Anxiety is a common experience that can affect anyone throughout their lives. Each person will experience anxiety differently, however, and the common symptoms vary among men, women and children. Women tend to be particularly prone to anxiety and experience it on many different levels. There are physical, emotional and psychological results of suffering anxiety in women. Though there are many treatment options available, some women choose to suffer in silence, thinking that what they are experiencing is “normal” or that it makes them “weak”. Understanding the symptoms of anxiety that are frequently experienced by women can allow them to recognize the affliction and seek treatment that will improve quality of life.
Emotional Anxiety Symptoms in Women
It is not unheard of that women are particularly emotional in nature. Though this is not necessarily true, there is some basis to the perception. Women tend to think more deeply about situations, and react more with emotion than with calculated thought. This contributes to the nurturing and protective nature of women, but can also lead to the suffering of chronic anxiety. Anxiety may manifest itself in emotional symptoms that become a hindrance to happiness and normal functioning. These symptoms include:
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- “Nervous energy”– the sense that you cannot relax, sit still or be calm no matter what
- Irritability–being easily frustrated, angered or saddened
- Impatience
- Frequent anger
- Detachment from reality— not feeling like you are living in reality or that you are in a dreamlike or disconnected state
- Being overwhelmed
- Feeling pressured all the time
- Not feeling like “yourself”
- Losing your attachment to friends, family and associates
- Increased self-consciousness or self-awareness which may cause a reduction of self-image and self-esteem
- Easily being startled or frightened, or feeling that everything around you is intimidating or threatening
- Hyperactivity or a sense of frantic energy
- Mood swings including periods of deep depression or a sense of emotional numbness
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Anxiety-Caused Thoughts in Women
Anxiety can also cause unpleasant and difficult thoughts in women. Though they may not feel intense or dramatic emotional fluctuations, the pervading thoughts of anxiety can be detrimental to women. Some of the common anxiety-driven thoughts are as follows:
- Unclear or disconnected thoughts
- Persistent worrying about everything
- Reduced memory or difficulty recalling even minor things
- The feeling that your mind has gone blank
- Constant thoughts of danger or negative things
- Thoughts of being a failure, or having always done something wrong
- Fear of making mistakes or being disapproved of by everyone around you
- Thoughts of losing control or that you are going to “snap”
- Frantic, barely intelligible thoughts
Physical Anxiety Symptoms in Women
Some symptoms of anxiety are not psychological in nature but actually impact the physical health and well-being of the woman suffering. Some of these symptoms are misconstrued as being caused by other ailments. Monitoring their physical condition closely can allow women to recognize anxiety and seek treatment. These physical symptoms include:
- Cravings for sugar and carbohydrates
- Burning sensations, particularly on the face, shoulders, neck and chest
- Flu-like symptoms
- Chronic headaches
- Skin sensitivity, including itching, prickling or a “creepy-crawly” sensation
- Increased or decreased libido
- Chronic pervading fatigue
- Trembling or shaking
- Light-headedness or feeling like you are going to pass out
- Erratic or hard heartbeat
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Anxiety can quickly take over a woman’s life if itis not managed and treated. The symptoms can negatively impact her quality of life, but with proper treatment she can overcome her feelings of anxiety and regain control of her life.