Author: Kimberly Meehan, Psych PMHNP
Imagine this: life has been moving forward, maybe even looking pretty typical from the outside, but something underneath has felt off. Maybe it’s a constant undercurrent of stress. Maybe it’s harder to enjoy things than it used to be. Or maybe you’ve just been running on autopilot for so long that slowing down feels almost unfamiliar. You’ve thought about reaching out for help before—but talked yourself out of it. Maybe the timing didn’t feel right. Maybe it still doesn’t. But here’s the truth: there is no wrong time to ask for help.
Support doesn’t have an end date.
It doesn’t require a crisis.
It doesn’t ask that you wait until things get “bad enough.”
If something feels heavy, hard, or out of sync—it matters.
Getting support can be preventative and proactive.
It can be what turns things around for you.
But I get why so many people wait so long. As a Psych NP, the number one thing I hear from people is 'I should have made this appointment 6 months ago". Getting help for your mental health can feel like a big step. And for a lot of people, there’s this lingering belief that they’ve either waited too long or missed their window. But healing isn’t linear. It can start in the middle of a chaotic season. It can start during a moment of quiet clarity. It can start even if you’re unsure where it will lead. The important thing is that it starts—and that you feel supported through it.
What I tell every person who asks me when to get support :
It’s not too late to get help.
It’s also not too early.
The best time to reach out is the moment you wonder if maybe something could feel better.
Even if you’re still functioning.
Even if you’re not sure what’s wrong.
Even if things are “fine on paper.
So many people tell themselves it’s not the right time.
Here are a few of the most common things I hear:
“I’m too overwhelmed to even think about starting therapy.”
“I don’t know what I’d even talk about.”
“It’s not that bad—I’m still functioning.”
“I have friends to talk to.”
“I don’t have the time or the money right now.”
“I just need to get through this, and I’ll be fine.”
And I get it. These are very real concerns. But they’re also very common barriers that can keep people stuck longer than they need to be.
Let’s break a few of those down.
“I’m too overwhelmed.”
That’s often the biggest sign that help is needed. Therapy can actually make things feel less overwhelming—because it offers clarity, tools, and a place to process the load you’re carrying. You don’t have to organize your thoughts before reaching out. A good provider will help you sort through the noise.
“I don’t know what to talk about.”
Many people feel this way at first. You don’t need a script. You don’t need a dramatic story. You just need a space where you can start being honest—with yourself and with someone who’s trained to help you make sense of it.
“It’s not that bad.”
Just because something isn’t urgent doesn’t mean it’s not important. Mental health care isn’t reserved for crisis. It’s for maintenance, prevention, insight, and growth. If life feels harder than you want it to, that’s reason enough.
“I have friends to talk to.”
Supportive relationships are powerful. But friends aren’t trained to hold everything. And sometimes, you need a space that’s just for you—without fear of burdening someone, or needing to censor how you feel.
"I don’t have time or money.”
This one is real. But there are options. Many providers offer sliding scale fees, and some take insurance or offer shorter check-in models. Even one session can make a difference. There are also low-cost clinics, virtual providers, and group options that make care more accessible. You don’t have to commit to forever—just begin where you can.
“I’ll get over this.”
You might. But what if you didn’t have to “just get through it” on your own? What if help could make the process shorter, smoother, or less isolating? What if getting support could lead to more ease, more insight, more energy? There’s no prize for toughing it out alone.
The truth is: therapy and psychiatric support can change your quality of life.
Not because it erases the hard things, but because it gives you more capacity to face them.
When you have a space to speak honestly, without judgment or pressure to fix it all at once, things start to shift. The noise quiets. The overwhelm feels more manageable. You begin to understand where certain reactions are coming from. You catch patterns earlier. You learn tools to cope—instead of just pushing through.
It doesn’t happen overnight. But little by little, it gets easier to show up for your life in a way that feels more grounded. More aware. More connected to yourself.
For some people, support looks like a weekly therapy session. For others, it’s a few appointments with a psychiatric provider to explore whether medication could take the edge off persistent anxiety or low mood. Sometimes it's a mix of both. And often, it includes conversations about sleep, nourishment, relationships, boundaries, and identity—all the pieces that affect how we feel, even if they don’t always get named.
Getting help isn’t just about solving a problem. It’s about feeling more present. More stable. More capable of handling whatever comes next.
Whether you’re just starting to wonder if something feels off, or you’ve known for a while but haven’t known where to begin—this is your reminder that help is still an option. That growth is still possible. That clarity, peace, motivation, and even joy are still on the table.
If the thought of getting help has been lingering in the back of your mind, this is your nudge.
You don’t have to wait for things to get worse.
You don’t have to go through it alone.
The best time to ask for help is now—wherever you are, however you're feeling.
And yes… even now.
Check out our resource page here to start finding help.