Women and Anxiety

Anxiety is a very serious but very treatable condition. While experiencing some level of anxiety in our lives is perfectly normal, there are women whose anxiety becomes an excessive, constant force in their lives that can make getting through the day seem impossible. Women are significantly more likely to develop an anxiety disorder in their lifetime than men are. When left untreated, these disorders can be debilitating. Luckily, treatment for anxiety does exist and has been proven to be very effective.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

There are 5 major types of anxiety disorders. They are General Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Phobia.

• General Anxiety Disorder, commonly referred to as GAD, is characterized by a constant state of exaggerated worry and chronic anxiety even when there is little or nothing to prompt it. It is incredibly difficult for sufferers to shake their feelings of worry. Physical symptoms are highlighted by fatigue but also include headaches, muscle tension and aches, insomnia and irritability. GAD affects almost 7 million Americans, including twice as many women as men. Effective anxiety treatment for GAD involves cognitive behavioral therapy, which is designed to help identify negative patterns in sufferer’s thought processes that produce anxiety and replace them with a more positive, balanced way of thinking.

 

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also called OCD, is characterized by repeated, unwanted thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors. Individuals with OCD use “rituals” to temporarily relieve their anxiety and not performing them can cause it to increase greatly. OCD affects over 2 million Americans and is equally prevalent in women and men. Effective anxiety treatment for OCD involves exposure-based psychotherapy, where sufferers are intentionally placed in situations that cause them anxiety in an effort to desensitize them to their triggers.

 

• Panic Disorder is most commonly characterized by the panic attacks that accompany it. Panic attacks usually come with no warning and involve an intense, almost paralyzing fear overtaking an individual accompanied by a pounding heart, weakness, faintness or dizziness. Panic disorder affects about 6 million Americans and is twice as common in women as it is in men. Effective anxiety treatment for panic disorder usually involves certain kinds of medication combined with cognitive behavioral therapy to change thinking patterns that produce anxiety.

 

•  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is an anxiety disorder that individuals can get after living through or witnessing a dangerous, often life-threatening event. Individuals who suffer from PTSD often continue to feel frightened and affected by the event long after they are safe from danger. PTSD affects nearly 8 million Americans and occurs twice as often in women than in men. Effective anxiety treatment for PTSD includes cognitive behavioral therapy to change anxiety inducing thought patterns as well as desensitization techniques to force the sufferer to face what happened to them so they can move on from it.

 

• Social Phobia, also called Social Anxiety Disorder, is characterized by an overwhelming fear and anxiety about everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited in scope to a particular circumstance like public speaking or in its more severe forms can produce overwhelming anxiety any time the sufferer is around other people. Social phobia is by far the most common anxiety disorder affecting approximately 15 million Americans, affecting men and women equally. Effective anxiety treatment for social phobia includes psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy and desensitization techniques as well as social skills training. In some cases, anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications are administered to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with social phobia.

Anxiety disorders co-occur with substance abuse problems at an incredibly high rate. The most common reasoning behind this is due to sufferers who don’t receive the necessary treatment for anxiety and self-medicate with drugs and alcohol in an effort to alleviate their symptoms. Unfortunately, substance abuse is far more likely to make things worse and actually intensify the symptoms of an anxiety disorder rather than help minimize them.

Anxiety disorders in women are still thought to be under-diagnosed due largely to the denial and lack of realization that an actual problem exists. If you have started abusing drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with certain anxieties in your life, then specialized treatment is essential as addiction can be lurking right around the corner to further complicate your life. At Destination Hope, we understanding that seeking treatment can be a daunting task and speaking with a licensed, trained professional about your anxiety issues and treatment options can be an educational, less intimidating first step. We encourage you to call us today and put yourself on the path towards a happier, more fulfilling existence.