How do I know when it is time to see a psychologist?

Everyone goes through ups and downs. It is the nature of life to have joys mixed with problems in living. But sometimes the troubles of life can start to interfere with how a person carries on from day to day.
Usually, people use their own "internal thermometer" to decide when it is time to get help, or sometimes they get encouragement from family or friends. Some try to struggle through it alone. Others may look to supportive family, friends, or clergy. Some people may feel nervous about asking for help or setting up an appointment to see a psychologist. They may worry about how others will perceive them ("What if the psychologist thinks my problem is stupid? What if they say I am crazy? What if my friends find out I am seeing a psychologist? Will people think I am weak if I can't handle this myself?")
Although each person makes their own decision, there are some "flags" that people can watch out for that may be signs that it is time to consult with a psychologist:

• Do you feel sad most days?
• Is there a problem in your life that bothers you so much that you think about it almost all the time? 
• Do your troubles distract you at work, or do you find yourself "spacing out" when talking to people or driving?
• Have you gotten stuck in troubling relationships over and over and can't figure out why the same pattern keeps happening? 
• Are you getting more and more irritable with people close to you?
• Have you started to have trouble sleeping? Or do you feel like sleeping all the time because you are so low in energy . . . or because you would rather avoid your troubles?
• Have you lost interest or pleasure in your daily life--in things you used to enjoy?
• Are you troubled by conflicts with your spouse or partner?
• Are you trying to cope with terribly hurtful experiences from the past that are hard to talk about?
• Do you think you have been using alcohol too much?
• Are you using drugs?
• Do people you care about tell you that they worry about your alcohol or drug use?
• Have you gotten into problems because of your temper?
• Have you thought about suicide?
• Have you gotten so nervous or panicky that you thought you were going to pass out or have a heart attack, but you weren't sure what you were scared about?
• Do you have disturbing, intrusive thoughts or images or illusions that you can't explain or control?
• Are you having problems with your children? Are your children having problems in school or getting along with others?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may want to consider setting up a consultation with a psychologist.

http://www.cornerstonebh.com/seepsyc.htm