Here’s The Most Common Things Psychologists Hear From Their Clients

Therapists have seen and heard it all over the years. But what are their patients' most common complaints? Psychologists, therapists and psychiatrists over on Reddit are sharing the things that they hear the most and, turns out, we're all just as mad as each other.

Read on and find out that you're not alone.

This person who wants us to cherish the lives we do have more

'Many people are living more in the life they imagine they could have had or the one they hope to have, than their actual life. When people become self-aware of this they often report feelings of unreality and detachment. In severe cases a person might describe it as having just "woken up" into a life that formed around them, one that from their perspective only just appeared. I very often heard something to the extent of "I just feel like I'm living a life I did not AGREE to." I consider it a silent mental illness, because while warped, it often nonetheless allows a person to go through the motions or even momentarily appease depression and anxiety.'

This person who knows that negative feelings are normal

'I think the most common thing I find in my practice is that people assume they need to "get rid of" their negative feelings. Anxiety, anger, sadness, guilt...these are normal feelings everyone experiences and it's ok to feel these things and acknowledge them. Learning how to "sit" with negative feelings is something I think I've tried hard to normalize with my clients.'

This person who has millenials all sewn up

'Oh, there are so many common beliefs people have, yet people view them as their own, personal, private, (shameful), burden. Some examples:

This person who knows all about imposter syndrome

'Two things I've come across a lot:

1)Not caring deeply for family members. Especially for their children. They expect this instinct to kick in at some point where they'll feel fiercely protective, but it never happens.

2)Feeling "imposter syndrome", which is basically a feeling that you don't belong somewhere (work or school), that you're not capable, and soon everyone will figure out that you got there on a fluke and kick you out.'

This person whose patients get The Truman Show syndrome

'The spotlight effect. Many people worry about what people think of them. This causes a lot of anxiety. The reality is that no one is really paying anyone else any attention as everyone is focussed on themselves. Remember that time when you were so embarrassed it still causes you to writhe in bed at night when you recall it? No one else has given it another thought.'

And this person who knows those fleeting and bonkers thoughts you get are nothing to worry about

'Sudden, unwelcome, sometimes even violent, thoughts that pop into your head are also normal and not indicative of psychopathology or sexual perversion. They're intrusive thoughts and as long as you don't think you're going to act on them, there's no reason to worry about them. The more you attend to them and perseverate on them, the more they're going to bother you. Like the pink polka dot elephant. Frankly, I am a generally well-adjusted individual who has never self-harmed a day in her life, with a comfortable life and no particular desire to die, but sometimes when I drive over a bridge, I think about what would happen if I were to drive over it. I do not want to hurt myself or anyone else involved, but I still wonder. Likewise, I do not want to kiss my boss. I'm straight and even if I weren't, she's not my type. But sometimes when we're talking, I wonder what would happen if I kissed her.

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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.