cobwebs, I feel a therapy session helps me move forward.”

Hayley, who has been in therapy for 18 months, can relate. “When I started, I knew that my therapist couldn’t fix everything for me, but I no longer felt alone. It was the biggest relief.”

This is exactly what therapy should be, says Veitch. “Having a space where you can rigorously examine your fears can help you to explore ways to reduce them and manage your anxiety.”

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When to ask for help

Recognising the signs of anxiety and depression and acting on them is key to managing your mental health. For Hayley, increased anxiety led to binge eating and drinking, which resulted in low self-esteem and feelings of despair. “When we’re in physical pain, we get it treated. We don’t question going for physical check-ups, yet we don’t seem to value mental health check-ups,” says Hayley, whose regular mental health ‘check-ups’ have helped lighten her emotional load. “Every time I leave a session, I feel better.”

But more than just a check-up, therapy is an investment in yourself, says Veitch. “The worst-case scenario is that you get an hour of skilled, undivided attention where your thoughts and feelings are validated and clarified. The best-case scenario? You feel heard and supported, and you begin a process, which can give you back your freedom.”

Reality Club, Core, Plus and Health members have access to a free Trauma, Assault and HIV Assist benefit, which includes 24-hour telephonic counselling.

How to find your perfect (therapeutic) match

If you’re looking for a therapist, here are a few things to consider:

• Ask for a recommendation from your GP
• Research and check credentials. Look specifically for a psychologist’s Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) registration number so that you know they are a registered professional.
• Trial a few sessions to determine whether a therapist is the right fit for you. “Most psychologists offer a three-session process in which the patient can gain a sense of the therapist and can decide whether they are happy and comfortable working with them,” says Veitch.

Useful resources:

South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG): https://www.sadag.org/ /0800 567 567

LifeLine (Joburg) https://www.lifelinejhb.org.za/index.ashx / 0861 322 322

Grace Counselling (Durban) https://www.gracecounselling.org.za/

Hope House (Cape Town) http://hopehouse.org.za/

The Personal Assistant benefit, available to Reality Club, Core, Plus and Health members, can help you find a therapist in your area, and get quotes for sessions. Use it now to start your journey to good mental health.