Anxiety disorders in women are important subjects to understand. Anxiety is one of the most common mental illnesses that women face in the current age. The Office of Women’s Health defines anxiety disorders as when excessive anxiety interferes with your everyday activities such as going to work or school or spending time with friends and family. The first step in treating anxiety in yourself or those close to you is understanding it.
Understanding Major Anxiety Disorders In Women
Anxiety disorders can present themselves in various ways and diagnoses. Your form of anxiety disorder could look entirely different from someone else’s. It is important to see how different these illnesses can be from person to person. At Green Valley OB/GYN, we are here for your medical needs and are dedicated to finding the solution for your health concerns.
Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorders In Women
The Anxiety & Depression Association of America defines a specific list of symptoms of anxiety disorders in women:
- Feeling nervous, irritable, or on edge
- Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom
- Having an increased heart rate
- Breathing rapidly
- Feeling weak or tired
- Difficulty concentrating
- Having trouble sleeping
- Gastrointestinal problems
Types Of Anxiety Disorders
There are many types of anxiety disorders in women. No woman’s struggle looks exactly the same as another’s, so it is important to understand the multiple types to see what fits best in defining the anxiety in your own life. Below are four different major types of anxiety disorders that many women face during their lifetime.
Generalized Anxiety Disorders
The Mayo Clinic defines generalized anxiety disorders as including persistent and excessive anxiety and worries about activities or events – even ordinary, routine issues. Often with generalized anxiety disorders, the feeling of worry is disproportionate to the event or situation. This specific type of anxiety is often paired with other types and frequently associated with depression as well. Anxiety disorders in women often look similar to those in men but are caused by a variety of different objects or situations.
Panic Disorder
For panic disorders, there are repeated episodes of very sudden feelings of intense panic or fear. This can be paired with symptoms of feeling like something bad is about to happen for no reason, shortness of breath, and often increased heart rate. One of the main components of panic disorders is feeling a sense of panic of them happening again after the first one occurs. Panic attacks themselves can cause the person to feel even more anxious and can contribute further to the feelings created by the panic disorder.
Social Phobia
Otherwise known as social anxiety disorder, social phobia is centered around social settings and the feeling of anxiety at these events. This often stems from the worry of being judged or doing something that embarrasses oneself in a public setting. This feeling can be amplified in the presence of people you are less familiar with or are meeting for the first time.
Specific Phobia
As it sounds, specific phobia is a feeling of anxiety or panic that is paired with a specific object or event. It is related to the feeling of you trying to avoid this object or situation, even when that is not an option. If the anxiety grows to the point of intense panic, the person struggling with the anxiety disorder could have a panic attack. A few examples of specific phobias are anxiety about flying on an airplane, enclosed spaces, thunderstorms, and even in some cases, animals such as cats or dogs.
Anxiety disorders in women can cause them to feel overwhelmed and unable to figure out a solution. Understanding it can help you in finding the best way to work through it, one step at a time. Whether you are diagnosed with one, or multiple, of these types, there are methods to discuss with your doctor about getting help. Are you struggling with what you think might be an anxiety disorder? Talk to your doctor at Green Valley OB/GYN. We are here to help guide you through your health journey, however that may look. Check out our website or give us a call at (336) 378-1110.