I sincerely believe there has been a shift in society and much of that stigma has been removed. Note the operative word 'much'. Certainly it is not something people brag about and many still do not tell others they have sought help.
After moving to Colorado I again went to see a counselor on and off for a couple years. Again, helpful.
And now? Here I am needing the care and clear thinking of a counselor. Ah, but the sweet deal in that is that I am 67 and between Medicare and my supplemental insurance, I have already paid for it. It is a true gift and a bonus to sanity. It soothes the edges, calms my heart and allows me, in the midst of frustrating and scary moments, to focus on options.
I pondered this step for a while and put it off. Mostly I did not want to leave Russ home alone for more hours, but it became apparent that it would be more beneficial than the concern of leaving Russ alone; he does after all wear an emergency call button if there is a fall or emergency. As Lillian mentioned right off, "Your week seems a bit unbalanced. How can you add a bit more 'you' time to the week?"
What finally led me to make the call was needing some help with practical problems and for someone to 'see and share light' into my growing fear of injury for Russ. I needed ideas for how to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to ask for help when needed!
It has not been scary. It has not hurt. It has not taken great amounts of time out of my day. It has blessed me with hope, humor, and a humbled heart. So much is going right in our lives.