#1
#2
He’s always going to be a goat.”.
#3
I'm still ages away from replacing the voice but it has made many scenarios much easier to manage.
Psychology has come a long way from the days of the first philosophers pondering the human mind over a glass of wine. These days it's a full-blown science with countless branches, techniques, and therapists ready to help you figure out why you overanalyze text messages at 2 AM. But how did we get here, and more importantly, how do you find the perfect psychologist to guide you on your mental health journey?
Way before psychology became the science we know today, ancient thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were already debating what makes us humans tick. Fast forward a few centuries, and René Descartes introduced dualism—the idea that the mind and body are separate but work together. This was basically the earliest version of “it’s complicated.”
#4
Oh. Damn.
#5
#6
The 19th century was when psychology officially became a thing. Wilhelm Wundt, the OG psychologist, set up the first lab dedicated to studying human thoughts and behaviors in 1879. His idea? That our minds could be broken down into tiny, measurable components—a concept called structuralism.
But then along came William James, who was more interested in how our thoughts help us survive, leading to functionalism. And thus commenced the battle between “what is the mind made of?” vs. “what can the mind do?”
#7
#8
It was that simple. Suddenly it clicked that I didn't "deserve what I got".
Then there was the other one when I said I sometimes wished my kids had a bigger family and maybe I should get in contact. She asked me a simple question:
What makes you think they won't treat your kids the same way they treated you? You were a kid too when they did it to you.
Solidified my no contact.
#9
*Just because things could have been different, doesn’t mean it would have been better.*
I basically took it as stop fretting about what you should have done differently or how people treated you. You could have done it completely differently, the way you wish you did and something negative could have still happened. What happened happened, you can’t live in the past. All you can do is move forward.
As time went on, psychology split into different schools of thought, each with its own way of explaining human behavior. Sigmund Freud shook things up with psychoanalysis, while John B. Watson and B.F. Skinner championed behaviorism, and Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow brought about humanistic psychology.
By the mid-20th century, psychology shifted toward understanding thoughts, memory, and perception. Cognitive psychology laid the foundation for modern research into everything from AI to how we make decisions. With advances in technology, psychologists now study the brain in crazy detail, linking biology to behavior. This has been a welcome game-changer in treating mental health disorders.
#10
#11
Fill your cup first.
Don't tear yourself down to build others up. Don't set yourself on fire to keep others warm.
#12
It was probably just something she was saying to try and talk me down from my theatrics, but it really made me aware of my negative internal monologue. Like yeah, my brain IS doing its best! It's just kinda bad at being a brain. But she's trying her best!!
So, now that psychology has evolved into this massive, nuanced field, how do you find a psychologist that fits your vibe? Before you start Googling therapists, ask yourself: What’s bothering you? Anxiety? Depression? Relationships? Trauma? Stress? Knowing your needs helps narrow down the search.
It’s also a good idea to know your therapy styles. Some of the most popular include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy. Your ideal therapist also needs to fit into your life, so give some thought to their location, availability and cost.
#13
Also important to know that just because you don’t have kids that doesn’t mean your husband and dog isn’t your little family. Realize who is in your family bubble and protect them at all costs. .
#14
When someone shares their anxiety/stress with you, it’s not your job nor does it make you a good person to immediately feel those things too.
Show them empathy, but try not to absorb.
It wasn’t easy at first but eventually I was able to do it!!
#15
Many therapists offer an initial consultation. This is your chance to see if you vibe with them. Do they listen? Do you feel comfortable opening up? If not, keep looking—it’s totally okay to switch therapists if it’s not a good fit. The most important part of therapy is feeling safe, heard, and understood.
What do you think about this list of breakthroughs people had with the help of their therapist? Upvote the ones that resonate with you most and don’t forget to leave a comment if your therapist has helped you find a fresh perspective on life!
#16
That rocked my s**t. As a severely parentified kid with self-worth issues, I still struggle with not feeling worthy of many things if I'm not being useful.
#17
#18
He said, “well, Dr. Neil doesn’t have a gun”.
It seems really silly but that mantra really helped me. Whenever I’d talk to my dean, I would think to myself “Dr. Neil doesn’t have a gun” and it would help me reassure myself that I was safe in that situation. I use that mantra for a lot of people now.
#20
