MoveNQI Acupuncture and Bodywork Clinics

Women and Anxiety: Twice as Vulnerable as Men

If the thought of delivering a speech makes your heart race, your palms sweat, and your stomach turn, you are not alone. Fear of public speaking ranks ahead of illness and dying. Why? Many women dread the public embarrassment and humiliation that might come from making a mistake, being perceived as incompetent, or being judged.

For some women, however, this fear becomes overwhelming to the point that it interferes with their daily lives. They might retreat into a "safe" job with little public contact or turn down a job that requires making presentations. When that happens, the fear has escalated into a more intense state - anxiety. From a biological standpoint, anxiety is grounded in the "fight or flight" response that protects human beings from real physical threats.

"Anxiety isn't bad. It motivates us to get out of harm's way and is an important part of living," according to Jerilyn Ross, M.A., L.I.S.W., and author of Triumph Over Fear: A Book of Help and Hope for People with Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Phobia. "But when anxiety becomes disproportionate to the situation and leads to avoidance of the fear-inducing situation and other undesirable consequences, it should be assessed", says Ross.

Anxiety is a general term for a variety of disorders that include panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobia. The extreme fear of public speaking described above is typical of a type of anxiety called social anxiety or social phobia - and women are twice as likely as men to suffer from it. In fact, women are twice as likely as men to suffer from all anxiety disorders with the exception of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Social anxiety (also referred to as social phobia) is characterized by an intense fear and dread of social situations and interactions that causes sufferers to avoid the situation altogether. Examples of the kinds of situations socially anxious people fear include: public speaking, eating in front of others, blushing or trembling when talking to others, and fear of losing bodily control, such as through fainting or vomiting. Often associated with traits of shyness, social anxiety generally begins in late childhood or adolescence and rarely is diagnosed after the age of 25.

Social anxiety is considered one of the most prevalent, yet under diagnosed types of anxiety. The reason is that people who suffer from it are uncomfortable admitting their symptoms to others. It was termed the "neglected disorder" because it wasn't until the mid to late 1980s that papers first appeared on the subject and it became identified as a separate anxiety disorder.

The Female Factor

Women are more prone to anxiety due to a variety of biological, psychological and cultural factors. Although the exact cause is unknown, recent research suggests that fluctuations in the levels of female reproductive hormones and cycles play an important role in women's enhanced vulnerability to anxiety. There is also some evidence that women become more anxious when their levels of estrogen and progesterone are low, such as in premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), post-partum depression, and menopause.

Some research points to psychological and cultural factors playing a role in a woman's propensity towards anxiety. These theories propose that women are less assertive and thus more vulnerable to stress, or that it is more acceptable for women to express fear. Ross doesn't buy this theory, which she believes furthers a stereotypical view of females.

Finally, genetics plays a role in susceptibility to anxiety.

Treatment Options

Anxiety is the most common mental illness in America. It is estimated that in any given year it affects up to 23 million people. A number of effective treatments exist for anxiety disorders, including psychotherapy, medication, and exercise.

The psychotherapy approach that has been most successful in treating anxiety consists of a combination of cognitive and behavioral methods. Using the cognitive approach, a patient is helped to understand the thinking patterns that raise anxiety. Thus, negative, "what if" scenarios are turned into more positive thoughts. Behavioral therapy works to gradually expose the patient to the situation or thing that is causing the anxiety. For example, a person who is terrified of making speeches will practice standing behind the podium and repeating positive thoughts.

Many behavioral therapists teach diaphragmatic breathing techniques that relax their patients and induce a calm state. Some recommend the practice of yoga, which emphasizes deep breathing, or other regular exercise for its stress-reducing benefits.

"Stress does not cause anxiety, but triggers it in someone who is predisposed to it," according to Ross, who encourages all of her patients to get into some type of exercise routine. She is also comfortable recommending alternative methods, such as acupuncture, if it helps a patient to reduce her stress level.

The goal of treatment for anxiety is to help a person become desensitized to the object or situation that is causing uncomfortable levels of fear. Anxiety cannot be eliminated entirely -- nor should it be, because of its protective benefits -- but it can certainly be managed.

Please Note: Information provided here is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional. The Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research and MPI DFW make no representation or warranty regarding the content of this information. If you are concerned about your health or that of a child, please consult a health provider immediately and do not wait for a response from our professionals.