Reflection 43: I Thought Therapy Was for “Crazy People”

Trigger Warning: This post discusses struggles with depression and anxiety. Please read with care, and take whatever space you need—your well-being matters.

One thing you’ll learn about me pretty quickly is that mental health is a really big deal to me. It didn’t used to be, though. It wasn’t something I thought about, cared about, or even really understood growing up.

That really started to change when I was about 18, in college, and I was mandated to go to counseling because of some personal things that had happened. And let me just tell you—I walked into that first session absolutely livid.

I was mad that I had to be there.
Mad that someone thought I needed to be there.
Mad that anyone would even suggest I was “that kind of person.”

In my mind, counseling was for “crazy people”… and I was not crazy.

I remember sitting there, arms probably crossed, giving the shortest answers possible.
“How are you?”
“Good.”
“What are you thinking about?”

And with all the sarcasm I could muster, I basically told her, “I think this is for crazy people, and I’m not crazy.”

That was my starting point.

But over time, something softened in me.

Little by little, my perspective on mental health and therapy started to change. And now, here I am almost 9 or 10 years later, still going to counseling 🌿—but for a completely different reason. Not because I have to… but because I want to.

Because it helps.

One of the biggest things therapy gave me was a new way to look at myself. I used to feel broken. Like there were pieces of me missing. Like I just couldn’t be put back together.

And sure, that’s one way to describe it. But my therapist reframed it in a way that stuck with me.

She said, “You’re not broken—you’re just not the healthiest version of yourself right now.”

That changed everything for me.

Because when you think about it, we understand that concept so easily with physical health. Our bodies go through seasons. We’re stronger sometimes, weaker other times. We take care of ourselves, or we don’t. We improve, we slip, we try again.

Mental health is the same way.

That’s why I’ve come to see therapy as the gym—but for my mind.

It’s a place where I work things out. Where I process. Where I grow. Where I learn how to be a healthier version of myself mentally and emotionally.

Now, am I perfect?

Absolutely not.

I have flaws. I have struggles. I still have hard days. But I am trying—every day—to be the best version of myself that I can be.

And if you’re someone who is struggling… I just want you to know this:

I see you.
I hear you.
And you are not alone.

I’ve felt lost. I’ve felt angry. I’ve felt overwhelmed. I’ve probably felt every emotion under the sun at some point. And while I’m not an expert, and I’m definitely not a licensed counselor, I am someone who understands what it’s like to not be okay.

So take what I say with a grain of salt—but please don’t do this alone.

Reach out to someone who cares about you.

Whether you’re in college, figuring life out after graduation, newly married, a new parent, or somewhere in between—your mental health matters. You matter.

We normalize going to the gym. We normalize taking care of our bodies. But we don’t always normalize taking care of our minds the same way.

And I want that to change.

So this is me saying: mental health is important to me. It’s something I will talk about—probably a lot—through this blog journey.

Because it matters.

And if you ever need something, I’m going to do my best to include resources, support, or at the very least, a reminder that you are not alone in this.

If there are topics you want me to talk about, questions you have, or things you’re curious about—please reach out. Leave a comment. Send an email at captivating.catholics@gmail.com.

I would truly love to hear from you.

If you’re struggling right now, please don’t carry it alone.

If you are in immediate danger or feel like you might hurt yourself, please call 911 right now.

You can also call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) to talk to someone immediately, or chat online at https://988lifeline.org/
You don’t have to be at your worst to reach out—you’re allowed to not be okay.

Please consider reaching out to someone you trust too—a friend, a family member, or a counselor. You are worthy of being heard, supported, and cared for.

And if all you can do right now is whisper a prayer, that’s enough. God sees you, He is near to you, and you are not alone in this.