Anxiety
Whether you are struggling with constant worries and rumination, panic, difficulty feeling relaxed, fear of a specific experience or situation, having trouble sleeping, perfectionism, or self doubt, counselling can be incredibly helpful.
Anxiety shows up in many ways (unique to each person and their specific life circumstances), and it can be an extremely painful and frustrating experience. There is so much that comes along with it: thought loops and what ifs?!, activation and sometimes even pain in the body, overwhelming feelings, confusion, anger, grief, and so much more.
Although it can take time to work through, it is possible to better understand your experience, learn how to communicate safety to your individual nervous system, start challenging the thoughts and beliefs that are keeping you stuck, and begin living the live you really desire. It is a process, but it is possible!
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is characterized by the persistent fear of social situations, including interacting with others, meeting new people, any scenario that may require a performance of some kind, eating in public, and so much more. The fear is often in regards to not being good enough, feeling humiliated, offending or bothering someone, looking stupid, or generally being negatively evaluated. It is a struggle that can be debilitating and leave you feeling completely isolated and alone.
In truth, social anxiety is so much more than fearing social situations. There are physiological reactions that occur and that seemingly take over (such as a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, sweating, flushing, etc.), constant negative thoughts about yourself, rumination, low self-esteem, and avoidance - all of which can lead to a life that feels impossible to cope with. If this is what you are experiencing, I want you to know first and foremost that you are not alone. Many other people struggle with social anxiety and many also learn to work through their fears so that they are no longer a slave to them. You can, too.
I am extremely passionate about supporting individuals with social anxiety, as I believe it is an area that can be very misunderstood and I rarely see it get the attention or focus it deserves. If you live with social anxiety, you understand firsthand how much it can impact every aspect of your life. In our work together, I am committed to supporting you in taking steps to better manage your fears when they arise as well as work on healing the deeper root behind them. It is possible to move forward into the life that you truly desire.