One in four Americans believes they have no one to confide in, according to a new survey. Not even their dog, apparently.
And when they do share their feelings, they don’t feel comfortable being completely honest. The survey of 2,000 people by counseling service BetterHelp, reported by StudyFinds, found that even when people did share their thoughts – with a coworker, friend, or romantic partner – 70% said they held back their real emotions.
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People seem to not want to bother others with their problems too much – 90% of respondents said they softened their emotions so they didn’t overburden a loved one.
People in the 18-30 age range were particularly reserved – they found it much more difficult than people over 50 did talking about issues like finance, work stress, their parents, or their friends with a partner.
One might suggest that a professional therapist is the perfect person to talk to about these things, but 75% of respondents were wary of seeking out help because of the stigma surrounding it. Also, 32% said they didn’t have the time, 26% didn’t feel their problems were serious enough, 26% were simply embarrassed, and 23% didn’t want anyone at all to know about their problems.
Therapy doesn’t have to be super-intense and scary, says BetterHelp’s founder and CEO Alon Matas, in a statement. “A lot of people think that therapy is all about wading through deep-rooted trauma. While it certainly can be, there is a lot of benefit to consulting with a counselor on a regular basis about daily stressors.”
And then you’ll have one more person to confide in.
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