Seeking professional help is a personal choice and decision. It may not necessarily be the first thing that you do whenever life gets tough, but it can be a productive and meaningful thing to turn to. Many progressive and successful people are making it a part of their life, not waiting for the stresses grow in catastrophic magnitude before reaching out. Honestly, though, many still look at it as a ‘last resort’ solution.

Such a thought can be unproductive. It can leave you feeling desolate, hopeless, perplexed, frightened, tormented and in pain/grief. Why allow any of these to happen when you can live with a positive mindset. Counseling offers numerous benefits. It can help address a long list of emotional health concerns, such as marital troubles, family conflict, depression, anxiety, etc.

When should you see a counselor? Here are five common reasons for seeking counseling:

1. You are excessively distressed. Feeling distressed can be normal. When you feel distraught quite often, though, it can be best to seek help. Do not underestimate the impact of changes and challenges in your life. Some may seem insignificant. Once they pile up, they can fill your plate and overwhelm you. Being emotionally vulnerable, you can easily be depressed or anxious.

2. You are experiencing frequent mood swings. Having mood swings should not alarm you but pay attention when these are becoming constant and intense. When they affect your life with such alacrity and negativity, watch out. Such can bring about tremendous changes and challenges; many can be too overwhelming. If you cannot or do not want to do face-to-face (F2F) counseling, you have other options, such as online counseling. It is a healthy way to resolve your concerns because it is accessible, convenient, safe, and flexible.

3. You are abusing a substance. Being able to turn to someone or finding something to do that’s comforting is natural when you are hurting or distressed. Hence, during troubling times, you may seek the temporary relief that abusing a substance may offer. For younger people, confusion, overwhelm, sadness, fears, anger, etc. can be released through rebelling or engaging in risky, reckless or extreme behaviors and activities.

4. You feel alone and forlorn. When you are weighed down by poor emotional health, you may have the tendency to avoid people, including your loved ones and friends. Social isolation can hurt you; you are likely to feel alone, hopeless and helpless. Through the years, persistent and recurring emotional conditions can also tire out your support groups, which can be another reason why you may feel abandoned and sad. When you seem lost and all alone in this world, always remember that a good and trustworthy counselor await somewhere.

5. Nothing seems right. “When it rains, it pours.” The event is not always negative, like a job promotion or the birth of a baby, but the impact can be the same: overwhelm. There are times when too many things happen all at one time. Overwhelmed, everything that comes in close succession may feel all wrong. It is normal to find ways, maybe self-help methods, to extricate yourself and ease overwhelm. Talking with a counselor can be a healthy option.

Who has not experienced difficulties in life? Unable to manage these stresses, it can be easy to get confused and lost. Be in control of your life. Do this more easily with some help from a trustworthy and independent counselor contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – West Fayetteville Office –Fayetteville, NC.

If leaving home or traveling isn’t an attractive or practical option, find help online. Teletherapy or telemental health makes receiving help online possible. CCS – West Fayetteville Office offers both in-person and online counseling. Calling us must not be a last resort. Contact us first thing today.