The difference is subtle and not rigidly defined. Helping is a general verb which covers all cases: I can help my mother to climb the stairs, I can help my children by giving them money, we can all help to keep the city clean by disposing carefully of rubbish. Helping out is generally used to describe a specific situation where a person helps another person to carry out some task which they then carry out jointly. I dug up the garden yesterday, and my son helped out. In your example, I am trying to help you, you have asked for help. I don't know why you are asking - maybe it is for an essay you are writing; if you asked me to help with your essay, that would be helping out.

I once asked a native speaker about the difference between the two and he said there is no difference,. following the feedback.

Help me would be seen as medical or serious. Help me out is informal , something minor