One of the problems we tend to have when dealing with mental health issues is admitting that we need help. Many times we are either too afraid, lack the funds or don’t feel like we actually need to get help. I have had those thoughts, just like many others, but what I’ve come to realize is that there are a lot of outlets that don’t require you to even leave the seat of your couch.

Online therapy has become a new way to seek help. With websites like BetterHelp, TalkSpace and 7 Cups offering affordable and easy to access outlets, more and more individuals are able to get the help they need. The New York Times reported that “Psychologists say certain conditions might be well-suited for treatment online, including agoraphobia, anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder."

Finding these outlets can not only help you find better ways to handle your stress, anxiety or depression but in doing so they can also help you live a better lifestyle. While depression, anxiety and other conditions don’t just go away after a few sessions, by reaching out and finding a way to let out your problems, you can start to feel better in your everyday life. Clinical psychologist Leon F. Seltzer discussed in a 2014 article published in Psychology Today about the benefits of venting to other people. Sometimes, having an outsider’s point of view can be grounding and helpful. “If you’re too emotionally entangled in what happened to you, you can’t think very clearly about what you may still be able to do about the situation," Seltzer said. “The mere act of venting to a compassionate other has its own gratifications. There are times when your friend might be able to suggest potentially productive actions, that in your agitated state, might have never occurred to you."

This is especially true when you feel as though there are no outlets locally that you can reach out to. You may worry that these online outlets are not applicable to you, perhaps they cost too much or you don’t feel as though you have a reason to be seeking therapy. I tried out one of the sites above for a week, and while they were extremely helpful, I wasn’t able to afford the cost at the time. One of the tips however that I was able to take away from my online therapist was to find a person in your life that you can let loose with. Someone that will allow you to vent whenever you need to, someone that makes you feel like it's ok to talk about your problems. Finding someone that can be there for you when you need to talk, even if it's just for a few minutes can be extremely helpful, because as Seltzer explained “The immediate feelings of relief derived from such letting go can hardly be overstated."

So reach out to someone whether it be online with a stranger or a person physically in your life, and find an outlet that will steer you in a more positive direction.