At one point or another in our lives, we have all dealt with anxious feelings in stressful or uncertain situations. While anxiety is our body’s response to these circumstances, prolonged and intense symptoms of anxiety that remain persistent on a day-to-day basis can be an indicator of a deeper anxiety disorder. Both men and women will experience feelings and symptoms of anxiousness, but these can manifest themselves differently between the genders. Societal and biological factors, as well as specific life experiences, can influence our feelings and physical responses as we strive to cope with the stress and anxiety women face in their daily lives.
Understanding the different symptoms that women experience when dealing with anxiety can help you to identify your personal physical and mental response to anxiety. When you can identify these symptoms, you are taking the first steps in overcoming this anxiety as you look towards the future. If you are struggling with any of these symptoms, especially if they feel overwhelmingly persistent, connect with our women’s counselors at All About You Therapy Services. We know the impact that anxiety can have on the lives of women and we are here to navigate you through it and give you hope.
Emotional Anxiety Symptoms
Feelings of anxiety often start by impacting your mental and emotional well-being. Some common emotional symptoms of anxiety in women often include:
- Obsessive or intrusive thoughts
- Thoughts of nothing going right and everything going wrong
- Lack of ability to sleep (insomnia)
- Immediate and sudden negative thoughts or fears (death, being embarrassed, sicknesses)
- Fight-or-flight feelings in everyday life
When you feel that your mind just cannot shut off to worst-case scenarios and negative worrisome thoughts, it can be emotional anxiety symptoms that you are experiencing. Women tend to be emotional beings and thinkers, causing emotional anxiety symptoms to manifest themselves during times of pressure, stress, or trauma.
Physical Anxiety Symptoms
Our minds, emotions, and bodies are all interconnected. When dealing with emotional anxiety symptoms, those feelings can often evolve into physical responses that your body is reacting to. Biological and hormonal factors can influence how women feel anxiety throughout their bodies as well. Physical symptoms of anxiety in women can typically include:
- Increased heart rate
- Pain due to muscle tension
- Chronic fatigue or exhaustion
- Dizziness
- Change in appetite
- Shortness of breath/throat tightening
- Gastrointestinal issues
These common symptoms might occur in an isolated event or they may be more frequent depending on the circumstances. Hormone fluctuations in women may cause these symptoms to be more aggressive or common, such as stages of pregnancy, menstruation, or menopause.
Support and Treatment
Whether you are dealing with anxiety symptoms that are manifesting itself through emotional symptoms or physical symptoms, there are ways of effectively managing them to find relief in your life. Empowering women through these struggles in a safe and supportive environment can help women on their journey toward lasting recovery results. The professional counselors for women’s health and wellness at All About You Therapy Services are dedicated to offering you support through various anxiety symptoms by helping to address the root causes of your symptoms, discovering effective coping skills, and recommending treatment options to provide you with long-term relief heading into the future.
