A Look at The Signs of Anxiety in Women
Anxiety and stress are some of the most common reasons women begin therapy with me. So what are anxiety and stress? Are they the same thing or is there a difference? What are the signs of anxiety in women? And when should we seek anxiety therapy for help with either of them?
Anxiety & Stress
Anxiety and stress are very common. Stress can be part of our everyday lives. You’re running late for an appointment. You forgot to pay a bill. There is a deadline at work. All of these situations cause a normal stress response. The levels of that stress can be pretty mild to very intense.
Stress is the normal response of the body to an external event and that stress response usually whips you into action through a dose of adrenaline and external pressure to complete a task or address a problem. Once you’ve addressed the problem and completed the task, the stress response system turns off and you usually go back to feeling relaxed and at ease. Stress is almost always a response to an external event and, once the event has passed, you feel better.
Anxiety on the other hand is a different creature. Anxiety is feeling stressed and worried on a regular occurrence—even every day. This stress and worry is hard to control and doesn’t subside even when the external event has passed or you’ve solved a problem. Anxiety is particularly tough for women. Anxiety affects 1 in 5 women, and women are 2 times more likely to have anxiety than men.
Identifying Symptoms & Signs of Anxiety
One of the things I have found as an anxiety therapist is that you can get clues as to whether you are anxious by looking at your thoughts, behaviors, and physical sensations in your body.
Cognitive signs of anxiety are:
Worry thoughts like “Is he/she mad at me? Did I do something wrong?”
What-if thoughts like “What if my partner breaks up with me?”
Foreboding thoughts like “If I don’t do this perfectly, I’m going to get fired.”
Anxious beliefs like “I’m not good enough.”
Physical anxiety symptoms are:
Difficulty concentrating
Increased or irregular heart rate
Shortness of breath
Tightness in chest
Stomach problems
Nausea or loss of appetite
Dizziness
Behavioral signs of anxiety are:
Avoiding things that cause anxiety.
Procrastination
Disrupted sleep or trouble falling asleep.
Specific Signs of Anxiety in Women
Women may experience many of these signs of anxiety listed above but there are some ways that anxiety can show up differently in women than in men.
Irritability
Sudden changes in mood
Hyperfixation/Rumination (thinking about the same thing over and over again)
Feeling irritated when you are not in control or when things are not done your way
Perfectionism
Sense of urgency for things to happen now
People pleasing
Difficulty tolerating uncertainty
Signs of Anxiety in Women at Different Times of Their Lives
Women also have phases in their lives when they may feel more anxiety. These types of anxiety are unique to women due to it being related to hormonal changes in the body.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
During the week before and during the first few days of your menstrual cycle and also during ovulation, you may notice heightened feelings of anxiety and irritability. You may feel overwhelmed, fatigued, have trouble sleeping or concentrating, and have physical symptoms such as pain, soreness, and bloating.
Perinatal Anxiety
Anxiety during pregnancy is common. This anxiety may be due partly to hormonal changes in the body and feel like unease. Along with physical symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue, and inability to sit still. Anxiety about the major life changes that come with having a baby can also be present. This may include worry about the health of the baby, worry about physical sensations being signs that the baby is not healthy, worry about loss of the pregnancy, and worry about life changing once the baby arrives.
Postpartum Anxiety (PPA)
Postpartum anxiety and depression occur in about 10% of women in the first year after giving birth. Anxiety symptoms may include worries about your health or the health of the baby, worry about changes in your body, difficulties sleeping or relaxing, and irritability. While some signs of anxiety in women after giving birth is typical, if your anxiety does not pass after the first month, then it may be helpful to get support for PPA through therapy.
Anxiety during Perimenopause or Menopause
Anxiety before and during menopause is a very common thing. Not only is the body going through major chemical and hormonal changes, but this phase of development can signal major life changes—the end of childbearing years, more difficulties in child rearing as children get older, midlife crises, entering a different phase in a long-term relationship, and emerging health issues and side effects of aging in partners and aging parents. Anxiety during this life phase can feel very physical—panic attacks, chills, changes in heart rate, dizziness—and can also show up as irritability, racing thoughts, or worry.
Anxiety Treatment in Los Angeles Offers Support for Signs of Anxiety in Women
Almost everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their lives. Anxiety can be mild and brief, and once a situation is resolved, the anxiety goes away. For many women, anxiety is a regular experience that interferes with their daily lives. You may want to seek anxiety treatment if you notice these signs of anxiety almost every day, if the anxiety causes you distress, and if it interferes with your functioning at home, at work, and in relationships. At Flourishment Psychology, I help women every day address their anxiety in their relationships, career, and families. In order to start getting support for your anxiety symptoms from a therapist follow these steps.
Reach out and we can discuss how I can help during a free consultation.
Schedule your first appointment for anxiety therapy.
Start gaining control of the anxiety in your life.
Stay tuned for the next blog post regarding anxiety in women where I will outline some strategies for managing it.
Other Mental Health Services I Offer in Los Angeles & Throughout California
I offer counseling services for women, therapists, and families. Besides anxiety treatment, I also specialize in trauma therapy, corporate wellness trainings, and clinical trainings. All of these services are offered in person at my Los Angeles-based practice or online in California and New York.
