Asking for help in the middle of a crisis is braver than solving it alone and badly.

Handling it alone protects your pride at the expense of the actual outcome. In the middle of a mess you cannot see the whole shape of it, which is precisely when another set of eyes is worth most and precisely when asking feels worst. Weigh what you are protecting. Pride is cheap to spend and easy to earn back; the thing going wrong may not be.

Decide now who you would call, before anything needs calling about. One adult, one friend, one person who knows the subject. Having the name ready removes most of the delay later.