If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Do you feel like you need help and dont know where to turn?
Getty / Boy_Anupong
What Are You Feeling?
What feelings or thoughts are coming up that have left you feeling this way?
Try not to overthink it and just write as things come to you.
What Is Wrong?
Below are some potential causes of feeling as though you need help.
These are just some examples of things that might be causing you to feel as though you need help.
Below are some ideas of steps you could take to find help.
Isolation can make negative emotions worse, so its best to avoid isolating yourself.
Crisis Lines and Help Lines
What if your situation is dire or urgent?
In these cases, your first step should be to reach out to a crisis line or help line.
In the United States, call 988 for free and confidential support if you are in distress or crisis.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency then you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Support Groups
Are you struggling with a problem for which there are support groups to help?
Professional Help
In some situations, you may find that reaching out for professional help is appropriate.
If this is your situation, reaching out to your family doctor is usually the best first step.
Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, including their nature, duration, and severity.
They may then make a referral to an appropriate specialist if needed.
For example, you could find a local club to join such as a book club or knitting club.
You could also attend a local church or volunteer with a local non-profit organization.
Introspection or Meditation
What if you are not ready to reach out for help?
Or what if you feel as though youd like to go it on your own a bit longer?
This might mean practicingmeditation,journaling about your feelings, or completing aself-help workbook.
This option is best suited to problems that are not urgent in nature.
Below are some ideas of things you could do as a distraction or for enjoyment.
Below are some ideas of healthy habits that you could start to practice.
This doesnt mean that you accept your circumstances or that you dont have a go at solve problems.
Practicingmindfulnessexercises such as imagining your thoughts as leaves floating down the river can help.
This might be easier said than done if you are struggling with a mental health condition like depression.
However, just doing a little bit each day can add up to bigger changes than you might expect.
New Perspective
Sometimes the thing you need most is a change of scenery or change of perspective.
Below are some potential ideas on how to change things up or get some perspective.
This could also mean that you are in need of more physical connection.
Oxytocinis released when you bond with someone (or even a pet) that you love.
This hormone helps you to feel calm, secure, and connected to others.
The right intervention depends on factors such as your specific diagnosis and the nature and severity of your symptoms.
If your symptoms are severe or pose a risk to your well-being, hospitalization is also an option.
Its not unusual to sometimes feel as though you need help.
And, its important not to ignore that feeling in the hopes that it will go away.
Because in the end, its only through you taking action that things will change.
For this reason, its your job to look for solutions.
At the same time, those solutions often mean asking for help from others.
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