Differences between Anxiety in Women and Men
Anxiety in women is more common than many might think. While both men and women experience anxiety disorders, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from these disorders. In addition, symptoms of such disorders tend to occur earlier in women. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of American, from the time a girl reaches puberty until about the age of 50, she is twice as likely to have an anxiety disorder as a man. During the span of a lifetime, women are also more likely to suffer from multiple psychiatric disorders, most commonly anxiety and depression.
Differences in brain chemistry may account for at least part of these gender differences. The neurotransmitter serotonin may also play a role in responsiveness to stress and anxiety. Some evidence suggests that the female brain does not process serotonin as quickly as the male brain causing more anxiety in women. Anxiety can certainly affect your health. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, research suggests that you may run a higher risk of experiencing physical health problems, too. Managing anxiety is also taking care of your physical health.
Anxiety disorders are treatable, and most people with an anxiety disorder can return to a normal life. Some may respond to treatment after a few weeks or months, while others may need more than a year. As treatment may be complicated if people have more than one anxiety disorder or other co-existing conditions, treatment must be tailored specifically for each individual. Although treatment is individualized, several standard approaches have proved effective. Health care professionals often use one or a combination of these treatments: • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy • Medication • Complementary and alternative treatment Anxiety in womenmay also occur alongside substance abuse or addiction. Co-occurring disorders can be successfully treated if a woman seeks help. Treatment options and resources are usually the same for anxiety in women as men, with the exception of women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.
Anxiety and stress during pregnancy may lead to many different complications. Anxiety in women who are pregnant can worsen, improve, or stay the same during the pregnancy, and that may affect treatment. We do know that anxiety in women who are pregnant can have complications for the baby. One common medication used to treat depression and other anxiety disorders are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. Unfortunately, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies of SSRIs in pregnant women or other medications to treat anxiety in women who are pregnant. That being said, the Federal Drug Administration had advised pregnant women who use SSRIs during pregnancy of the potential risk of a heart and lung condition known as Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). PPHN occurs when a newborn baby does not adapt to breathing outside the womb.
The initial Public Health Advisory in July 2006 on this potential risk was based on a single published study. Since then, there have been conflicting findings from new studies evaluating this potential risk, making the connection between SSRIs during pregnancy and PPHN unclear. Because of this, the FDA has concluded that it is premature to reach any conclusion about a possible link between SSRI use in pregnancy and PPHN. If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant and suffer from anxiety, you should discuss pharmaceutical treatment options with a licensed counselor and physician.
Differences in brain chemistry may account for at least part of these gender differences. The neurotransmitter serotonin may also play a role in responsiveness to stress and anxiety. Some evidence suggests that the female brain does not process serotonin as quickly as the male brain causing more anxiety in women. Anxiety can certainly affect your health. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, research suggests that you may run a higher risk of experiencing physical health problems, too. Managing anxiety is also taking care of your physical health.
Anxiety in Women: Treatment Options
Anxiety disorders are treatable, and most people with an anxiety disorder can return to a normal life. Some may respond to treatment after a few weeks or months, while others may need more than a year. As treatment may be complicated if people have more than one anxiety disorder or other co-existing conditions, treatment must be tailored specifically for each individual. Although treatment is individualized, several standard approaches have proved effective. Health care professionals often use one or a combination of these treatments: • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy • Medication • Complementary and alternative treatment Anxiety in womenmay also occur alongside substance abuse or addiction. Co-occurring disorders can be successfully treated if a woman seeks help. Treatment options and resources are usually the same for anxiety in women as men, with the exception of women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.
What about Anxiety and Pregnancy?
Anxiety and stress during pregnancy may lead to many different complications. Anxiety in women who are pregnant can worsen, improve, or stay the same during the pregnancy, and that may affect treatment. We do know that anxiety in women who are pregnant can have complications for the baby. One common medication used to treat depression and other anxiety disorders are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. Unfortunately, there are no adequate and well-controlled studies of SSRIs in pregnant women or other medications to treat anxiety in women who are pregnant. That being said, the Federal Drug Administration had advised pregnant women who use SSRIs during pregnancy of the potential risk of a heart and lung condition known as Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). PPHN occurs when a newborn baby does not adapt to breathing outside the womb.
The initial Public Health Advisory in July 2006 on this potential risk was based on a single published study. Since then, there have been conflicting findings from new studies evaluating this potential risk, making the connection between SSRIs during pregnancy and PPHN unclear. Because of this, the FDA has concluded that it is premature to reach any conclusion about a possible link between SSRI use in pregnancy and PPHN. If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant and suffer from anxiety, you should discuss pharmaceutical treatment options with a licensed counselor and physician.
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