Lately, you’ve noticed that your anxiety is kicking up again, and you realize that if you don’t do something, it will start to take over your life. You find yourself thinking about how to get things into a better spot. Do you tell your parents or roommates you are struggling, or simply suffer in silence? Do you google resources and go at this through social media tips or do you find a therapist to help you deal with the many thoughts racing in your head? There are many ways that people can cope with anxiety, so let’s explore the options in front of you.
Online tools may help when you are experiencing the following things:
Feeling Overwhelmed:
It's normal to feel overwhelmed during stressful times in life. Most people feel anxiety when starting a new job, preparing for finals, or making a significant decision in your life. This type of anxiety is short-term and subsides when the circumstances shift. While your stress & worry levels have increased, they feel manageable. You can still fall asleep even if it takes just a little bit longer than normal. You can prepare in a time frame that is normal for the circumstances & focus on that process. You’re appetite and normal routines are still intact. But you still feel a bit thrown off, but you feel like if you had a few tools you’d be able to get by just fine.
Seeking Information to Understand Your Experiences:
If you feel you don’t really understand what anxiety is and or how it is managed, then googling some basics may be of help. Online can be a great way to learn the basics of something so long as you search reputable sources and don’t go down the “rabbit hole” and saturate yourself with information.
Exploring Self-Help Tools:
Online mental health apps, such as Calm or Headspace, meditation-videos, relaxation exercises, and self-help books can be effective tools for managing mild to moderate anxiety symptoms. These resources are easily accessible and can be incorporated into your daily practices.
Seeking Peer Support:
Connecting with other college students who may be experiencing similar challenges can be reassuring and validating. TikTok, IG, and other online platforms may offer some insights into yourself and help you feel understood. They often provide a space for people to feel less alone or understand the different ways anxiety can present. Online can also lead you to resources in your area. Most clients I see are often unaware of the options open to them as college students or therapy benefits through a full-time employer. As per usual, don’t believe everything you see on social media or the internet, many things are accurate and many things are not.
When to Seek Mental Health Therapy for Anxiety:
You should always seek mental health therapy at any point in your journey. The goal of therapy is to help give you support & tools to improve the quality of your life. So if your anxiety is mild, it’s likely that you will only need a short-term therapy approach. If your anxiety is worse than you thought, then therapy time frames will be adjusted accordingly.
Persistent Anxiety Symptoms:
If you're experiencing persistent anxiety symptoms that interfere with your daily functioning, such as difficulty concentrating, disrupted sleep, or avoiding social situations.
Impact on Relationships:
You feel like you are showing up differently in your relationships than in the past. You may find yourself being more agitated than normal or you are not able to be with others and be relaxed and or focused on what’s happening in the moment. It may be that you feel like everything is going okay and you’ll feel better soon, but others are telling you that you are overly worried or stressed.
Changes in Behavior:
You’ve noticed that your daily patterns have changed. You may be experiencing a shift in your appetite or have a constant state of muscle tension or that butterflies-in-your-stomach kind of feeling. You may find yourself feeling more rigid or over-controlling than normal or that the only way you can cope is to not care at all about it.
Decline in Academic Performance:
If your anxiety is significantly impacting your academic performance, such as missing classes, falling behind on assignments, or experiencing difficulty concentrating, seeking therapy can help you address underlying issues and improve your academic success.
What is different with individual therapy vs an online resources approach?
Personalized Treatment:
Mental health therapy offers personalized treatment tailored to your specific needs and challenges. A licensed therapist can help you explore the root causes of your anxiety and develop effective strategies for managing symptoms. They can also help you look at the tools you have already learned to better capture when, how, and why certain tools work in some situations and not in others. They can teach you coping skills, relaxation techniques, and cognitive-behavioral strategies to address anxious thoughts and behaviors.
Safe and Confidential Space:
Therapy provides a safe and confidential space to express your feelings, fears, and concerns without judgment. It's an opportunity to explore your emotions openly and work through difficult experiences with the support of a compassionate professional. Many people find they like this aspect more than they anticipated. They can share the full impact of their anxiety and feel supported without having to talk about it on a daily basis.
Building Resilience:
Through therapy, you can build resilience and develop skills to cope with your current challenges more effectively. Therapy equips you with the tools and resources you need to navigate anxiety and cultivate greater emotional well-being.
Long-Term Benefits:
Investing in therapy for anxiety can yield long-term benefits beyond college or your current job. By addressing anxiety early and developing coping mechanisms that work for you, your overall mental health can be the best it’s ever been. This will set you up for more success when you come up against similar challenges later in your life.
Begin Therapy for Anxiety in Salt Lake City, UT
While online resources can be valuable for coping with mild anxiety symptoms and providing support during times of transition, seeking mental health therapy is essential for addressing persistent anxiety that significantly impacts your life. Life will always have ups & downs in terms of stress levels. You should be able to decide how to weather those challenges. If you are unsure what would best help you at this time, give us a call. We are here to help you see what level of care you may need and we want to help you get relief & resiliency. You can start your therapy journey with Inside Wellness by following these steps:
Reach out and give us a call at 801-699-6161.
Learn more about our team.
Start getting support for your anxiety!
Other Services Offered with Inside Wellness
Anxiety treatment isn’t the only mental health service we offer. We understand that you may experience other issues that you need support with. This is why Inside Wellness offers support with a variety of mental health services. Other services offered include body image counseling, eating disorder treatment, and online Therapy in Utah. Feel free to visit our blog for more helpful information today!