Is therapy really common?

M-26 & Indian.

While growing up I've never seen folks undertake mental health therapy. It's still not so main stream!

But lately I've realized that physical manifestation of stress can be truly truly real! It may pose as multiple other symptoms for truly- 'body keeps a count' even if we don't realize it fully.

While I've started exploring options for therapy. I'd like to seek a few experiences from you all-

1. Did you experience psychosomatic pain or your body manifested physical symptoms owing to stress & it started relieving post therapy or addressing the underlying trauma?
2. Is therapy really common & mainstream around the world? Do folks acknowledge it as a healthy practice & a good add on to daily life?
3. Your therapy experiences & did it enable you transition from a sad to a productive & happy state?
4. You believe it is not so fruitful excercise & you didn't feel any change whatsoever? You believe its futile?
5. Or it's effectiveness is only felt with relevant medications?

Also, I don't intend to get on medication. So, if you can response based on efficacy of therapy on a standalone basis solely, that'd be great!