The challenges we face in life can cause a great deal of emotional discomfort and harm to ones psyche. When these issues go unresolved, it can cause the onset of stress and anxiety which can lead to depression.

In a study by Mental Health Aid, in the United States, almost half of adults (46.4 percent) will experience a mental illness during their lifetime. That is almost two hundred million citizens in the continental US which means that many of these people are waiting too long before they seek out help which is why it’s important to get some counseling or life coaching.

“It makes me so sad that people wait until they hit rock bottom before they ask for help” says Sam Miller, the founder of Life Counseling. “I cannot begin to tell you how much hardship and suffering could have been averted if these people would have sought support from a professional when their problems arose rather than waiting years to do something about it.”

If you or a loved one are going through a tough time, then here are four reasons you should consider hiring a counselor or life coach:

  1. Connection & Support

Having someone in your corner who truly cares about you can be a tremendous help when you are going through a difficult time. While some might assume that this is what friends are for, it’s important to remember that it is not your friends job to listen to your problems on an ongoing basis.

Sure, having one or two conversations with a friend can be beneficial when you are dealing with a small problem. But when it comes to bigger issues that require more in depth analysis and support, you are going to need to work with a trained professional.

  1. Self Acceptance

One of the biggest challenges you might have when you are dealing with something traumatic is judging yourself. It is very common for people who are going through a hard time to beat themselves up and be self critical where they blame themselves for what they are going through.

A good counselor or life coach will be able to help talk you through this so that you do not burden yourself with such negative beliefs about yourself. Through the coaching and counseling process, they will be able to show you how to learn from the experience so that you accept the situation (and therefore yourself) for what it is.

  1. Release Negative Emotions

Emotional trauma can cause a great deal of psychological damage to one’s psyche when it is bottled up inside. Very often when people are subjugated to difficult situations that bring on negative emotions, they will have a hard time processing them in a way that allows them to move forward without irrevocable harm.

This is why it is essential that you find a coach or counselor who can help guide you through the steps to take of letting go of these feelings. With proper guidance, you will be able to not only release them in a healthy way, but you will learn techniques on how to handle them better in the future.