I recently met a lady who told me that she didn’t need therapy. She watched a TED talk and was provided with 8 ways to be happy. Well, with no disrespect to TED and the list of keys to being happy, I wish it was this simple. I have people, who I see everyday, who have chemical issues within the brain and they need help. They can’t ONLY follow a list given at a TED talk and expect to be happy. And thinking that someone can magically turn a key or follow steps and then be happy isn’t very fair- in fact, it could be considered discriminatory to an extent. Most everyone wants to be happy, and many people try anything and everything to find happiness, but for some – lists and steps are simply not enough , and this is OK!

Here’s the TED list:

• Don’t expect happiness to be one-size-fits-all. …
  Stop chasing things like success, fame, and money. …
  Keep challenging yourself. …
  Be generous. …
  Be grateful. …
  Train your mind. …
  Smile! …
  Tell the truth

And here’s what is missing from the list…. biology. We have different chemical makeups and genes that can predispose us to various types and various degrees of mental illness. This isn’t something we should be ashamed of or worried about.  And we shouldn’t allow other people to pressure us or make us feel less if we need medication help, therapeutic help, or both!

If you’re feeling brave and ready to address the issue as to why you might feel unhappy all of the time, please contact me! My first session with you is completely free.