My experience with counseling as a kid and why even as I ‘fought it’, it still paid (is paying) dividends.
“The number of young people I work with who have come forth, unashamedly, to share with me they are seeking counseling has been honorable.
As a kid who regularly sat in that chair, I didn’t ‘get it’ (immaturity) at the time, but I can promise, the back end value is fruitful.”
-Ray Zingler on X
I remember it like it was yesterday.
I’d just finished a work out, traps up to my ears, post-work out shake down the hatch, and mom would remind me, “remember, you have Dr. _____ today.”
And then I’d begrudgedly lash out and scream at my mom telling her how this therapy thing was bullshit and I didn’t need it.
When the way I’d just treated my mother was tangible proof that I needed it, but as a kid, “I knew everything. I had all the answers.”
So I’d drive over there pissed off at the world, because I knew my time could have been better spent doing an extra work out, eating an extra meal, or hanging out with my girlfriend. (Yes, sadly these were the hierarchy of my priorities.)
I’d walk into that tiny house looking thing, get called up to an office and sit on a couch across from that “pencil neck geek who probably doesn’t even lift”.
We were as different as Trap Bar Deadlifts and Computer Software Engineering.
He’d start with sharing anatomy of the brain and how certain portions are responsible for certain feelings and emotions and blah, blah, blah.
“How is this idiot going to help me, with some science-y bullshit when I don’t even need help?”
Again, you see my (immature) theme here.
But I kept going and going, and going and like most things in life, eventually some things rub off on you by default.
I learned this guy wasn’t a meathead like me, but he cycled and ran. So, there was a discipline commonality.
Even though he “doesn’t have 20” arms” maybe he does know what he’s talking about?
I have to admit, because I constantly fought the idea of therapy, I never got the full value out of it at the time, but even in my immaturity, the back-end value in my adult life has been monumental.
Mental health matters.
Anger, stress, anxiety, depression. They are very real, but very conquerable things.
And there are highly qualified people out there to help you through it.
Don’t be like me and fight it, swallow your pride (pride was a big reason I was there in the first place) and immerse yourself in it.
You’ll learn that it’s a superpower.
