When to Seek Therapy: Signs It’s More Than Just Stress

The Subtle Shift From Stress to Something More

When friends or clients ask me about therapy, I (Monica) often hear: “I thought I was just stressed.” I get it. Most of us feel stressed these days. Work deadlines pile up, family responsibilities weigh heavy, and our phones rarely stop buzzing. Stress is part of life.

But sometimes, stress stops being a temporary reaction and starts becoming a constant state. It’s no longer tied to one deadline or one season of life, but it starts to creep into your mornings, your sleep, and even your relationships. That’s usually the point when people begin wondering if it’s time to seek therapy.

Stress Has Its Place

A certain amount of stress is normal. It even has benefits. Stress pushes us to meet deadlines, train for a marathon, or prepare for a big presentation. But when stress lingers long after the event has passed, or when it starts to feel like your baseline instead of a temporary spike, it can wear the body and mind down.

I think back to a client who told me, “I thought I just needed a vacation.” What she really needed wasn’t a week off, but new tools to manage a constant undercurrent of anxiety. That’s where therapy makes a difference.

Signs It May Be More Than Stress

If you’re wondering about the difference, here are some common experiences people share with me when stress has tipped into something heavier:

• Sleep isn’t restorative anymore. You wake at 3 a.m., mind racing, and can’t fall back asleep.

• Your body is speaking. Headaches, stomachaches, or chest tightness show up without a clear medical cause.

• Joy feels flat. Things you usually enjoy like cooking, playing with your kids, even watching your favourite show feel muted.

• Relationships suffer. You’re irritable, withdrawing, or avoiding people you normally want close.

• Daily life feels heavier. Getting out of bed, showing up at work, or keeping up with routines takes more effort than it should.

These are signals that what looks like “just stress” may actually be anxiety, depression, or burnout, all of which are treatable with the right support.

What Therapy Offers

Therapy doesn’t erase stress. Life will always bring deadlines and demands. But therapy can change how you respond to it.

Sometimes it’s as simple as learning strategies to calm your body when anxiety peaks. Other times it’s about untangling the deeper beliefs you carry like “I’m only valuable when I’m productive.” For some, therapy is the first safe place they’ve had to name their pain out loud.

One client once told me, after a few sessions: “I didn’t realize how much I was holding my breath until I sat here.” Therapy offers that: space to exhale.

Stress by itself isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a normal part of life. But when stress starts reshaping your days and robbing you of rest or joy, it may be time to consider therapy. It isn’t about being broken or failing to cope. It’s about recognizing that we’re human, and sometimes we need support.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds familiar,” take it as an invitation. Therapy might be the place where you finally put down what feels too heavy to carry alone.