Anxiety is something that many of us will experience in our lifetimes. Although anxiety is experienced differently by individuals, it is important to note the commonalities. Girls and women are more susceptible to experiencing anxiety. Anxiety is experienced on a continuum - from mild to severe. As it becomes more severe, it can develop into an anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), “women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop an anxiety disorder.”

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY IN WOMEN:

• Feeling nervous, irritable, or on edge

• Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom

• Having an increased heart rate

• Breathing rapidly, sweating, and/or trembling

• Feeling weak or tired

• Difficulty concentrating

• Having trouble sleeping

• Experiencing gastrointestinal problems

WHAT TO EXPECT IN ANXIETY COUNSELING

As you begin counseling for anxiety, your therapist will want to learn more about your past as well as your present. This helps the therapist to identify patterns, relationships, and coping mechanisms that are being used. As the counseling relationship continues, your therapist will seek to identify distorted thinking, help you identify core beliefs and emotions, and help you to build a “toolbox” of skills you can use outside of counseling.