Social media, the constant news cycle and personal responsibilities all vying for our attention can feel overwhelming. This can also take a toll on our mental health and emotional well-being. People may experience feelings in various ways, including social anxiety, which can look different for everyone. “Some of the common ways you might be able to tell if you are feeling socially anxious is if you feel others are judging you just for being yourself, so whether or not you think others are scrutinizing you just for your beliefs or even just for carrying out your day-to-day life,” said Dr. Janarthan Sivaratnam, psychologist with Providence Swedish. Others may experience exhaustion and burnout, which can include requiring more effort to do daily tasks or feeling frustrated or checked out. Free-floating anger and frustration are also common. “There may not even need to be a specific trigger, but you just feel kind of tense,” Dr. Sivaratnam said. “You just feel ready to kind of go at it with someone.” It’s important to do periodic self-check-ins with yourself to reflect on what you may be feeling and consider additional healthy coping strategies. To protect your emotional well-being, it’s also key to find ways to navigate relationships with people who might not share your point of view. Dr. Sivaratnam suggests thinking about why a person and relationship are important to you and going into conversations with your guard down. “Even if we have different beliefs, different views, if that person means something to you, oftentimes that can be enough to help you get through that moment,” he said. Practicing mindfulness, meditating and getting plenty of sleep can help you manage your feelings. Breathing exercises can also help you center yourself. “It tricks your brain into recognizing there actually isn’t a threat and helps you regulate,” Dr. Sivaratnam said. Talking with your primary care doctor is a good place to start when seeking professional help. You can then work with them to decide next steps, which could include seeing a therapist. Dr. Sivaratnam says it’s important to think about your goals and what’s important to you in advance. “If you don’t have an idea of what you’re looking for, it’s kind of hard for the therapist to figure it out too,” he said. Always ask questions about the clinician’s experiences, style and therapy philosophy. Many clinicians do pro-bono work, so don’t immediately discount a clinician if they fit all your needs minus insurance coverage. Also consider your availability and discuss appointment cadence. To learn more about behavioral health services, visit the Providence Swedish website. Sponsored by Providence Swedish Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.