Counselling for Anxiety

While anxiety is one of the most common (and treatable!) mental health challenges that I see in my practice, it remains uncomfortable and distressing for clients. Experiencing worry or even fear before challenges like an important exam, interview, or social engagement is considered normal. A certain amount of stress can even help you to deal more effectively with those challenges.

Anxiety is a problem, however, when recurring symptoms affect one’s sleep or daily functioning. When anxiety becomes overwhelming, it can be very disruptive to your everyday life.

You might be anxious if any of these emotional or physical symptoms recur in different situations:

• stomach distress (nausea, diarrhea, churning stomach)
• headache or muscle tension
• heart palpitations
• numbness (pins & needles) in hands, arms & legs
• sweating or flushing of the skin
• feeling easily tired
• restlessness
• trouble concentrating
• heightened irritation
• frequent urination
• trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• startling easily

There are some things you can do on your own to help keep you feeling better. Regular exercise, eating well, getting enough sleep and keeping a consistent sleep schedule, managing stress, spending time with friends and family, spirituality and monitoring your use of alcohol and other drugs can help manage anxiety.

Mild anxiety is vague, lingering and unsettling, while severe anxiety can be truly debilitating and unpleasant, having a serious impact on everyday life.

The good news is that anxiety is entirely treatable through counselling and good self care. I encourage you to contact me for more information about my counselling services or to book an appointment for an individual session.