anxiety therapy vancouver

Anxiety Counselling in Vancouver BC

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common emotion in people that develops when they are under stress but when it becomes out of control and starts affecting your life, it can be disabling. It can be normal in stressful situations such as taking an exam or speaking on stage in front of many people. Anxiety is the body’s natural response to excessive feelings that interfere with your daily living. 

Anxiety in Women

Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder. It could be because of the differences in their hormone fluctuations and brain chemistry. Women with Anxiety disorder experience a combination of anxious beliefs, thoughts, changes in behavior, and certain physical symptoms. 

How Anxiety Affects Women

  • Puberty: - The psychosocial stress of puberty contributes to the occurrence of anxiety in women. The stage of puberty is when girls start experiencing monthly fluctuations of ovarian hormones and menses. These fluctuations in puberty play a major role in the etiology of anxiety disorder in women.

  • Menstrual Cycle: - As many as 50% of women experience at least one anxiety or mood symptom during the menstrual cycle. A small percentage of women experience pre-menstrual anxiety symptoms.

  • Pregnancy and Postpartum: - Stress and anxiety during pregnancy have an effect on women that can also last postpartum.

  • Menopausal Transition: - Menopausal transition is the time of increased stress in women accompanied by various mental and physical symptoms such as sadness, weakness, nausea, hot flashes, and dizziness.

  • Phobia: - A phobia is an unreasonable and excessive fear of a specific situation or object. Women tend to have more environmental and animal phobia than men.

  • Social Anxiety: - It is characterized by the fear of being judged by people. It includes eating, drinking, speaking, and performing in front of others.

  • Childhood Stressors: - Childhood abuse in women is higher than in men especially sexual abuse and neglect. Such abuses play a role in the development of anxiety in women.

If you are struggling with anxiety, anxiety counselling can be an effective treatment. Research has shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other counselling modalities can decrease anxiety symptoms.

Offering in-person counselling in North Vancouver at 1940 Lonsdale Ave. Online appointments are also available for BC residents