Anxiety Symptoms in Women: What To Look For

Women are more prone to anxiety symptoms than men. Yet most women are unaware that their recent issues are related to anxiety or panic attacks. The symptoms of a panic attack can mimic a heart attack, so often, women learn the difference only after checking in with their doctor or the hospital. Knowing the anxiety symptoms in women will make you aware of any issues that you or a loved one experiences.

Common Anxiety Symptoms in Women

Staying educated on anxiety symptoms in women and spreading awareness can help other women seek help. Environmental factors, hormones, genetics, family history, trauma, and substance abuse can increase a woman’s risk of developing an anxiety disorder.

The following are several anxiety symptoms in women that you should know.

Feeling on Edge

You might feel on edge, jittery, or out of control. These sensations can make you hypersensitive to what is going on around you. You may lash out at friends, family, or coworkers and not really understand why.

Worry or Fear

Excessive worry and fear are hallmarks of anxiety. You might have a sense of dread or worry about yourself and others until you make yourself physically ill.

Avoiding Situations or People Out of Fear

You use avoidance as a coping mechanism. You avoid people, areas, and situations where you might come across a trigger. You can develop social anxiety disorder when you frequently employ this coping mechanism.

Brain Fog

Anxiety causes brain fog, the inability to focus and concentrate on tasks. This puts you behind at work, makes you forgetful, and can be dangerous in situations where alertness is required, such as driving.

Mood Swings and Irritability

Mood swings and irritability can come on suddenly. Hormones also play a part in fueling mood swings and anxiety. Consult with your physician if you believe hormones are behind your anxiety symptoms.

Heart Palpitations

Anxiety can activate the sympathetic nervous system, the system responsible for the fight-or-flight response. As adrenaline and cortisol flood the bloodstream, the heart begins beating wildly. These heart palpitations can feel like thudding in your chest, and you might be able to see the movement under your shirt.

High Blood Pressure

Chronic anxiety can raise blood pressure to dangerous levels, leading to heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. Have your blood pressure checked regularly, and practice relaxation techniques and exercise to lower it.

Physical Issues

Anxiety can cause physical issues, such as stomach problems, headaches, and muscle tension. It may be harder to make the correlation, but anxiety symptoms tend to branch out until your body has no choice but to try to calm itself. Don’t wait for that to happen. Seek help for both your physical and mental health.

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks can feel like heart attacks. You might experience chest tightness, numbness or tingling in the arms, fingers, and lips, heart palpitations, dizziness, trouble swallowing, shortness of breath, and feelings of doom or death. Always check with your doctor after a panic attack to rule out any medical reasons.

Getting Help for Anxiety

If you need help for an anxiety disorder or if any of the anxiety symptoms for women sound too familiar, contact our office today to speak to a representative. We will match you with a counselor, who will take an assessment and customize a mental health care plan for you to relieve anxiety.