Asking for Professional Help
When We’re the Ones People Come To
As accountants, we’re used to being the first call when something doesn’t add up – pun intended. Be it clients, friends, or even family members, someone always wants to know if their tax return looks right, if they’ve filled out a form correctly, or whether that ominous letter from HMRC means the taxman is knocking on their door. And let’s be honest — sometimes they expect that advice for free (cheeky, isn’t it?). But they come to us because they see us as professionals, a trusted pair of hands.
That sense of trust should mean something. It means they believe in our ability to sort things out, calm the panic, and reassure them when they’re deep in the fog.
When It’s Us Who Needs Help
The oddest part of all this? I wasn’t extending that same logic to myself.
For years, I didn’t seek any professional help when I was struggling mentally. Depression, anxiety, burnout — I wore them like invisible weights. I’d tell clients to “get professional advice” without hesitation, but I couldn’t follow that advice myself. Why? Because somewhere inside, I feared it meant I was weak or incapable. I felt like a fraud.
What if people found out? Would they see me differently — less capable, less professional, less… me?
The Turning Point
Eventually, I realised I was trapped in a loop of my own making. If a client came to me with a tax problem they didn’t understand, I wouldn’t mock them or see them as incompetent. I’d sit, listen, break it down, and help them find a solution. That’s what professionals do.
So why couldn’t I accept that I needed a professional to help me?
That first step — speaking to my GP, then a counsellor — was scary. But it was also the most rational thing I could have done. I wasn’t supposed to be an expert in mental health. I needed someone who was.
A Parallel Profession
Counsellors, therapists, and even helpline volunteers (shout out to MIND and The Samaritans) — they’re doing exactly what we do, but for emotional balance instead of financial. They listen. They interpret. They structure. They help us create a plan.
Professional help is just that — professional. You’re not burdening anyone by asking for it. You’re investing in your own wellbeing.
No Shame, Just Support
If you’re reading this and feel hesitant about reaching out, I get it. I really do. But please know this: asking for help isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. It’s strength. And like any good accountant would tell their client, “Don’t guess — get advice.”
Even we professionals need professionals.
“I have done it! What a feeling, I have achieved something today, this week, this year. I have blogged today.”
Thanks for stopping by – Have a good day!
The Depressed Accountant™