Most people experience some anxiety at some point in their life. “Normal” anxiety can include things like nervousness for a big upcoming presentation or event that then goes away once the presentation or event is over.  Clinical anxiety is when those worries are frequent and consistent rather than occasional and fleeting, they disrupt your daily life, and the fears may be irrational or out of proportion with the situation. Clinical anxiety can be difficult to manage and cope with for those who struggle with it, unlike “normal” everyday anxiety.  Anxiety can have different effects on different individuals. Some of the most common effects of anxiety we see include but are not limited to, feeling unable to cope with the anxiety and subsequently avoiding situations, people, and/or places that increase anxiety-related symptoms. Individuals with clinical anxiety often have a hard time concentrating on other things because their anxiety is so intense, they have difficulties sleeping and relaxing. Physically, someone struggling with anxiety may experience increased fatigue, rapid heart rate, and potentially high blood pressure. The effects can differ from person to person, but a commonality between those with clinical anxiety is that it impacts their daily living and quality of life.  There are several things we can do on our own to help ourselves when we’re struggling with anxiety, including both “normal” and clinical anxiety! These self-help interventions may include skills like engaging in regular physical activity/movement, or even just shaking your body out. They can also include deep breathing exercises, meditation, and avoiding caffeine (caffeine tends to make you more anxious!!) On our own, we can engage in good sleep hygiene, including a regular sleep schedule (our bodies and minds like routine), relaxation techniques, socializing and confiding in friends/family, and more.   When the self-help interventions that we’ve tried don’t seem to be working, this may be an indicator that it’s time to seek professional help, like therapy. A therapist can help you work through the origins and triggers of your anxiety, develop various coping skills, increase your mental flexibility, and more.  Here at Gold Counseling, we have several therapists in each of our locations who work with anxiety diagnoses and are ready to lend you a helping hand in the therapeutic process. If you think you want to take the next step and try therapy, reach out to us today or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Riverdale UT, Washington Terrace UT, Clinton UT, Kaysville UT, Clearfield UT, Farmington UT, Draper UT, Riverton UT, Sandy UT, St. George UT, Bloomington UT, Santa Clara UT, and surrounding areas.  Written by Hannah Lollar, LCSW