If you are in this section, something is happening that is bigger than what reading can address.
That is important to say directly: reading articles is a starting point. It is not a substitute for real support when real support is what is needed.
Go further than reading right now if:
You are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm. Call or text 988. Text HOME to 741741. Go to an emergency room. These resources exist precisely for this moment. Use them.
You feel unsafe or like you might hurt yourself. Tell someone who is near you. Go somewhere safe. Call emergency services if needed. Your safety is the only priority right now.
You have been in severe emotional distress for hours or days without relief. That level of sustained acute distress is a mental health emergency and deserves the same response as any other emergency.
You have a plan or intent to harm yourself. This is an emergency. Call 988 or go to an emergency room now.
If things are serious but not immediately dangerous
Make an appointment with a therapist or your doctor as soon as possible — this week, not eventually. Tell them what has been happening. Be honest about the severity.
Tell one person in your life what is going on. You do not have to manage this in silence.
If you are not sure where to start with finding professional support, your primary care doctor is always a reasonable first step. They can refer you and help you understand the options.
You are allowed to ask for help
Not when things get worse. Not when you are sure it qualifies. Now.
What you are going through is real. You do not have to be in a perfect crisis to deserve support. If something feels urgent, treat it as urgent.
You are not a burden for needing help. You are a person in a hard situation — and people in hard situations deserve care.