When to Seek Help: Red Flags That Your Mood or Anxiety Is More Than “Just a Phase”

Everyone goes through periods of stress, worry, or low mood. Busy schedules, family demands, work pressure, health concerns, or major life changes can all affect how we feel emotionally. For many people, these feelings pass with time, rest, or support from loved ones.  

But sometimes they don’t. When mood or anxiety symptoms linger, intensify, or begin to interfere with daily life, it can be hard to know whether this is still part of a normal emotional response – or a sign that professional mental health care may be helpful. Many people delay seeking care because they assume what they’re experiencing is “just a phase,” or worry they’re overreacting. Psychiatric providers use clear, evidence-based criteria to help make that distinction. Understanding those red flags can make it easier to recognize when support may be needed and when it’s time to seek care.

When Emotional Symptoms Stop Resolving On Their Own

Temporary emotional distress is common. What separates everyday stress from a mental health condition is not just how bad symptoms feel, but how long they last and how much they disrupt life.

Mental health conditions are typically defined by a combination of:

• Persistence (lasting weeks to months rather than days)
• Severity (distress that feels overwhelming or out of proportion)
• Functional impairment (difficulty working, parenting, studying, or maintaining relationships)

Psychiatric providers consider intervention when symptoms persist despite reasonable coping strategies and begin to affect social, occupational, or academic functioning [1]. Symptoms move beyond “just a phase” when they don’t resolve with time and begin to limit daily life.

Depression: More Than Feeling Sad Or Burned Out

Depression is often misunderstood as simply feeling sad, unmotivated, or tired. Clinically, it is a defined medical condition with specific diagnostic thresholds.

For adults, depression is diagnosed when a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure is present most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, along with additional symptoms such as sleep or appetite changes, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or feelings of worthlessness [3].

Red flags that suggest depression may require professional evaluation include:

• Symptoms lasting two weeks or longer without improvement
• Loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyable
• Difficulty functioning at work, school, or home
• Ongoing feelings of hopelessness or excessive guilt
• Thoughts about death or suicide, especially if there is planning or intent [3]

Severity also matters. Screening tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) help quantify symptoms. Scores of 15 or higher indicate moderately severe depression and are associated with significant impairment, often warranting treatment [3].

Depression can look different across age groups. In adolescents, irritability, academic decline, or social withdrawal may be more prominent than sadness. Young people also tend to underreport symptoms, making caregiver and school input particularly important [4][5].

Anxiety: When Worry Becomes Excessive And Disabling

Anxiety is a normal response to stress or perceived threat. It becomes a clinical disorder when worry or fear is excessive, persistent, and difficult to control, and when it interferes with daily functioning.

Most anxiety disorders require symptoms to be present for at least six months, along with distress or avoidance that disrupts daily life [1][2]. The worry is often out of proportion to actual risk and continues even when circumstances improve.

Warning signs that anxiety may benefit from professional care include:

• Constant or uncontrollable worry
• Physical symptoms such as palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, or shortness of breath
• Panic attacks or fear of having future attacks
• Avoidance of work, school, social situations, or everyday activities

The General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) screening tool helps assess anxiety severity. Scores of 10 or higher suggest moderate anxiety and are commonly associated with functional impairment [1][3]. It’s also important to note that anxiety frequently co-occurs with other conditions. Approximately 16.5% of people with anxiety disorders also have substance use disorders, which can worsen symptoms and complicate treatment [1]. 

Screening Tools Can Clarify – But Don’t Replace – Evaluation

Brief screening tools are often used to help identify people who may benefit from further assessment. Tools like the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 take less than five minutes to complete and are well-validated across clinical settings [1][3].

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine screening:

• For depression in adults and adolescents
• For anxiety in adults ages 18–64 and in girls and women age 13 and older [1][3]

Though, screening tools alone do not establish a diagnosis. Their value lies in helping psychiatric providers determine whether symptoms meet thresholds that justify further evaluation and possible treatment. Importantly, screening is most beneficial when it is connected to effective care rather than used in isolation [3].

When Symptoms Should Be Treated As Urgent

Certain mental health symptoms require immediate attention and should not wait for a routine appointment. Urgent evaluation is recommended for:

• Suicidal thoughts, especially with intent or planning
• Psychotic symptoms, such as hearing voices or seeing things others do not
• Severe mood instability suggestive of bipolar disorder
• Inability to perform basic daily activities
• Rapid worsening of symptoms over time [3][7]

If someone is in immediate danger, resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or emergency services should be used right away [7].

Children & Adolescents: Distinguishing Development Vs. Disorder

Anxiety and mood changes can be part of normal development, especially during childhood and adolescence. For example, separation anxiety in toddlers or social worries in teens can be age-appropriate. However, psychiatric evaluation is recommended when symptoms are:

• Severe or persistent
• Associated with significant school or social impairment
• Accompanied by complex comorbidities
• Not resolving with developmental progression or support [2][5][6]

Psychiatric Care Through Telepsychiatry

Telepsychiatry allows patients to meet with a licensed psychiatric provider remotely, often improving access and reducing wait times. A typical evaluation focuses on understanding symptom patterns, duration, severity, medical history, and current medications.

Practices such as Remedy Psychiatry provide psychiatric evaluation and medication management through secure telehealth visits. Psychiatric providers focus on diagnosis, medication decisions, and ongoing monitoring when medication is appropriate.

Many patients find it helpful to review practical details ahead of time, including accepted insurance plans and common questions, which can be found on Remedy’s insurance and FAQ pages.

Taking The Next Step

If mood or anxiety symptoms have been present for weeks or months, are worsening, or are interfering with daily life, seeking professional evaluation can provide clarity and support. Even when symptoms do not meet full diagnostic criteria, a psychiatric assessment can help determine appropriate next steps and reduce uncertainty.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Diagnosis and treatment decisions should always be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare professional based on individual circumstances.