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18-60
There can be many reasons for losing a sense of who you are. We experience many different transitions in life and some of these can be difficult to adjust to - even if they are positive changes. Changing jobs, becoming a parent or stepparent, moving, reaching a milestone birthday etc can all change how you view yourself, your place in your life and can cause relationship problems or family issues. External factors and difficult life transitions such as separation or divorce, redundancy or retirement, bereavement, becoming ill or developing chronic pain can lead to loneliness and you may find yourself feeling sad, lost, anxious and scared without any idea of how to get back to your 'old' self again.
If you have parts of yourself you dislike, anger or behaviour problems, guilt, shame or regret you are unlikely to have a positive relationship with yourself, which can make it difficult to have positive relationships with others. If you lack confidence or are a people pleaser this can be an indication of low self-worth and a lack of self-esteem, which can affect many other areas of your life, such as making decisions, social anxiety or being overly critical of yourself. Trying to keep these parts hidden so others don't think less of you can be exhausting!
When you lose a sense of who you are or wish you could be someone else you might experience a lot of mental noise, such as repetitive thoughts, rumination, catastrophising and feelings of stress and anxiety. Left unchecked, these ongoing feelings can affect your sleep and your physical health, leading the way to depression, overwhelm and burnout. Talking to someone outside of your personal circle gives you the opportunity to share all of your thoughts and feelings from your own perspective, allowing you to gain some peace and clarity, alongside an understanding of yourself and your circumstances. Finding a way back to yourself and the person you would like to be is possible and I am passionate about the work I do in helping you to achieve this.
It is normal to feel unsure whether counselling is for you or could help improve your mental health. I have yet to come across anyone who has not been helped by having someone listen to them without judgement and understand where they are at this time! Get in touch if you would like me to help you too. Together, at a pace you are comfortable with, we will make sense of your story, how you developed your beliefs in yourself and how this can affect your thoughts, choices and behaviours. We will improve areas you feel are holding you back, lessen any burden you're under, and find a way forward that reconnects you to yourself and progresses you towards the person you would like to become.
