Seeing a counselor can be incredibly helpful if you are experiencing intrusive symptoms or difficult managing intense emotions. Unfortunately, many people wait until their lives have become unmanageable to seek therapy. While it is important to seek treatment whenever it is needed, sometimes early intervention can be more beneficial.

Counseling is for everyone. Therapy can be done in person or online. In fact, many report that online counseling offers many advantages that in person therapy may not. Also called teletherapy or tele-mental health, it can address a broad range of concerns from sleeplessness to family conflicts, anxiety and depression.

When is the right time to seek online therapy? There is no exact answer, but it may be time if you are experiencing any of the following:

1. You are distressed. It is natural for people to experience the ups and downs of life. While it is also normal to be distressed, this feeling would ideally be temporary. When the feelings of listlessness, sadness and anguish are pervasive and you have difficulty moving through these feelings, seek professional intervention. The sooner the better. When you are constantly feeling overwhelmed and you feel like your plate is always full you may be more prone to anxiety and depression, reach out and schedule an appointment.

2. Your mood swings are becoming intense and frequent. Moods do change and shift, however, if they are changing with increased frequency and intensity, it can cause a lot of damage to you, your relationships and even your work life. Frequent mood swings can be a symptom of something more. It is a good idea to see a professional to assess what is going on for you and find the best course of treatment.

3. You are abusing substances. It is important to find an outlet, to release intense emotions like worry and stress. If you have a healthy outlet, such as talk therapy, the emotions can be released without damaging any aspects of your life – health, relationships, etc. Without healthy coping skills or outlets, it can be natural to look for quick fixes or ways to numb intense emotions. These quick fixes often come in the form of substance abuse or addictive behaviors such as excessive spending, gambling, overeating etc. These behaviors can lead to more serious forms of self-harm, reach out for help if you are engaging in any of these activities.

4. You think you are isolated and alone. Being surrounded by people, such as friends and relatives, does not necessarily make you feel better. You may still feel alone. It is very possible that you need more than a thoughtful family member or friend. Let a counselor help you.

5. You feel you are failing. When experiencing severe overwhelm it can be easy to feel as if you are failing at everything. While self-help can be beneficial, seeking outside assistance from an expert can be so much more. You could feel like you are failing because you are depressed and the symptoms are making everything difficult, from interacting with family and co-workers, to completing tasks. Like any medical condition, you need an expert to treat your depression.

If any of these symptoms are making life extra tough, trust that the independently contracted therapists with Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC can help. Your therapist will work along with you to overcome your challenges and help to enrich the quality of your life. We can also provide online counseling. Call today to schedule your first appointment.