When is it necessary to seek professional help to deal with anxiety?

If you feel that it is necessary, then it is time. However, with anxiety, we can feel that we are 'making it up' or 'making a big deal out of nothing'. If you are unsure, it's still best to open up a dialogue with someone. Better to seek help or assistance than none at all. If it turns out to be a simpler challenge to overcome - great! If it's a more complex challenge, then you're already in the right place.

When you realize that you can't cope with it by yourself. After you have tried some techniques and they didn't help much and you realize that anxiety affects your life very much, then maybe you should consider seeing a professional.

Whenever you feel you need help or that the problem is too big for you to handle alone. There's no right or wrong time.

When it's interfering with your ability to function, when it's severe enough that other people are expressing concern, or when it's causing you distress, you should consider seeking professional help. That's not to say someone with a lower anxiety level wouldn't benefit from professional treatment, but in terms of necessity, it mostly has to do with how frequently and how intensely it interferes with your life and happiness.

When it starts to significantly impact your ability to function during your regular routine. For me, I went and talked to someone when I was having panic attacks at my job for absolutely no reason. Nothing had triggered my anxiety, but I'd still get them. Or if you're a student and you can't sit through a class without shaking uncontrollably, having racing thoughts, or without feeling nauseous/sick to your stomach; that would also be an indicator that you need professional assistance.

If the anxiety is interfering with your lifestyle or your daily routine, you should get help. Even if the interference doesn't seem so big. If you are having trouble sleeping, eating, getting to work or school or just feel like your anxiety prevents you from experiencing normal things you used to like, you should get help. But the truth is, you don't have to wait until it's too late - you can get help now. If your situation isn't that bad, great! You'll be done with treatment and feeling better in no time.

When you see that the issue is persisting and there's no signs of improvement. When you've been trying your harder to improve the issue but you feel like you're getting nowhere and this issue is stopping you from doing basic, everyday tasks.

When you think it is. If you feel it's necessary, it absolutely is! Be honest with yourself: would you feel a little bit better if you had someone, in person, to talk to? If it is even a slight yes, then go for it! Only good can come of it! And you should certainly feel proud for taking a step in the right direction.

When it stops you from being able to do normal daily activities and you are in a constant state of worry.

Anxiety is a personal struggle that everyone goes through differently. When your anxiety becomes overwhelming and is starting to dictate what you are doing, it is time to seek professional help. For me, it was when school became too much and all I could think about was tests. Everyone's breaking point is different and it is important to keep that in mind. Overall, what needs to be remembered is only you know you. "Know thy self" is a quote I have really come to love because, in the end, if you know yourself, you are already on the path to getting better.

Anxiety is a problem that we realize only when something starts making us anxious, but the root of the problem is more complex than just "___ makes me anxious" or "I have had ___ panic attacks". It is important to go to a professional because they have been trained to recognize anxiety and its multi-faceted nature. When you have anxiety, it is very hard to examine its effect on you because it by nature distorts your vision of reality. This is why talking to someone who understands the effect anxiety has on different people is necessary for your recovery. With the help of a trained professional, you will be able to take hold of your life and learn to understand your anxiety instead of your anxiety crippling your ability to live life to its fullest.

Going through anxiety is often healthy and beneficial. This activates the brain mechanism and gets us ready for the necessary and appropriate steps, which should be taken considering a situation. This kind of anxiety evaporates when that particular situation and/or task is over and/or taken care of. In contrast, if anxiety being experienced is excessive and difficult to control, affecting our daily activities, sleep time, causing muscle tension, and being edgy all time, one might consider seeing a professional. Also, keep in mind that all the above symptoms must persist longer than needed (typically stretching to months), and lastly, these feelings are not due to any other medical condition.

You can talk to a professional even if you don't feel anxious! By this I mean that you do not need to wait until something really serious happens in your life. Even if you feel that you can handle the feeling of anxiousness, it would be an act of kindness towards your own self to discuss anything that bothers you. Do not be afraid of this, as an expert can help you think what is the reason behind your negative feelings, and of course they can come up with tips to make you feel better. Every person is different, so if you have already thought about asking for help, perhaps it is the right time to do so.