Do I need therapy?

Is it time for more intervention?

A common test people will propose for "When is it time for therapy?" looks something like,"Well, is your mental health interfering with day-to-day activities?"

This is a great start!

I would remember though that while sometimes mental illness interfering with life looks like being unable to get out of bed, other times it means still mostly doing normal stuff, but it's not bringing joy and it feels like everyone in your life sucks. Sure there are toxic person, but untreated depression and anxiety can also look like being really irritated by life all the time.

All that said, here's a slightly different answer to the question that I often give when people ask me if I think therapy or meds might be a good idea (I moderate a bipolar chatroom, it comes up):

If you're asking the question, "Is there something wrong?" maybe instead frame it as a question of the pros and cons of consulting a professional. I can't weigh the balance for you, I know finding time and effort and insurance/money, especially for behavioral health stuff can be a bitch.

But if your symptoms, so to speak, are causing significant distress, then I'm not sure it matters whether they're listed somewhere online, they're definitely impacting your life and I'd say that's worth getting checked out.

⁠There is NOTHING wrong with needing a little (or more than a little) help. Asking for help doesn't mean you're mentally ill forever or that you'll need to take meds. To be perfectly honest, life is truly enough of a challenge I think even the sanest of the sane could benefit from a couple therapy sessions with an unbiased person to rant at and troubleshoot with.

(I know this may seem contradictory for my project, but I’m all for professionals if you have the resources!)