- Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker, mental strength coach, and international bestselling author.
- It can be hard for some people to know whether their unhappy emotions and feelings of anxiety or depression are normal, or something more serious, says Morin.
- If your change in mood has lasted longer than two weeks, is causing you to struggle keeping up at work, or is leading you to unhealthy coping skills, it may be a good idea to seek professional help.
- Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness — everyone needs a support system to be there through difficult times.
Have you ever wondered whether you should talk to a
While it's not always cut and dry about when you should see a therapist, there are some signs that could indicate talking to a professional might be the right good choice. Here are seven signs you might benefit from speaking to a therapist:
1. Your mood feels "off"
Whether you feel sad, anxious, or just not yourself, any change in mood that lasts for two weeks or more should be addressed. This is especially true when you don't have an explanation for the shift in your mood.
2. Your symptoms are interfering with your job
Missing work, trouble concentrating, or a sharp decline in productivity could be signs of a mental health issue. Whether you're more stressed out than usual, or your mind is riddled with anxiety, unexplained difficulties performing your job can be a sign of emotional distress.
3. Your sleep habits have changed for the worse
From sleepless nights that leave you feeling exhausted to wanting to sleep the weekends away, your sleep patterns speak volumes about your mental health.
It's a two-way street. Your psychological well-being can take a toll on your ability to sleep (and to wake up feeling refreshed). On the flip side, your sleep schedule will also affect how mentally healthy you feel.
4. Your physical health is affected by your symptoms
Many physical aches and pains — like headaches and stomachaches — stem from mental health issues. See your physician if you have physical health issues to rule out any medical problems. If there are no physical findings, see a mental health professional to find out if there's a chance your emotional health is taking a toll on your physical well-being.
5. You experience unintentional changes in weight
Stress and mental health issues can cause some people to overeat, or cause others to lose their appetites. Unintentional changes in your weight or appetite might be a symptom of an underlying issue.
6. You reach for unhealthy coping skills
Negative thoughts and uncomfortable emotions can cause you to reach for unhealthy coping skills. If you find that you've replaced hobbies with excessive eating, or you've started sleeping as a way to escape your problems, you might be introducing new problems into your life (or making existing ones worse).
7. Your relationships are impacted by your emotional state
Your personal or professional relationships could suffer consequences when you're not feeling your best. Whether you've started isolating yourself, or you lash out because you're irritable, it's hard to maintain healthy relationships in an unstable emotional state.
Talk to someone
You might be tempted to wait and see if you start feeling better on your own. But if your distress doesn't improve in two weeks, it's probably a good idea to reach out to a therapist.
At the very least, a mental health professional might be able to offer reassurance that you're doing just fine, they may be able to provide you with some coping strategies that can help you feel better faster.
Remember that talking to a mental health professional isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength. It takes much more mental strength to admit you don't have all the answers than it does to pretend like you have everything all together when you don't.