People Are Sharing The Helpful Things They've Learned In Therapy

It's common to try to deny that our problems are that bad, or to try to lessen things by telling yourself that things could be worse.

But, as this tweet aptly puts it, it isn't about stacking yourself up against others. It's about recognizing and healing, no matter how big or small the problem may be.

While some folks will legitimately try to upstage others, this story doesn't appear to be an example of that.

Again, just because others may technically have it worse doesn't mean that your problems aren't valid or worth talking about.

This tweet raises a good point. You never want to be such a miserable person that you want others to go through the stuff you've experienced.

Instead, do the compassionate thing and try to help others.

It's all too easy to see our anger as an explosive eruption of rage. Sometimes, anger is so overwhelming that it's hard to see past it.

But this tweet is absolutely correct: anger has to come from somewhere, and understanding the source can help us heal.

One of the greatest traits a person can have, in my opinion, is the ability to enjoy their own company.

I'm not advocating for a full-blown hermit lifestyle, but it's good to be comfortable with yourself.

Here's a fascinating perspective. When we describe ourselves as perfectionists, we're often just placing other people's expectations on ourselves.

Rather than seeing yourself as a perfectionist, it might be more helpful to simply recognize when you're giving your best effort.

We crave familiarity. This can play out in the form of a favorite TV show or meal, but more importantly, it often takes the form of a familiar person to date.

It's good to recognize the similarities between your significant other and family members, and whether they're positive or negative.

Your brain is a fantastic tool, but it isn't there to just drop happiness potion on you at all times.

It can, on the other hand, help you reason your way through these things, which has the knock-on effect of making you happier.

Here's a tip that can mitigate the runaway train of negative thoughts so many of us often experience. In effect, it's an exercise in denying negative thoughts, replacing them and building on them with more positive and optimistic thoughts.

If you've done something bad and know it, you probably want to be forgiven.

It's personally satisfying to receive this closure, but it's more important to recognize that sometimes you're not going to get it, and that needs to be respected.

This is a common theme among people who are improving themselves: often their friends and family will resent them for the changes they've seen.

This is difficult to navigate, but it doesn't mean you should disrupt your process to make them feel better.

Here's a good tip. It's crucial to recognize the root of problems, but this root doesn't excuse continued bad behavior.

Put another way, while past trauma might lead to bad behavior in the present, that doesn't mean it's okay to continue said behavior.

We're all the star of our own movie. To extend this analogy a bit, this also means you can't really be the star of anyone else's movie. Why? Well, because their movie already has a star, and it's them.

Rather than thinking of difficult decisions in a black-and-white, right-or-wrong dichotomy, it's more helpful to think of them as the best decision that could be made at the time, considering the circumstances. It helps take the pressure off.

We often have an immediate, lizard brain-type thought response to something that's going on. This tweet points out that the initial thought is usually what's ingrained in us by societal factors, while the second thought is generally more insightful.

This lesson shows us that negative thoughts often have deep roots that go all the way back to childhood. Fortunately, as an adult, you're better equipped to understand and deal with these issues than you were as a child.

When it comes to emotions, it's good to identify them. No one enjoys the feeling of not knowing why they're experiencing a certain emotion. This chart can give some guidance when it comes to labeling those elusive emotions.

When we're going through tough times, we often beat ourselves up. But when a loved one is going through the same thing, we treat them with love and compassion.

This begs the question: why can't we just treat ourselves with that same love and compassion?

This tweet states something obvious that many of us still forget: communication is essential when it comes to feelings. If you need others to know how you're feeling, you also need to understand it isn't their responsibility to decode you.

Even it feels unpleasant, boundaries are crucial when it comes to good mental health.

Be sure to let us know which of these tips you found most helpful. If you've learned any similar techniques, share them in the comments below!