6 Women’s Issues That Therapy Can Help With

The modern woman is overwhelmed, stressed out and tired. According to a 2010 study by the American Psychological Association, 49 per cent of women said their stress had increased over the past five years, compared to only 39 percent of men. Women often find themselves with a never ending to-do list as well as kids, homes, aging parents and careers to attend to - and the list doesn't stop there. All this busyness can leave women feeling anxious, unfulfilled and depressed.

There’s no doubt that women face enormous pressure. When juggling endless tasks, it can be challenging to feel confident, balanced, and secure. Therapy can help you rediscover your happiness and learn healthy coping skills for successful living. Let’s get into some of the top women’s issues therapy can help you with.

Depression

Research shows that women may be twice as likely to develop depression than men. Depression can make small tasks feel like monumental, impossible chores. At its worst, depression can deplete your energy, self-esteem and overall ability to manage the continuous ebb and flow of life. 

Although depression is common, it is treatable. You don’t have to live in sadness, irritation, or apathy forever. Therapy can help you: 

• Learn healthier coping skills to manage your moods
• Discover triggers that may exacerbate depressive symptoms
• Change your negative thinking
• Create more meaning and fulfillment in your life

Relationship Issues

Between friends, family, partners, and coworkers, many women balance multiple relationships in their daily lives. While some of these relationships provide immense satisfaction, others may feel significantly more draining. 

Relationship problems can make it challenging to feel safe and connected with others. And when you feel unsafe or disconnected, you may also feel insecure, neglected or alone. Therapy provides support in helping you:

• Identify the key differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships
• Establish healthy boundaries within your relationships
• Increase intimacy 
• Improve your assertiveness 

Life Decisions

Are you thinking about switching careers? Are you considering purchasing a home, starting a family or ending a significant relationship?

Sometimes, you can feel paralyzed in your own decision-making processes. Many people fear change, and they worry about failure. Therapy offers a supportive space for you to explore these feelings and navigate new territories.

While your therapist cannot (and will not) make any decisions for you, you can collaborate to make the best choice for your future. Additionally, therapy can help you:

• Identify how and when a change needs to happen
• Outweigh the pros and cons of a certain decision
• Cope with the uncertain feelings related to change
• Develop a healthy support system during the transition

Self-Esteem

Many women struggle to feel confident and self-assured in their own skin. Do you find yourself obsessing over your perceived flaws? Do you struggle to say what you mean because you fear other people will reject you? Do you experience profound shame over your past?

Healthy self-esteem is an essential cornerstone of happy living. However, cultivating your self-esteem isn’t always an easy task. Many people are bogged down by negative messages, past traumas and intense fear- any of these variables can impact the way you perceive yourself in this world. Therapy for self-esteem can help you:

• Find a greater acceptance for who you are
• Discover and harness your internal strengths
• Learn new ways to cope with feeling insecure or ashamed
• Take healthy risks that promote a healthy self-image

Sense of Purpose

Nothing creates happiness in a person more than a sense of purpose. Yet, for most of us, it is elusive. A sense of purpose is the motivation that drives you toward a satisfying future. It also helps you to get the most from the things you want to achieve. 

Anxiety

Research shows that up to 33% of women struggle with an anxiety disorder at some point during their lifetimes. Anxiety can be crippling. It can make social situations feel nightmarish; it can progressively turn small fears into massive phobias. Unfortunately, due to shame, many women struggle silently with their anxiety. 

That said, working on anxiety in therapy can provide support with:

• Identifying the triggers that cause anxiety
• Learning relaxation skills to manage anxious symptoms
• Finding new ways to reframe anxiety
• Cultivating more acceptance for current life circumstances