All of us deal with anxiety, but who does it impact more, men or women? Knowing the answer to this question can help professionals work out a targeted approach for treating the condition. Read on to find out the answer to the question, does anxiety impact women more than men?
What are the Signs of Anxiety in Women?
Anxiety symptoms can differ from person to person. They may vary according to your personality and the type of anxiety you are dealing with. Some people may experience more severe symptoms than others.
However, when it comes to the types of symptoms anxiety produces, there is little difference between those that manifest in men and women. They include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Sleep problems
- Physical symptoms like muscle aches, stomach aches, headaches, and general unexplained pain
- Fatigue
- Sweating
- Feelings of impending doom
- Nausea
- Trembling
- Palpitations
- Fear and being easily startled
- Racing thoughts
Does Anxiety Impact Women More Than Men?
Men and women may experience similar anxiety symptoms, but the disorder is more likely to occur in women. Here are some stats to consider:
- About 3.4% of women have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, compared to 1.9% of men.
- Approximately 3% of adolescent girls have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, compared to 1.5% of adolescent boys.
- Women with anxiety disorder account for about 1.04 of emergency room visits, compared to .59 visits from anxious men.
- Women with anxiety miss around 2.25 days of work per month, compared with 1.27 days for women who don’t have anxiety, but there were no differences for men.
- There is no difference between the onset and progression of the disorder among the genders.
What Anxiety Disorders Affect Women?
There are several types of anxiety disorder you may be diagnosed with. These include the following:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: This is characterized by ongoing anxiety even if there is little or nothing to cause it.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: OCD involves recurrent unpleasant thoughts, and repetitive behavior performed to manage these thoughts. For instance, if someone has a fear their dog might get hurt, they may believe washing their hands a certain way will keep the dog safe. Although the behaviors calm obsessive thoughts temporarily, they increase anxiety long-term.
- Panic Disorder: People with a panic disorder will experience episodes of intense fear characterized by heart palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, stomachaches, and shortness of breath with little or nothing to bring it on.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD is an anxiety disorder that develops after being exposed to a traumatic event.
- Social Phobia: People with a social phobia will have a fear of interacting in a social situation. They may avoid all social situations, or they may have issues with a certain social situation, such as public speaking.
Women are more likely than men to develop all the anxiety disorders listed above except for social phobia. Regarding social phobia diagnosis rates, men and women are about equal.
Females are also more likely to develop certain co-occurring disorders alongside anxiety. These include bulimia nervosa, depressive disorder, and agoraphobia. Men are more likely to develop substance abuse or an intermittent explosive disorder.
Women are also more likely to experience a physical condition or illness related to their anxiety.
How to Find Anxiety Treatment for Women in Southern California
If you are dealing with anxiety, it’s important to reach out for the help you need. The more a person uses drugs to self-medicate, the more likely they are to develop a mental health disorder.
Fortunately, rehab centers address both addiction and underlying causes like anxiety. If you are looking for substance abuse and mental health facility in Southern California, Casa Serena is the ideal solution.
Casa Serena is a Santa Barbara rehab facility specializing in women’s substance abuse and mental health treatment. We take a dual diagnosis approach for women’s treatment, creating customized plans that simultaneously address addiction and its underlying causes. We have been around for over 60 years and have helped thousands of women recover from alcohol and drug dependency issues.
Anxiety can take its toll leading to dangerous substance abuse issues. Casa Serena can help you get the treatment you need to move on to a higher quality of life. Call us today to find out what we have to offer.