As a woman, you’re often told to be more cautious compared to men. You’re told to pay attention to your surroundings, listen, and not be distracted.
You may feel pretty safe and secure, but you can’t help to be a little concerned due to what you’ve been taught.
You often have this feeling that something’s wrong, whether it is or isn’t. It’s like the feeling you get when you’re walking alone and feel like you’re being followed. Your chest tightens, breathing gets short, and your heart rate increases.
You do what anyone else would do in this situation. Pick up your pace, and you may even decide to duck into an alleyway. But when you reach the alleyway, you spot a window, and you decide to turn and face it.
A reflection stares back at you, and you don’t jump, scream, or react in any way. You recognize the object staring back at you. You raise your hand to wave.
Hello, anxiety.
Anxiety is a common emotion for both men and women, but women tend to show more signs of it. Let’s learn more about the common anxiety symptoms in women.
The Emotions Symptoms
Symptoms of anxiety are pretty similar across men and women. Even though women and men share similar symptoms, women tend to experience symptoms related to anxiety more than men do.
These are some of the most common emotional symptoms in women:
- Extreme fears (ex: death, embarrassment, sickness)
- Extreme stress
- Fatigue
- Guarded
- Insomnia
- Obsessive thoughts
- Performing compulsions
- Worried something will go wrong
The Physical Symptoms
Physical symptoms are also more common among women than men. These are some of the most common physical symptoms of anxiety in women:
- Appetite changes
- Body shakes
- Chest pain
- Chills
- Dizziness
- Feeling numb
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Hives
- Hot flashes
- Muscle aches and pains
- Nausea
- Sensation of choking
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Tense
Common Anxiety Disorders Among Women
Now that you’ve learned more about the emotional and physical symptoms, let’s dive into the most common anxiety conditions among women.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder is a general fear that something is going to go wrong.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is when an individual experiences obsessions and feels the need to perform compulsions as a way to control their negative thoughts.
Panic Disorder
The sudden feeling of panic or anxiety can bring on symptoms of sweating, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is what happens when a person experiences a traumatic event. The fear can stay within the body for months or even years after the event and bring on flashbacks and worsening symptoms.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Social anxiety is a fear of public places or situations. This can make it increasingly difficult for an individual to interact with others or attend social events.
Causes of Anxiety in Women
Women are more likely to develop anxiety disorders when compared to men. There are several reasons why this is the case. For one, women deal with many hormones throughout their lifetime. Hormonal changes like menstrual cycles, menopause, and pregnancy can cause various changes in the body.
Serotonin is another factor for an increase in anxiety in women. Evidence suggests that males’ brains are better able to process serotonin, which is what helps to counteract anxiety.
Next Steps
Anxiety is a completely normal emotion to experience from time to time. It should pass within a few minutes or hours. If and when you notice your anxiety is lingering or interacting with your daily life and routine, it may be time to reach out for help. Reach out to us today to set up a consultation for anxiety therapy or anxiety medication assessment and management.