Escalating is not the same as failing to cope
There is a quiet fear that raising a blocker makes you look like you could not handle it alone. In most workplaces the opposite is true: knowing when to escalate is itself a skill.
Show your work before you ask for help
“I have tried X and Y, this needs a decision above my level.” Naming what you already attempted turns the ask from “I am stuck” into “I have ruled these out,” which reads as competence, not helplessness.
Escalate early, not at the deadline
“Flagging this now so it does not become a bigger issue next week.” An early flag gives people time to act calmly. The same issue raised at the deadline forces a rushed, stressful decision instead.