Is It Just Stress, or Something More? 10 Signs You Might Benefit from Therapy

We all encounter stress in daily life, but sometimes our struggles go beyond ordinary stress. It’s common to wonder, “Am I just stressed, or do I need extra support?” Many people feel unsure if their feelings warrant seeing a psychologist or if they should just “tough it out.” This uncertainty is completely normal – and important to talk about.

While stress is a part of life, persistent emotional or mental distress can signal deeper issues. In fact, mental health challenges are very common – one in five Australians experience a mental illness every year​. So if you’ve been feeling “not quite yourself” and questioning whether to seek help, you’re certainly not alone. Often, people hesitate to see a psychologist because they think others have it worse, or they believe they “should” cope on their own. However, you don’t need to be in crisis or have a diagnosed disorder to benefit from therapy. Getting support early can make a big difference in coping with stress and preventing things from becoming worse.

How can you tell when it’s time to talk to a professional? Below are 10 signs you might benefit from therapy. As you read through these signs, remember that everyone struggles sometimes – there’s no shame in seeking help. If several of these resonate with you, it may be a gentle nudge that what you’re facing is more than “just stress,” and a psychologist could help you find relief and healing.

1. Persistent Low Mood

Feeling down from time to time is part of life, but if a low mood sticks around for weeks on end, it might be more than just a passing phase. Persistently feeling sad, empty, or hopeless nearly every day is a strong indicator of depression​. Beyond Blue notes that if these low feelings last more than two weeks, it might be a sign of depression​ – a condition that affects about 1 in 7 Australians in their lifetime​. Depression is treatable, and it’s worth reaching out for help. If you struggle to get out of bed, feel tearful or numb most days, or find yourself in a constant fog of sadness, therapy can provide strategies to lift that weight. A compassionate psychologist or psychologist can help you understand why you feel this way and support you in finding hope and enjoyment in life again.

2. Overwhelming Anxiety

Worrying is a normal response to life’s challenges – but constant, overwhelming anxiety is not. If you feel on edge almost every day, have frequent panic attacks, or find your worries are taking over your life, it may be time to seek support. Beyond Blue explains that when anxious feelings don’t go away, happen for no clear reason, or make it hard to cope with daily life, it could be a sign of an anxiety condition​. Anxiety disorders are actually the most common mental health conditions in Australia, affecting roughly 1 in 4 people at some stage​, so you’re not alone in feeling this way. Persistent anxiety can cause physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, or upset stomach, and it might lead you to avoid activities or social events you used to enjoy. A psychologist can help you learn effective techniques for coping with stress and anxiety, such as breathing exercises or cognitive-behavioural strategies. You’ll also have a safe space to unpack your fears and work through the underlying causes of your anxiety, so it doesn’t keep controlling your life.

3. Relationship Difficulties

Have you been arguing constantly with your partner, or feeling disconnected from friends and family? Perhaps you keep encountering the same painful patterns – trust issues, communication breakdowns, or difficulty setting boundaries. While every relationship has ups and downs, ongoing relationship difficulties can be a sign that something deeper is going on within you. For example, unresolved trauma or stress can spill into our interactions with loved ones. If you’re struggling in your relationships – whether with a spouse, family member, or at work – therapy could help. A psychologist provides an unbiased perspective and can teach healthy communication and conflict resolution skills. According to mental health experts, if you’re having persistent trouble in your relationships, a psychologist can help you understand what’s going on and improve how you relate to others​. Sometimes strained relationships are linked to underlying issues like anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem that impact your ability to connect​. Working with a psychologist can uncover these links. You’ll learn ways to build stronger, more fulfilling connections and break negative cycles, leading to happier relationships and a happier you.

4. Changes in Sleep or Appetite

Your body and mind are closely connected – changes in your sleep or eating patterns can be an important clue that you’re under psychological strain. Maybe you’re lying awake night after night, unable to turn off worried thoughts, or you’re sleeping far more than usual and still feeling exhausted. You might notice you’re overeating for comfort or have lost your appetite entirely. Significant changes like these (with no medical cause) often accompany mental health issues like anxiety or depression​. For instance, depression can cause both insomnia and oversleeping, as well as appetite loss or overeating​. If for more than a couple of weeks you’ve been stuck in an unhealthy sleep cycle or your weight is fluctuating because you’re not eating normally, pay attention. Poor sleep and nutrition can also start a vicious cycle – lack of sleep can make it even harder to cope with daily stress, and skipping meals or overeating sugary foods can wreak havoc on your mood and energy. A psychologist can help identify why your sleep or eating habits have changed. Together, you might work on better bedtime routines, stress management techniques, or coping skills so that your body can get back in balance. Remember, needing a sleeping pill or a few glasses of wine every night to unwind is a sign that underlying anxiety or sadness isn’t being addressed. Therapy offers a healthier long-term solution to restore your wellbeing.

5. Difficulty Coping with Daily Stressors

Do you feel overwhelmed by everyday tasks that used to be manageable? Perhaps getting through your to-do list, handling work emails, or even doing household chores has become a daunting challenge. When we’re mentally overloaded, small stressors can feel huge. If you find yourself frequently saying, “I just can’t cope anymore,” or needing to hide from the world to recharge, consider that your stress level might be beyond a healthy range. Everyone has stress, but you shouldn’t feel like you’re drowning in it every day. Struggling to cope with daily life – constantly feeling on the brink of burnout or like you’re one minor mishap away from a meltdown – is a clear sign you could benefit from therapy. A psychologist can help in several ways. First, they’ll validate that what you’re feeling is real (and more common than you think). Then, they can teach you practical stress management and resilience-building techniques tailored to your situation. This might include time management strategies, learning to say “no” and set boundaries, or healthier ways to respond when you feel under pressure. Therapy also provides a safe outlet to vent and process the emotions that you’ve been bottling up. You’ll learn to identify triggers that make coping hard, and develop a toolkit for facing life’s daily challenges without feeling so overwhelmed. If left unaddressed, chronic stress can take a toll on both mind and body – so reaching out for support is a proactive step to protect your health and sanity.

6. Loss of Interest in Previously Enjoyable Activities

Remember when you used to look forward to hobbies, social outings, or activities that made you smile? If now you mostly feel indifferent or numb toward things that once brought you joy, that’s a red flag. Losing interest in activities you usually enjoy – known as anhedonia – is often a symptom of depression or burnout​. It’s not just “outgrowing” an old hobby; it’s a broader sense that nothing is enjoyable anymore. For example, you might find that movies, sports, or time with friends all feel like a chore, or you simply don’t have the energy. You might isolate yourself and decline invitations because you can’t imagine having fun. This emotional flatness can be very upsetting – you want to enjoy life, but you just can’t. Please know that you’re not “lazy” or boring; your mind might be struggling with a deeper issue. Beyond Blue notes that people with depression often lose enjoyment in things that would normally make them happy​, and feel like there’s nothing to look forward to. If this sounds familiar, talking to a psychologist could be a game-changer. In therapy, you can explore possible reasons behind your disinterest – whether it’s unresolved grief, high stress, or clinical depression – and work on strategies to reconnect with what matters to you. Through treatment (which might include therapy, lifestyle changes, or sometimes medication), many people do regain their spark. You might discover new passions or rekindle old ones as your mental health improves. Feeling meh about everything is a heavy burden to carry alone, but with support, you can start to rediscover pleasure and purpose in your life.

7. Intrusive Thoughts or Excessive Rumination

Do you find your mind stuck in a loop of negative or upsetting thoughts? Perhaps you replay painful memories, imagine worst-case scenarios over and over, or have unwanted thoughts pop into your head that are hard to shake. Intrusive thoughts (disturbing or unwanted thoughts that force their way in) and rumination (constantly brooding on problems or past events) can be more than just normal worrying – they can signal anxiety, trauma, or other mental health conditions that therapy can help with. For example, people who have experienced trauma might have flashbacks or intrusive memories of what happened. Those with high anxiety or OCD might experience persistent “what if” thoughts or irrational images that they can’t easily stop. And many with depression find they ruminate on feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or failures, which only makes them feel worse. These thought patterns can be exhausting and frightening. You might even worry that “something is wrong with me for thinking this way.” In reality, our brains often get stuck in gear under stress – and professional help can get them unstuck. A psychologist will teach you techniques to manage and challenge these thoughts. For instance, cognitive-behavioural therapy can help you question the validity of negative thoughts and develop a more balanced perspective. Mindfulness strategies can train you to let intrusive thoughts pass by without giving them so much power. Importantly, therapy provides a non-judgmental space to talk about thoughts you might be afraid or ashamed to share with others. You’ll learn that thoughts are not actions – having a scary thought doesn’t mean you’ll act on it or that you’re a bad person. With support, you can gain control over your thought life, rather than feeling controlled by it.

8. Increased Use of Substances or Behaviours to Cope

Have you caught yourself reaching for alcohol, drugs, or other vices more often to escape what you’re feeling? Maybe a glass of wine has turned into a bottle most nights, or you’re using recreational drugs, smoking, or even misusing prescription meds to numb anxiety or sadness. Some people might overeat for comfort, while others turn to compulsive behaviours like gambling, shopping, or endless scrolling on social media to distract from inner pain. While an occasional drink or shopping spree is not unusual, using any substance regularly as your main way to cope is a sign that you could use support. Self-medicating with substances often indicates an underlying issue that needs attention​. In fact, it can quickly become a dangerous cycle – you drink or use to avoid your feelings, but then those feelings (and new problems) come back twice as strong, requiring even more alcohol or drugs to escape. Over time, this coping mechanism can worsen your mental health and create new issues like addiction or health problems. If you’ve noticed this pattern in yourself, please know you’re not weak or a failure – you’re human, and humans seek relief from pain. But there are healthier, safer ways to find relief. In therapy, you won’t be judged for what you’ve been doing to cope. A psychologist can help you understand what emotions or situations are driving you to use substances (or food, sex, etc.) to cope​. Together, you’ll work on alternative coping strategies that address the root problem rather than just numbing the symptoms. You might also get support for cutting back or quitting the substance if needed, possibly with the help of medical professionals or support groups. If you’re already noticing that you need that nightly drink or habit to get by, that’s a loud and clear sign that therapy could benefit you – both to heal emotionally and to prevent further harm.

9. Feeling Emotionally Numb or Detached

Not everyone experiences mental health struggles as intense sadness or anxiety. Some people end up feeling nothing at all. Do you feel emotionally numb – like you’re on autopilot, detached from life, or watching yourself from the outside? Emotional numbness or detachment can be a response to prolonged stress or trauma. It’s as if your mind says, “too much pain, let’s shut down now.” You might notice you don’t feel joy or love like you used to, or even anger – just a flat emptiness. Some describe it as feeling hollow or like a spectator in their own life. This can be a sign of depression (indeed, feeling empty or numb is a common symptom of depression​), or a feature of burnout and post-traumatic stress, where you disconnect as a coping mechanism. It’s important to understand that feeling numb is not a personal failing; it’s often the brain’s way of protecting you from overwhelm. However, living in a state of numbness isn’t healthy or satisfying in the long run – and it can be scary, too. You might think, “Will I ever feel happy again?” The answer is yes, with time and the right support. Therapy is incredibly helpful for emotional numbness. A skilled psychologist will gently help you start to reconnect with your feelings at your own pace. They might use techniques from trauma therapy, like grounding exercises, to help you safely feel emotions again. In therapy, you can also explore what caused you to shut down – maybe a series of losses, chronic anxiety, or something hurtful from your past. Understanding the cause can be relieving in itself. Over time, as you build trust in therapy, you’ll find that your emotional range begins to return. Many people report that with treatment they go from feeling detached and “robotic” to feeling human and alive again. It might take some work, but you deserve to experience the full spectrum of emotions – not just the painful ones, but the positive ones too, like love, contentment, and joy.

10. A Sense of Hopelessness or Lack of Purpose

Do you feel like you’ve lost hope in the future, or that life has no meaning or purpose? Perhaps you catch yourself thinking, “What’s the point of all this?” or feeling certain that things will never get better. Persistent hopelessness is a hallmark sign of depression and can also accompany serious burnout or existential crises. It’s that heavy, dark feeling that nothing will ever improve, and you might as well give up on goals or withdraw from others. You might feel useless or believe that life is meaningless. This mindset is not just stress – it’s a signal that professional support is needed to help you find light in the darkness. Therapy is an ideal place to rekindle hope. A psychologist can help challenge the negative beliefs fuelling your hopelessness and work with you to set small, achievable goals to rebuild a sense of purpose. Sometimes when we feel a lack of purpose, it helps to explore our values, passions, or spirituality – all of which a psychologist can guide you through. It’s also worth noting that feeling hopeless or empty can be dangerous if it progresses to thoughts of self-harm. Even if those thoughts come and go, it’s crucial to talk to someone about them​. You don’t have to carry those thoughts alone. If you have moments where life feels not worth living, reach out for help immediately – call a helpline like Lifeline (13 11 14 in Australia) or speak to a trusted healthcare provider. There are people who care and resources that can help, even if your hopeless mind tells you otherwise. Many individuals who have felt utterly without hope later recover and find joy and meaning again – often crediting therapy as the turning point. Remember, hope can be rekindled. A psychologist can hold that hope for you, even when you can’t feel it yourself, until you begin to see possibilities for the future again.

Next Steps – Finding Support

If several of these signs are hitting home for you, it may be time to consider taking action for your mental well-being. You don’t have to wait until things get “bad enough” – seeking help early is a proactive, positive step. Therapy is not about being weak; it’s about giving yourself the tools and support you deserve to feel better. Think of it like seeing a doctor for a persistent cough – you’d rather treat it before it turns into pneumonia. Similarly, addressing persistent low mood, anxiety, or other difficulties now can prevent them from worsening and help you start feeling like yourself again.

If these signs resonate, exploring therapy could be a valuable next step. If you live in Perth, you can make an appointment online. Reaching out might feel daunting, but it can also be the start of a happier, healthier chapter. In therapy, you’ll have someone in your corner – a trained professional who listens with compassion and helps you navigate your challenges. You’re not alone in what you’re feeling, and you don’t have to struggle alone to get through it. With the right support, stress can become manageable, and that “something more” you’re experiencing can start to lighten. Your mental health matters, so take that step whenever you’re ready – a brighter outlook and real relief are within reach.