When should I seek professional help for anxiety?
Written by
Thomas Wilson
Reviewed by
Prof. Graham Pierce, Ph.D.It is essential to get help if the anxiety persists despite these common solutions or begins to take over all areas of your life. I have clients who have waited for months before they decided to consult me, missing work because of their panic attacks. Recognizing these symptoms early on can save the person unnecessary pain and expedite their recovery.
Functional Impairment
- Missed work/school more than twice monthly
- Avoiding essential activities like grocery shopping
- Relationship conflicts escalating weekly
- Neglected self-care routines lasting weeks
Physical Manifestations
- Chest pain without cardiac cause
- Chronic digestive issues persisting months
- Sleep disruption exceeding 3 weeks duration
- Unexplained muscle tension causing pain
Mental Health Emergencies
- Suicidal thoughts regardless of intent
- Dissociative episodes losing time awareness
- Self-medication with substances
- Uncontable crying spells daily
By effectively combining professional therapies with nature-based treatment plans, integrative treatment plans are created. Patients taking cognitive therapies in addition to magnesium supplements progress twice as fast as those taking either treatment. Therapists help develop personalized breathing techniques and herbal therapies tailored to your unique biology.
Access barriers erode with the introduction of telehealth options and sliding-scale clinics. Teletherapy platforms connect rural residents to specialists within 48 hours. Community health centers offer income-based fees, making their services more affordable. Don't let finances delay seeking help.
Crisis resources save lives when lives are in immediate danger and need immediate assistance. Program the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline into your cell phone even before it is necessary for emergencies. The text services help during stressful situations to be less obvious. I have seen these services help reduce panic and make one feel safer in a minute or so.
When a person's natural solutions are ineffective or symptoms significantly interfere with their life, medications may become appropriate. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are useful in creating a level of biochemical homeostasis that allows other means to become effective. Prescriptions should not be viewed as a failure, but rather as temporary scaffolding to develop long-term resilience through therapy.
Read the full article: 10 Ways to Achieve Anxiety Relief Naturally
