Why ‘Just Get Over It’ Doesn’t Work: Debunking Common Therapy Myths

One friend once told me to “snap out of it” after I spent a week feeling gray. I nodded, yet inside I yelled. If snapping worked, I'd have done it day one.

Myth one: Tough thoughts vanish with grit. Mental pain behaves more like a sprained ankle. Walk on it hard enough and it only throbs louder. Rest, support, maybe a brace, that’s what helps. Same goes for the mind.

Myth two: Talking means whining. I thought this for years. Then a single honest session with a counselor felt like finally putting names on vague shapes. The room stayed the same size, yet my chest felt bigger.

Myth three: Therapy equals lifetime commitment. Plenty drop in for a season, pick up a few tools, wave goodbye. It feels a bit like tutoring before finals.

Reasons these myths linger? Quick fixes sell. Patience feels boring. Growth often hides inside routine: slow breathing, sleep, hydrating, showing up again next week. Not flashy, still gold.

So what now? If someone throws “just get over it” your way, picture handing them a crossword puzzle and saying, “Finish it in two minutes.” Skill takes steps. Healing takes steps. Both feel messy at first.

I’m still inconsistent. Some mornings I remember every coping tool; on others I scroll news and forget breakfast. Progress looks like that: jagged, yet forward. Offer yourself the grace you give anyone learning something new. Missteps happen, stride continues.