Help For Anxiety – Utah Individual Counseling

We work with hundreds of individuals seeking help for anxiety in our Utah counseling centers. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States (National Institute of Mental Health). 

When people call our clinic to start counseling for anxiety there is often fear and concern about treatment. Your anxiety might be causing you anxiety even! Rest assured that anxiety is treatable and there is success by going to therapy and doing other things. 

Let’s talk about how anxiety impacts two different parts of your life and what you can do about it. 

Anxiety Impacts Your Relationships

No doubt about it, anxiety impacts your relationships. These relationships include your partner, spouse, siblings, parents, co-workers or others. No matter who it’s with, you are not yourself when you are anxious and around others. It might be hard to talk to them or track and engage in a conversation. Because of these struggles, you might find yourselves distancing from each other naturally or even on purpose.

What To Do

Communicate With Your Loved One

Talk about your anxiety with your loved one. This sounds simple, and can be powerful. Make sure you talk to them during periods when you’re experiencing less anxiety. Then it will be easier to tell them about what helps. In this place, you are in a better mental space to talk about it compared to when you are in the middle of a panic attack or anxious episode. Talk with them about a plan and what you need in those moments. Also, talk with them about what they need. Most likely, they are struggling with how to help you and take care of themselves at the same time. Both of you need love and care (Related Article: What Is Emotional Safety In A Relationship). 

Get Help And Start Working

Counseling for couples where one of you has anxiety can be effective (Related Article: What To Do About Marriage Problems Because Of Anxiety). You will learn how to talk about your problems in helpful ways instead of always getting stuck. 

Anxiety Impacts Your Personal Mental Health

Anxiety is an individual experience. Your own mental health is worn down through repeated panic attacks, anxiety episodes or constant low level anxiety. It can leave you feeling hopeless or helpless. Getting help in any form becomes difficult and you might start to spiral out of control. 

What To Do

Get Help And Start Working

Your progress with anxiety isn’t going to happen overnight, but doing something about it is the right direction. Use experts and their experience to help you navigate your anxiety. You could read a book such as When Panic Attacks (by David Burns). This book has helpful and practical tips. Also, going to therapy can be helpful (Related Articles: Counseling For Anxiety and Anxiety: How Counseling Can Help). We work with many of your neighbors here in Utah for the same issue. You aren’t the only one struggling with anxiety. 

Use A Breathing Technique 

A great tool I teach all of my clients suffering with anxiety is a breathing technique called diaphragmatic breathing (Related Article: Just Breathe! Reduce Anxiety With This Simple Exercise). Breathing techniques, if done right, work. You don’t have to believe in them, you just have to do them right. It’s biology and science at work if done correctly. For example, your body’s autonomic nervous system might get stuck in its ‘flight-or-flight’ response – causing your anxiety to spike. The diaphragmatic breathing exercise (linked above) triggers the parasympathetic nervous system to calm your body back down. 

Learn How To Recognize, Feel and Cope With Emotions

You will want to learn how to handle your emotions properly when you experience anxiety (Related Articles: Emotions 101: How To Be Healthy and 3 Principles Of Emotional Health). Not just your anxiety, but all the other emotions you might be feeling such as lonely, sad, hopeless, scared, etc… Sometimes anxiety builds up as a secondary emotion because of all of the other uncomfortable emotions you are feeling (Related Article: How To Be Emotionally Healthy: Primary Versus Secondary Emotions). If you learn to recognize what you are really feeling, pick it up, then you can let it go. Easier said than done, right? It’s still worth learning how to do it because in the long run it will pay dividends. 

Get help for anxiety. Schedule a session with a Utah therapist in South Jordan, Orem, American Fork or Spanish Fork – or even online. 

Written by Triston Morgan, PhD, Utah Marriage and Family Therapist