Beyond Anxiety and Depression - women anxiety

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Risk Factors for Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Women

Gloria Goodwin — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 00:24:57 +0000

Women who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder don't just suffer from it a few hours of the day; they actually have to deal with it all throughout the day. They think about disasters that might happen, things that might go wrong or problems that could happen. All of this worry causes a lot of anxiety and can affect every aspect of the woman's life. There are risk factors associated with this, which can determine whether or not a woman develops it.

Risk Factor #1: Being a Woman

Unfortunately just being a woman increases the chances of suffering from generalized anxiety disorder. Women are two times as likely to suffer from this as men are, just like they are more likely to suffer from depression. There are a lot of different factors involved in why women are twice as likely to deal with this disorder, which range from being more open about emotions to feeling the need to fulfill other people's needs.

Risk Factor #2: Personality as a Child

Girls who grow up being bullied are generally more likely to have this anxiety disorder as they grow into women. Bullying can make it difficult for a woman to open up and cause her to become extremely shy, which will manifest into anxiety in the future. Most women will also grow up worrying about being teased or bullied, which triggers generalized anxiety as she grows older.

This can first cause anxiety being around other women, but it can also cause problems with dating. All of the worries she has about being bullied will eventually lead her to start worrying about other things and will start to take over her life. This disorder can start as a child, but it will get worse as she grows into a woman.

Risk Factor #3: Genetics

Women who have a family history of generalized anxiety disorder may find that it causes them to have it as an adult. Generally women will develop the same fears or worries as their mother had, but other times they will simply learn it from growing up in a household with them. Girls tend to pay close attention to how to react to certain situations, so if their mother reacts in a worrying or fearful way, then she may do the same when she grows up. So, genetics are important to consider, but so is the environment in which the girl was raised.

Risk Factor #4: Traumatic Situations

Women respond to trauma differently than men do, and generalized anxiety disorder can become the result. For example, many women who grew up being abused end up with this disorder when they grow up because of how they were treated when they were children. This disorder can even occur for women who had a single traumatic experience as a child. Fears for just one thing can manifest themselves and make a female worry more than she should. After some time she will start to worry about other things, which will eventually lead to this disorder.

Risk Factor #5: Social Situations

Women who grew up without a lot of social connections as a child may find it difficult to connect with adults as they grow up. It is also common that women who grow up in very rural areas tend to feel anxiety when they are faced with areas that have larger populations. Even women who are mixed with different races can feel anxiety if they grew up in an area where other kids were predominantly different from them.

Most women will suffer from some sort of anxiety during the course of their life, but generalized anxiety disorder is different. This is where women aren't able to deal with certain situations and they allow their worries to control them all day and all night. This will affect quality of life and can eventually lead a woman down the road of depression, if it remains untreated.

The risk factors above are just a few that doctors will consider when determining treatment. It's important to keep in mind that just because a woman fits in with these risk factors it doesn't mean she will develop this disorder. Some end up not having much anxiety, so there's no true formula that will determine who has it and who doesn't.

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Signs of Depression in Women to Watch Out for

Gloria Goodwin — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 02:09:09 +0000

Each and every person has at least one woman in their life that they love and care about. If you suspect that one in yours is suffering from depression, then there are several signs you should look out for. These will give you a better idea of whether she's battling depression or another mental issue.

Change in Social Activity

When women go through depression they will change the way they deal with social activities. For example, if the woman in your life used to love to go out to the movies or dinner with friends and now she just wants to stay in, she may be depressed. She also might spend a lot more time in her room and much less time socializing with people that she used to spend a lot of time with.

Depressed women tend to become introverted and spend time with themselves instead of other people. Sometimes this change will be gradual, but it also may happen within just a few days. Each woman is different with the way depression affects her.

Lack of Interests

Depressed women often lose interest in things they once loved to do. This could mean someone who stops cooking and instead orders in, but it could also mean someone who stops doing activities or hobbies. Most depressed women will not get joy out of these hobbies any longer, and turn to staying inside instead. You will probably notice that the passion she once has is gone and she doesn't have anything that she loves to do any longer.

Even something like planning and going on a vacation won't offer someone who is depressed very much excitement. Things that most people would anticipate doing or going to aren't going to offer excitement to people who are clinically depressed.

Lack of Affection

Even women who have significant others can feel completely alone when they are depressed. This feeling of being alone and unloved can result in becoming isolated and withdrawing affection. This has a tendency to affect relationships and cause a lot of problems. If your partner has suddenly become lonely and withdrawn, then she very well may be suffering from depression.

Instead of fighting with her or causing tension in the relationship, you might want to approach the topic of therapy. This can bring both of you closer together and can be a great introduction to all of the different treatment options that are available for depression.

Change in Eating Habits and Weight

Depressed women may either gain weight or lose weight depending on how their eating habits change. Some women end up eating a lot more in order to make themselves feel better and avoid dealing with their true depressed feelings. Other women will stop eating all together or decrease the amount that they eat dramatically. Either of these can result in eating disorders, which will only cause depression to get worse.

Change in Sleep

Not being able to get to sleep is a very common symptom that you should look out for. This can mean not being able to go to sleep, but also waking up several times throughout the night. There are also some women that end up sleeping too much and wanting to stay in bed all of the time so that they don't have to be social. Either way, these sleep problems can push any woman deeper into depression and cause her to become even more isolated.

Change in Focus

Do you notice that your loved one seems like she is distracted or like she can't focus on what's right in front of her? Depression is something that controls the thoughts of the person who is suffering from it. If the woman in your life is depressed, then she is likely thinking about sadness instead of things that she needs to get done. This is dangerous for her, especially while driving or doing other things.

These are signs of depression in women that most people can easily identify if they take the time to pay attention to detail. Just remember that all women are different and the one in your life may differ with the symptoms that she displays. If you think she does have depression, then approach the subject in a calm manner and offer getting help as soon as possible.

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Why do More Women Suffer From Depression Than Men?

Gloria Goodwin — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 19:06:26 +0000

Anyone can become depressed at any age and for a variety of different reasons. For some it's because of their genetics and individual circumstances, but for others it's due to their gender as well as outside influences. Did you know that women are more likely to be depressed than men? This is a shocking fact that many people are surprised to learn, but there's more to it than just this fact.

Depression in Men vs. Women

Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression than men. Some professionals think this is simply due to the fact that women are willing to speak about their emotions more, but the numbers speak for themselves. Around 12.4 million women in the United States suffer from depression compared to around 6 million men.

Depression in Young Women

While depression among boys and girls is generally the same, this changes when girls reach the age of 15. This is when they become twice as likely to suffer from depression as males, which is thought to be due to hormones as well as the body changing in such a dramatic manner. Although this is accepted as the general reason for the spike in depression, it's not known exactly why the risk increases so much at this time.

Women's Risk Beyond Adolescence

The risk of depression in women does not go away after adolescence. The risk actually remains high throughout the rest of the adult life that the woman will have. She will always be at higher risk than a man, but the exact reason why is not known. Many psychologists believe that women have a lot more stressful events in their life that contribute to this increase of risk, including: childbearing, marriage, child rearing and career. The emotions that a woman experiences can lead her to become depressed, especially when hormones are involved.

When Women are Most Vulnerable

Women can start developing depression during any point of their lives, but there is a certain time period when it's most likely to strike. These years are those that women are able to have children. There is also an extremely high risk of women suffering from postpartum depression, which is the time after they give birth. In fact, around 25% of women will suffer from this type of depression, which is why screening is so important.

Many women do suffer from postpartum depression, but they do not get help for it because they brush it off as "normal". Around 50% of women won't find out that they are depressed, which can result in them becoming more isolated and posing as a risk to themselves.

Are Hormones to Blame?

The hormones that a woman experiences throughout her life can affect her risk of depression at any given time. Not only will she experience raging hormones when she goes through puberty, this will continue well into her reproductive years. The constant fluctuations of hormones in her life can trigger depression and cause extreme mood changes that are difficult for her to understand. Transitioning between these emotions is difficult and can lead to certain women being more vulnerable than others.

Women who are genetically predisposed to depression may find that their hormones affect them much more than other women. This can result in developing depression, but it differs on an individual basis and there are many other factors that may be involved. Hormones are just one of the biggest considerations that psychologists make because they change the body's chemistry so much.

Hormonal shifts that women experience are not experienced by men simply because of the way they are built. This could be a huge reason why women are more likely to become depressed, and is a common theory among psychologists.

Will all Women Become Depressed?

Not all women are going to develop depression during their lives. Some are more likely than others simply because of genetics or a variety of other factors. Many researchers think that while women are more vulnerable to depression than men are, it's not exactly clear why. There are a lot of theories out there, but each woman is different and each study finds a different outcome.

The most important thing to remember is that treatment is readily available for any woman who suffers from depression. Talk therapy, psychiatrists, medications, etc., are all things that can make a difference in depression for any woman.

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Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder in Women

Gloria Goodwin — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 01:51:16 +0000

Women are at a higher risk of suffering from some type of anxiety disorder during their life. Unfortunately because the symptoms of these are part of regular life at times, many women don't seek the help that they should. By learning how to identify the symptoms of an anxiety disorder you will be better equipped to help yourself as well as other women. Here are the most common symptoms that every woman should be on the lookout for:

Symptom #1: Being Self-Conscious

Every woman experiences being self-conscious, but women who suffer from social anxiety disorder suffer more than others. They worry that as soon as they walk out into a public place they are going to be judged and ridiculed by other people. They feel that this will lead to them being embarrassed for the rest of their life. This self-consciousness affects women whether they are going out to grab a bite to eat or even just driving down the road to go to the grocery store. The overwhelming worry from this can really harm regular life.

Symptom #2: Intense Fear

Individuals who have phobias are extremely fearful of things that they should not be. This could be something as simple as a piece of paper or even a cat; it just depends on the person. Unfortunately a phobia like this can really affect life, especially if the woman is scared of something that can be seen just about anywhere. If you or someone you know has an intense fear of something that they shouldn't, then they likely have anxiety disorder in the form of a phobia.

Symptom #3: Feelings of Terror

Women who suffer from panic disorders will have feelings of terror at random times when they aren't even scared. They will start to have chest pain, feel like they are having a heart attack and have an increased heart rate. In addition to this she will start to sweat and feel like she doesn't have control over herself. This is an anxiety disorder that generally lands women in the hospital, as the feelings they are experiencing make them think they are in need of medical attention.

Symptom #4: Physical Changes

With most anxiety disorders women are going to experience physical changes. This could be numbness in the hands or feet, but it could also be sweating all over the body. Some women also experience shortness of breath along with dry mouth and heart palpitations.

Symptom #5: Feeling Ill

Anxiety disorders can make a woman feel extremely sick. She could have problems sleeping, feelings like she is going to throw up, dizziness and even muscle tension. These symptoms usually occur at a stressful time, although some women feel these all throughout the day.

Symptom #6: Not in Control

With certain anxiety disorders women will start to lose control of their thoughts. Instead of being able to focus on things they need to do for the day, they will instead obsess over just one thing. This will take over their entire day and can cause them to forget things, get into accidents and avoid things that were once important.

Some women also lose control of their ability to do things regularly, as they feel the need to repeat things over and over. Some find that repeating out loud is fine, but others need to do physical actions in order to feel "okay" with themselves.

Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders in Women

When doctors diagnose anxiety disorders in women they will take a look at a number of different things. This will include lab tests as well as psychiatric evaluations that are all done by professionals. The attitude of the patient and their behavior will also affect the outcome of the tests. It may take a while to get a diagnosis, but this depends on the patient and the information that they provide.

Once the disorder has been diagnosed and the doctor is confident with their analysis, they can move on to determining which treatment option is the best choice. There are a wide variety of options out there that are made to suit different women and different types of anxiety disorder. There are a lot of considerations that have to go into treating a disorder, which is why professional advice is so important.

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How to Treat an Anxiety Attack in Women

Gloria Goodwin — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 23:48:41 +0000

When a woman has an anxiety attack she will feel it inside and show it on the outside. But, because each woman is different, these attacks can manifest themselves in various ways. For example, some women may experience diarrhea while others just sweat and have shortness of breath. No matter which symptoms of an anxiety attack are experienced, it's important to learn how to treat it right away. Not being able to treat this can lead to feelings of doom and deep depression.

There are a lot of different treatments for women who are experiencing anxiety attacks. If you tend to experience these, then it's important to know what these treatments are. These can help you feel better more quickly so that you are able to take control of the situation and get your feet back on the ground.

Treatment #1: Medication

A lot of women turn to medication to help them get through an anxiety attack. These work within a short amount of time and change the chemistry in the brain so that it's able to block out the feelings of anxiety. A lot of women like these because they are so quick to work, but it's important to realize that these do not treat the problem on the inside. They do eventually wear off, and they will need to be taken again to help avoid the feelings from returning.

Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan are some of the most popular medications that doctors prescribe. These provide immediate relief and are only meant to be used for a short amount of time, as long-term use can cause addiction. Your doctor will prescribe these if they feel they are best for you, but it's important to learn other treatment options that can help you get through attacks when they happen.

Treatment #2: Calming Therapy

A lot of people learn how to calm themselves down when they go into therapy. This can help you out considerably when you're going through an anxiety attack, which is why it's so important to learn. You will first learn how to stop and give yourself time to think. This will allow you to put your thoughts in order so that you are not just focusing on one thing that is making you feel anxious.

Next you will learn how deep breathing can benefit you, even when you're having a really hard time concentrating. Learning breathing techniques is extremely beneficial and something you can use whether you're having an anxiety attack or in a number of other problematic situations.

Once this happens it's a good idea to find a place where you can be calm and sit down. This generally should be somewhere relaxing that will give you a good five minutes of alone time without interruption. This could be an extra office at work or even a bathroom stall. Doing these things is going to calm you down so that you can regroup and get your head back into the game.

Treatment #3: Avoidance

Although avoidance isn't going to help you when you're having an anxiety attack, it can help you avoid having one in the first place. Generally you will learn what your anxiety attack triggers are when you go through therapy. As soon as you are able to identify these, you will be able to avoid them. This will give you a chance to learn new ways of living so that you can get through life without the risk of an attack.

While some situations are unavoidable, there are a lot that you can stay away from. Doing so can make a big change in your life that helps you get through the day without any issues. Your therapist is going to help out a lot with this, so meeting with them regularly is essential if you want to learn the right tools for success.

Treating an anxiety attack in women right when it happens can be scary, but it can be done. You just have to remember that calming thoughts and regrouping are both very important. Fortunately there are medications available when things become overwhelming, but the power is in your hands. You are able to control how much this affects you based on how much effort you put into treatment.

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Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder in Women

Gloria Goodwin — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:40:50 +0000

Symptom #1: Being Self-Conscious

Symptom #2: Intense Fear

Symptom #3: Feelings of Terror

Symptom #4: Physical Changes

Symptom #5: Feeling Ill

Symptom #6: Not in Control

Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders in Women

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How to Treat Anxiety in Women

Gloria Goodwin — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:32:06 +0000

Treating anxiety in women is possible if the woman is open to getting help for the type of disorder she suffers from. There are a lot of different treatment options out there that can result in feeling better quickly so that you can move on with life. Just keep in mind that as with all treatments for disorders, it may take a while to find what works best for you. Some women find that therapy is more effective while others do better with medications.

Treatments for anxiety in women include:

Psychotherapy
Medication
Therapy
Lifestyle Changes

Psychotherapy Treatment for Anxiety

Psychotherapy is a form of counseling that helps to treat the anxiety from the inside instead of mask the symptoms. If you choose this type of therapy then you will be working with a psychotherapist that specializes in anxiety disorders. They will ask you questions, interact with you and may even ask you to do different types of activities. Just remember that everything they do is designed to help them help you overcome the disorder.

Although this can be difficult at first, in time you will learn a lot of different coping techniques that can help you overcome your disorder when times are the worst. This can mean being able to live a somewhat normal life that you are actually in control of. It's important for women to know that psychotherapy does not cure anxiety disorders overnight.

This treatment actually takes a long time to work, as the therapist has to find the reason why the anxiety disorder is there and determine how best to work with you to overcome it. You have to be open and willing for this to work, or else your mind will be closed to the possibility of finally getting better.

Medication Treatment for Anxiety

Medications are the most common treatment options because they are readily available. A doctor has to prescribe these, as each is different and some are more suitable for certain individuals than others. The medications that treat anxiety disorders include: SSRI antidepressants, benzodiazepines and beta-blockers.

Each of the different medications comes with its own set of risks as well as side effects. Most of these are designed to actually change the chemistry inside of the brain so that the symptoms of anxiety go away. Some are meant to be taken for only a short period of time, but others can be taken for longer depending on their risk for addiction.

Therapy Treatments for Anxiety

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the first choice for most anxiety sufferers to try. This involved talking through life to understand more about why you have anxiety. This helps you and the therapist get to the root of the problem so that you can learn and start developing tools to deal with it. This type of therapy also helps you learn how to change your thought patterns so that you can think more positively and avoid the worrisome or negative feelings that you would normally get due to the disorder.

Relaxation therapy is where you will learn different ways that will help you relax and soothe your anxiety. This is something that does take time and effort to learn, but it can be extremely effective. When you do this type of therapy you will decrease your heart rate, let go of tension, stop thinking and go into a state of deep relaxation for around 20 minutes. Doing this on a daily basis can help change your brain chemistry so that you have a better feeling of wellbeing and you are less likely to experience anxiety.

Lifestyle Changes to Treat Anxiety

Some people find that changing their diet and lifestyle is an effective way of treating their anxiety. They change by exercising on a regular basis and eating a more healthy diet. This also includes cutting out most processed foods and avoiding alcohol. Some even start doing yoga so that they can learn how to meditate and relax when they are feeling anxious. One of the most important parts of this is sleep. This helps the brain balance out and ensures that it's able to recover on a daily basis.

Treating anxiety in women is definitely possible with all of the options that are available today. If you feel that you want to get help, then start with a visit to your doctor and go from there. The first step can be hard, but it can make a positive change in your life!

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