answer:Getting for and paying for service is one level. For me, that was the easiest step, but for my daughter, the most difficult step. The second step is finding a provider that fits you. If you go for talk therapy, you need someone that is accessible but detached and still understands your way of thinking and talking. I went to a therapist once who, while trying to develop camaraderie with me, called my grandma a slut—that was the end of our trust developing. Later, I was misdiagnosed by a psychiatrist who did not take into account that I came from a different culture and had a very different personality than him. Those two were disasters, but I did have an excellent therapist that got me to a good place. Third, if you and the therapist can work together, you have to find out if their treatment plan is something you want to go through. Most therapists subscribe to a specific therapeutic approach (good list of different types) Fourth, if you are considering medication… it really is a hit and miss, trial and error approach. For many people, medication helps, but some people have to go through a few months of experimenting with different medicines before the right one is found. Is it easy to get professional help… I don’t think it is, but the REWARDS are worth every step.