Providing In-Person Anxiety Counselling in Vancouver and Virtually Across BC
Anxiety Counselling
Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but when it becomes overwhelming and starts interfering with daily life, it’s time to seek support. Anxiety counselling provides a safe and compassionate space to address the root causes of anxiety, learn coping strategies, and regain control over your thoughts and emotions.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural stress response that can actually be helpful in certain situations. It alerts us to potential dangers, allowing us to stay focused and prepared. But what happens when anxiety becomes more than just a momentary reaction?
An anxiety disorder goes beyond the typical feelings of nervousness or worry. It involves chronic, excessive fear or anxiety that disrupts daily life. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition, affecting around 30% of adults at some point in their lives.
For those with anxiety disorders, the fear and worry they experience can be overwhelming, persistent, and out of proportion to the situation. Many people also suffer from panic attacks—sudden episodes of intense fear that peak within minutes. These episodes can feel uncontrollable and often disrupt daily activities, despite there being no immediate danger. When anxiety becomes this intense and difficult to manage, it’s crucial to seek support.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
- What are signs of anxiety you can look for? Symptoms may vary depending on what type of anxiety disorder you're struggling with. General symptoms and signs of an anxiety disorder include the following:
- Feeling restless
- Reduced sex drive
- Headaches and pain
- Overthinking and rumination
- Obsessive-compulsive tendencies (OCD)
- Difficulty concentrating
- Procrastination
- Excessive worrying
- Nightmares
- Palpitations
- Hyperventilating
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Unable to maintain balance
- Pins and needles
- Difficulty sleeping
- Avoidance of people, places, or things
- Anxiety doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some individuals may steer clear of specific situations or places to avoid triggering anxious or negative emotions, while others may endure full-blown panic attacks—a common symptom of anxiety. A panic attack brings a sudden, overwhelming wave of fear that feels intense and immobilizing. Your heart might race, your breathing becomes shallow, and it can feel as if you’re losing control or on the verge of something catastrophic. These attacks can strike unexpectedly, often without warning or an obvious trigger. For some, they may be isolated events, while for others, they occur in repeated episodes.
Resources
1. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders#section_1
The Benefits of Anxiety Counselling
- Counselling helps you deal and cope with the emotional response you have to your condition. A mental health expert will explain strategies designed to help you better manage and understand your disorder.
- Identification and Understanding: Anxiety counselling helps you identify the triggers and underlying causes of your anxiety. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective treatment.
- Coping Strategies: Counselling equips you with a toolkit of coping strategies tailored to your unique situation. These techniques help manage anxiety in daily life and during particularly challenging moments.
- Cognitive Restructuring: Anxiety often stems from distorted thought patterns. Counselling helps you reframe negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier ones.
- Relaxation Techniques: Learning relaxation techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, and progressive muscle relaxation can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.
- Gradual Exposure: For those dealing with specific phobias or panic attacks, counselling might involve gradual exposure techniques to desensitize you to the triggers.
- Lifestyle Adjustments: Your counsellor may work with you to make lifestyle changes that positively impact your anxiety levels, such as improving sleep habits, exercise routines, and nutrition.
What to Expect
Anxiety counselling is a collaborative process where you and your therapist work together to address your specific concerns. Through open conversations, you’ll explore the triggers, symptoms, and thought patterns associated with your anxiety. Your therapist will tailor interventions to your needs, which may include talk therapy, cognitive-behavioural techniques, mindfulness exercises, and more.
Is Anxiety Counselling right for you?
Anxiety counselling is beneficial for individuals experiencing a range of anxiety-related challenges, from generalized anxiety to specific phobias and panic attacks. If anxiety is impacting your daily life, relationships, or overall well-being, seeking professional help can be transformative. We welcome you to book in with one of our therapist to learn more about how we can help support you.
