Anxiety is a common and normal human emotion that both men and women experience throughout their lifetimes. That being said, anxiety is more likely to show up in women compared to men.
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress. When anxiety starts to creep into someone’s daily life and routine and disrupt it, it means there’s a larger issue at play, like an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety can show up in many different ways like, through behavioral signs, emotional signs, or even physical signs.
Let’s learn more about some of the signs of anxiety in women.
Constant Worry
One of the biggest signs of an anxiety disorder is constant fear or worry. Experiencing fear or worry from time to time is completely normal. A feeling of constant worry that can get in the way of someone’s daily tasks can mean that a larger issue is at play. A lot of women struggle with anxiety because they worry about situations from their past as well as future events that haven’t occurred yet. They may worry that something bad is going to happen and the ramifications of what could occur if something bad did take place.
Difficulty Sleeping
Sleep is a basic human need. It ensures that we receive the proper amount of rest so that our body and brain can recover and perform to the best of their ability day in and day out. One of the main signs and symptoms of anxiety is a disruption in someone’s sleep schedule.
Anxiety can cause individuals to have a harder time falling asleep at night and staying asleep throughout the night. Sleep and anxiety can be a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break. Anxiety can lead to problems with sleeping, but a lack of sleep can also increase levels of anxiety.
Relationship Stressors
Women especially tend to worry and care for the other people around them. Many women even put their family and friends’ wants and needs above their own. This means that when they’re struggling with feelings of anxiety, they may start to worry or fear for their own relationships.
Anxiety can lead to questioning your own relationships in your life. Even if your relationships are perfectly smooth, you may start to get in your head and question and pick apart your own relationships. Anxiety can put a lot of stress on the person dealing with the anxiety but also the close relationships of that person as a result of their anxiety.
Concerned Over Their Appearance
People struggling with anxiety tend to focus and worry about their own appearance more than individuals who aren’t struggling with anxiety. They will fixate on not wearing anything if their hair isn’t cooperating or if they have a zit or wrinkles. These worries may even cause them to not attend social events or to withdraw and self-isolate from loved ones due to not feeling good about themselves.
How to Deal With Anxiety
While anxiety is a completely normal human emotion, if it’s starting to impact your life negatively, you should feel comfortable reaching out for additional support. Anxiety isn’t something that you have to go through all on your own. While there are lifestyle changes that you can make on your own end to help reduce some of the signs and symptoms that you’re experiencing, there isn’t a proper replacement for seeking additional support through a licensed and trained mental health professional.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help reduce or better manage those anxiety-related signs and symptoms you’re struggling with, reach out today to set up a consultation for anxiety therapy.
About the author(s)
Karen is the founder and Clinical Director of Cohesive Therapy NYC. She earned a Masters in Social Work from New York University and has extensive training in Hypnosis, Anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brainspotting, and DGBI. She is a member of the Institute of Certified Anxiety Treatment Professionals, The Rome Foundation, the National Association of Social Workers, The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, and the American Social of Clinical Hypnosis.