Anxiety: When to Seek Help

Let’s face it, life can be stressful. Bills pile up, families fight, pipes burst, back pain happens, family members get sick. There are seasons of life that can put us flat on our backs with no warning and leave us to throw our hands up and wonder, “How am I supposed to handle this?”

Signs of experiencing anxiety can be insomnia, loss of appetite, an appetite larger than normal, seeking relief from weed, alcohol, or other drugs. Trying to escape through shopping, gambling, excessively exercising, or other forms of self-harm such as cutting.

Every person living on the planet experiences anxiety; no one is safe. Anxiety is normal, and we should anticipate and expect to feel anxiety from time to time. However, each person feels anxiety differently. Some people experience it more frequently than others. So how do you know when the anxiety you are experiencing is starting to overwhelm you? How do you know when you should seek professional help?

If you are asking these questions, chances are, you should probably start looking for a counselor. We are creatures created to live in community and seek help from others. There is no shame in seeing a counselor and asking for help to navigate a stressful period in your life. When you are in counseling, you will be connected with someone you can talk to about your life and learn many new skills to handle anxiety. Each time you learn a new skill, you gain the ability to learn how to live through the anxiety-inducing situations life will throw at you.

Excessive dependence on alcohol or other substances is a sign that you should seek help. If you are using self-harm for relief, it is time to come out of hiding and ask for help. If the anxiety you are feeling has the power to stand in the way of you enjoying your life, it is time to find someone to help you learn the skills you need to survive. You deserve a full life! A life full of people, travel, love, laughter, and dreaming dreams. If the anxiety in your life stops you from any of those things, you can find help. It doesn’t have to stay this way. There is hope for you to have a less exhausting existence. There is hope for you to enjoy life again.

Olive Branch is an excellent resource for finding a counselor. However, if you are not in our area or need another resource, www.psychologytoday.com is an excellent place to search for counselors in your area.

Make 2023 the year that you take care of yourself!

If you need support and would like to speak to a professional counselor about topics such as the one featured in this blog and are in the Chicago area, please contact Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc. at 708-633-8000. We are at 6819 West 167th Street in Tinley Park, Illinois 60477.

Written By: Christine B., Masters Level Intern