How Do Anxiety Symptoms Differ in Women?
Anxiety is a mental health concern that can impact anyone. Children and adults. Men, women, and non-binary individuals. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders, affecting millions of people each year.
Anxiety is a natural response that our ancient ancestors developed to keep them safe. Commonly referred to as the flight or fight response, they could either choose to stay and fight through the danger, or they could choose to flee. Anxiety kept them alive.
As you can imagine, that response was extremely helpful during those times. Now, though, it isn't exactly helpful as we don't face life-or-death situations regularly in our daily lives. However, our bodies have held on to this response. And it happens during real danger or perceived dangers that our brain convinces us to exist.
With all that said, anxiety symptoms are basically the same no matter who the person is. But, women are impacted by anxiety a little differently. Let's explore this.
How Do Anxiety Symptoms Differ In Women?
We'll start off by talking about why women experience anxiety differently than a man would.
Women are typically seen as the head of families in terms of caregiving. They often have the most responsibilities in caring for children, grocery shopping, budgeting, cooking, and cleaning—just to name a few. It's a lot to juggle when everyone relies on you as a woman.
Women experience anxiety differently because they almost always have to be hyper-vigilant. Especially in public, when you are taught that as a woman, you should always be fully aware of your surroundings, listen closely, and not be distracted for your own safety.
Additionally, a women's hormones are more likely to fluctuate throughout her life, including during and after her menstrual cycle or during and after pregnancy.
It makes relaxing in any public space pretty difficult. Or even just going for a walk or jogging in the park alone can be an anxiety-inducing experience!
Anxiety Symptoms In Women
Anxiety symptoms are the same, across the board, for both men and women. However, women will typically experience more anxiety symptoms than a man would. Some of the common symptoms of anxiety for women can be categorized by either mental or physical symptoms.
Mental Signs of Anxiety
Excessive worrying
Extreme stress
Fears or a sense of danger (real or not)
Obsessive or uncontrollable negative thoughts
Restlessness
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety is not a disorder that can only impact someone mentally. In fact, it can have just as many physical signs as well.
Changes in appetite
Rapid, shallow breathing
Insomnia (not getting enough sleep)
Always feeling fatigued
Feeling clammy, or hot and cold
Dizziness
Headaches
Stomach aches
Hot flashes
Muscle tension
Nausea
How To Deal With Anxiety
While anxiety impacts men and women differently, how someone can cope with it and find relief is typically the same. Most women will find the most relief by doing any number of the following.
Deep-Breathing Exercises
When anxiety ramps up in the body, it can affect the way we breathe. Surprisingly, you can lessen the effect anxiety has on you by using your breath to counteract it.
There are hundreds if not thousands of videos online for free that you can look up that are guided deep breathing exercises for anxiety. They will help you to feel calm during those moments when you feel like you might lose your mind.
Meditation
Meditating is great for the physical body as well as your mind. During times of stress, meditating for even five minutes can help anxiety get kicked to the curb.
If you need help with dealing with the effects of anxiety, reach out to us. Anxiety therapy can help you find the relief that you deserve.