For context, I (23M) live in the United States. In Ohio. A bit concerned about privacy because of the whole Nazi problem and the fact that I live in an abusive household.
I’ve been working on myself a lot recently and realized that I can’t do this alone anymore (or rely on Internet strangers to talk about my issues). I feel like I finally have the strength to ask for help in the real world. I’ve just never done this before. What’s it like? Is it warm and fuzzy, or cold and analytical? (Does it feel like someone is providing care and comfort, or is it more like an emotionally detached scientist meticulously studying you and scribbling down notes while mumbling “Hmm, I see, I see” while you yap at them?) Do you start to see results right away, or are things slow at first? How much stuff is recorded in a database that other systems can look up?
Then you probably want CBT, what you’re describing is a mental shutdown in response to anxiety. CBT will basically have you start responding better to such feelings so you’re able to function through them and cut off anxious spirals before they’re far enough along to debilitate you. It’s very much a “you’ll start feeling better when you’re responding to your emotions better” rather than a “lets rehash, reframe, and recontextualize your life and what’s gone wrong in it” like talk therapy.
I did self guided CBT and it worked wonders, but I highly recommend anyone who can get the professionally guided kind. It’s only if you can’t access a professional or actually won’t that self guided is worth the effort. I used to have frequent panic attacks and spiral over all sorts of shit, and years later I rarely even have to consciously apply the techniques, I just habitually do shit like ask myself what negative consequences are realistic and what is in my power to change.
I’ll also add, I know everyone hates stoicism bros, but getting into CBT got me into the actual philosophy of stoicism and it’s really helpful. It’s all about letting go of what you can’t impact and focusing on doing the right thing among the options available to you. It doesn’t actually involve not crying.