It took me a long time to get it, and some of what I went through on the way is what I can't post about. I don't exactly have preexisting mental health issues per say, but I do have enough stuff that I have difficultly seeing that people just want to help - no strings attached. Being in an abusive relationship didn't exactly help either...
For a lot of years I was afraid to let health professionals, and most anybody else honestly, see how I was feeling because I was afraid they would be disgusted with me and take my child from me. Ultimately it blew up in my face... I'm still not really sure how to do it - to reach out and ask for help appropriately, but I'm getting there