Expert Psychologist Shares Methods to Overcome Mental Health Challenges for Women
Women’s Mental Health: A Path to Healing & Resilience
Mental health challenges for women today can feel overwhelming. In a world where societal expectations, gender roles, and the pressure to balance career and family life weigh heavily, it’s no wonder that so many women struggle with anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion. If you're one of the many women navigating these challenges, know that you're not alone—and it’s not a sign of weakness. The mental health burdens women carry are real, and it's okay to seek help and prioritize your well-being.
Understanding mental health is crucial for women, especially because many of the emotional difficulties we experience are deeply intertwined with attachment wounds, trauma, and societal pressures. As a psychologist, and therapist for perfectionism, I’ve seen firsthand how these challenges can affect everything from self-esteem to relationships, often leaving women feeling stuck. The good news is that there are trauma-informed and attachment-based approaches that offer real solutions, helping women not just cope but truly heal and thrive. It’s time we start viewing mental health care as an essential part of life, rather than something secondary to success or caregiving.
In this blog, we’ll explore 11 of the most common mental health challenges faced by women today, such as anxiety, depression, perfectionism, and caregiver stress, among others. As you continue reading, we’ll unpack each of these challenges and offer evidence-based, trauma-informed strategies to help you better understand your mental health and, most importantly, learn how to navigate it with compassion and resilience in perfectionism counselling.
Higher Prevalence Of Anxiety And Depression
Anxiety and depression are particularly common mental health challenges for women, with rates nearly double those seen in men. Attachment-Based Therapy helps women explore how early attachment disruptions may contribute to these conditions, as insecure attachment can lead to feelings of emotional instability and loneliness. By fostering secure, trusting connections, women can build a stronger emotional foundation to manage these feelings. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life—during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause—can significantly influence anxiety and depression, amplifying emotional struggles.
From a Trauma-Informed Approach, addressing unresolved trauma in perfectionism counselling is key to healing. Trauma often manifests as anxiety or depression, and working with a therapist in a safe, non-judgmental space allows women to process deep-rooted emotional pain. Techniques such as somatic experiencing can help release trauma stored in the body, providing relief from persistent anxiety and depression while promoting overall emotional resilience.
Impact Of Societal Expectations
Societal expectations around caregiving, career success, and body image can significantly affect women's mental health, often leading to anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout. Attachment-Based Therapy helps women recognize how early attachment experiences may shape their response to these pressures. Women, who are working with perfectionism in therapy, that felt their worth was contingent on achievement or approval in childhood may internalize these societal expectations as adults, creating a cycle of self-criticism and stress. Trauma-Informed Approaches focus on healing these deep-rooted feelings of inadequacy, helping women challenge perfectionism and embrace self-compassion. Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life—such as during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause and menopause—can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and emotional sensitivity, making societal pressures feel even more overwhelming. Therapy, such as perfectionism counselling, provides a safe space to process these complex emotions and develop healthier boundaries that prioritize well-being over external expectations.
Postpartum Mental Health
Postpartum mental health challenges, including postpartum depression and anxiety, are common among new mothers, often triggered by hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and the pressures of motherhood. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on helping women explore how their early attachment experiences influence their current feelings of adequacy and connection with their newborn. For many, postpartum depression is compounded by unresolved attachment wounds, which can make bonding with their baby feel challenging. Trauma-Informed Approaches recognize the emotional vulnerability that accompanies childbirth and the postpartum period, offering a safe space to process any birth-related trauma or feelings of isolation. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly in the weeks following childbirth, can intensify these emotions. Perfectionism counselling supports new mothers in addressing both the hormonal and emotional aspects of postpartum mental health, helping them build secure attachments with their children and regain a sense of stability in this life transition.
Trauma And Abuse
Women are disproportionately affected by trauma and abuse, including sexual abuse, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence, which can have lasting effects on mental health. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on repairing the damage trauma inflicts on a woman’s ability to form secure, trusting relationships. Many women who have experienced abuse struggle with attachment wounds, making it difficult to trust others or feel safe in relationships. Trauma-Informed Approaches, provided by a therapist for perfectionism such as EMDR and somatic experiencing, offer ways to safely process traumatic memories stored in the body, helping women release the emotional pain associated with these experiences. Hormonal changes, particularly during the menstrual cycle, and into perimenopause and menopause can also trigger re-experiencing of trauma, heightening symptoms like anxiety and depression. Therapy provides a supportive environment where women can heal from trauma, regain control of their emotional lives, and establish healthier, more secure relationships.
Perfectionism And Self-Esteem Issues
Perfectionism and self-esteem issues are common struggles for many women, often rooted in early attachment experiences where love or approval felt conditional on performance or behavior. Attachment-Based Therapy, an approach used in perfectionism counselling, helps women explore these early dynamics, fostering self-acceptance and the development of a secure inner attachment that is not dependent on external validation. Many women internalize societal and familial pressures to be perfect in areas such as appearance, career, and motherhood, which can severely impact self-esteem.
Trauma-Informed Approaches focus on understanding how perfectionism can be a protective response to past wounds, helping women break free from these patterns. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause and beyond can also intensify feelings of inadequacy or self-criticism, exacerbating perfectionist tendencies. Therapy, like the services I offer from my practice, supports women in recognizing these cycles and replacing perfectionism with self-compassion and resilience.
Gender Differences In Coping Mechanisms
Women tend to internalize stress more than men, often using emotion-focused coping strategies like rumination, which can intensify anxiety and depression. Attachment-Based Therapy can help women understand how early attachment dynamics influence their coping styles. For example, those with insecure attachments may find it harder to regulate emotions, leading to increased reliance on coping mechanisms that keep them stuck in negative cycles. Trauma-Informed Approaches recognize that these coping mechanisms often develop as protective responses to past trauma. Therapy, like perfectionism therapy, focuses on helping women shift from emotion-focused coping to more adaptive strategies, such as problem-solving and self-soothing techniques. Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life cycle, particularly during the menstrual cycle and perimenopause can exacerbate emotional sensitivity, making it more challenging to manage stress. A trauma-informed approach teaches women to navigate these hormonal influences with greater self-compassion and emotional resilience.
Impact Of Reproductive Health
The hormonal changes women experience throughout their reproductive life—during menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause—can significantly impact mental health, contributing to mood disorders such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and perimenopausal depression. Attachment-Based Therapy can help women explore how these hormonal shifts interact with early attachment patterns, especially if they felt unsupported or dismissed during emotionally vulnerable times. For women facing fertility challenges or infertility, the emotional toll can be profound, often triggering feelings of grief, inadequacy, and shame. Not to mention the significant physical and emotional toll of treatments that a women may opt to pursue. Trauma-Informed Approaches provide a compassionate space to process these complex emotions, helping women heal from the trauma of unfulfilled reproductive desires and societal pressures. Infertility can also reignite unresolved attachment wounds, making it crucial for women to feel validated and supported in their emotional experience. By addressing both the physical and emotional impacts of hormonal fluctuations, fertility challenges and/or infertility, perfectionism counselling helps women regain a sense of control and emotional stability during these difficult transitions.
Higher Risk Of Eating Disorders
Women, particularly younger women, are at a higher risk of developing eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. These disorders often stem from early attachment disruptions, where feelings of control over food and body image are tied to a need for approval or coping with emotional pain. Attachment-Based Therapy helps women explore how insecure attachment patterns may have influenced their relationship with food and body image, offering a path toward healing by fostering self-compassion and emotional security. Trauma-Informed Approaches recognize that eating disorders are often coping mechanisms for dealing with past trauma or unresolved emotional distress. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause can further exacerbate body image issues and disordered eating behaviors. Therapy supports women in understanding these triggers and helps them develop healthier, trauma-sensitive ways to care for their bodies.
Stress From Caregiving Roles
Women often find themselves balancing multiple caregiving roles, whether it’s caring for children, aging parents, or managing household responsibilities. This chronic stress can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression. Attachment-Based Therapy can help women examine how early attachment patterns might influence their caregiving tendencies, particularly if they feel that their worth is tied to how much they care for others. This exploration can foster healthier boundaries and self-care practices. Trauma-Informed Approaches recognize that caregiving stress may trigger past trauma, particularly if caregiving was a role taken on early in life due to familial needs or dysfunction. Hormonal changes throughout the life cycle, such as those experienced during pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause, can also increase emotional vulnerability, making caregiving even more overwhelming. Therapy provides a safe space to process these emotions and supports women in prioritizing their own well-being while navigating caregiving roles.
Mental Health Stigma
Mental health stigma can be a significant barrier for women seeking support, particularly in cultures or families where emotional vulnerability is seen as a weakness. Attachment-Based perfectionism counselling helps women explore how early attachment experiences may have shaped their views on vulnerability and seeking help, especially if they grew up in environments where emotional needs were dismissed or invalidated. Therapy fosters secure connections that allow women to feel safe in expressing their emotions without fear of judgment. Trauma-Informed Approaches address how stigma can exacerbate feelings of shame or inadequacy, particularly for women who have experienced trauma and already struggle with trust and self-worth. Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life, such as during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause or menopause, can heighten emotional sensitivity, making stigma and self-criticism even more challenging to cope with. Therapy offers a compassionate space to process these feelings and encourages women to seek the care they need without fear of judgment.
Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders, such as insomnia, are more prevalent in women and can significantly affect mental health, often exacerbating conditions like anxiety and depression. Attachment-Based Therapy can help women explore how attachment disruptions, particularly in early life, may contribute to feelings of safety or security that impact their ability to rest and relax. For women who experienced trauma, sleep disturbances can be linked to hypervigilance or unresolved emotional pain, making it difficult to achieve restful sleep. Trauma-Informed Approaches recognize that sleep disorders may be a manifestation of past trauma, and therapy works to create a sense of safety in the body and mind. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause can also affect sleep patterns, further complicating emotional well-being. Therapy supports women in addressing these factors, helping them establish healthier sleep habits while healing underlying trauma that may be contributing to sleep issues.
Resources for Women’s Mental Health
Here are three well-known, research-based references that provide support for the information discussed above regarding mental health challenges for women, attachment-based therapy, and trauma-informed care:
Bowlby, J. (1988). A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development. New York: Basic Books.
This foundational work by John Bowlby explores attachment theory, highlighting how early attachment experiences shape emotional development and coping mechanisms throughout life. It is essential in understanding how attachment-based therapy can help women address issues like anxiety, depression, and perfectionism.
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York: Viking.
Bessel van der Kolk's book discusses the profound impact of trauma on both the body and mind, supporting trauma-informed therapeutic approaches. It explains how unresolved trauma can lead to various mental health challenges and emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for healing.
3. American Psychological Association (2021). Stress in America: A National Mental Health Crisis.
This report provides research-based insights into the mental health challenges faced by women, including the impact of societal expectations, caregiving stress, and hormonal changes. It underscores the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other stress-related issues among women, supporting the need for gender-sensitive mental health care.
Perfectionism Counselling for Healing and Mental Wellness
Addressing the mental health challenges women face requires a compassionate, trauma-informed, and attachment-based approach that honors the unique experiences of each individual. From anxiety and depression to perfectionism, caregiving stress, and sleep disorders, the emotional burden women carry is often intertwined with past attachment wounds, societal expectations, and hormonal fluctuations.
Women’s and perfectionism counselling provides a safe space for women to explore these challenges, heal unresolved trauma, and develop healthier coping mechanisms that foster resilience. By understanding the deeper emotional and physical factors that contribute to their struggles, women can move toward a more secure, empowered sense of self. Remember, prioritizing your mental health is not a sign of weakness—it’s a courageous step toward healing and thriving in a world that often demands too much.
Perfectionism Counselling in Calgary to Support Your Mental Health Journey
If you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, depression, perfectionism, or the pressures of caregiving, you're not alone, and your struggles are valid. As a therapist for perfectionism and the best therapist for women, I support women who are navigating these complex mental health challenges by helping them heal from past trauma and develop healthier ways to cope with life's demands. All from my Calgary-based practice where I offer perfectionism counselling, and more. Schedule an intake session by clicking the button below. Together, we’ll begin your journey toward emotional resilience and well-being.
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About the Author Section
Dr. Easter Yassa, a Registered Psychologist in Calgary with over 20 years of experience and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, specializes in helping women overcome a range of mental health challenges, including perfectionism, anxiety, and depression. She works with women who feel overwhelmed by societal pressures and personal expectations, guiding them toward healthier coping strategies. In her compassionate, non-judgmental environment, Dr. Yassa helps women release unrealistic standards and develop greater self-compassion. With her extensive clinical experience and teaching background, she offers personalized strategies to help women build emotional resilience, prioritize their mental well-being, and thrive beyond their struggles.
Other Online Therapy Services Offered in Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, & Nunavut
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