Women and Anxiety
Do you think you might be suffering with anxiety?
"Once a month my anxiety shoots up until I feel like a crazy woman. It's like clockwork. One minute I feel fine, the next minute I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack."
"Just the thought of taking that test makes me sweat and shake. What if I fail? Everyone else seems so confident, what's wrong with me?"
"Every Monday I wake up with a sick stomach and a pounding headache. I hate my job, but I'm afraid to confront my boss, and I don't want to quit. What if I couldn't get another job?"
"I lie awake nights trying to figure out how I'm going to live on just my savings and social security. I'm afraid I'll never be able to retire, or I'll end up on the streets."
"I feel so alone. It feels like every date I've had in the last three years was just awful, and I'm terrified I'll never find a partner."
Do you recognized yourself in any of those quotes? If so, anxiety may be playing a bigger role in your life then you'd imagined.
Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety than our male counterparts, and we're much more likely to be put on medication. We tell ourselves that we're just born worriers, that it's in our nature to feel this way... but maybe not.
If you're still not sure whether or not anxiety is an issue for you, take a look at this list of symptoms and see how many you experience on a regular basis.
Symptoms and Signs of Anxiety
Cognitive Symptoms
of Anxiety
When you're anxious, you may have trouble thinking at all. You may have racing thoughts. You may also have thoughts like the following:
I'm going crazy.
I might lose control or become incapacitated.
I have to worry because if I worry hard enough and long enough I'll be safe.
I won't be able to handle what is ahead for me.
Something awful is going to happen.
I'm going to end up old, alone and broke.
I'm going to die.
We're all going to die.
ARGH!!!!!
Physical Symptoms
of Anxiety
Sweating
Nausea
Trembling
Tingling
Twitching
Pulsing
Burning
Tensions anywhere in your body
Headaches
Dizziness
Weakness
A pounding heart
Chest pain
Shortness of breath/smothering
Emotional Symptoms
of Anxiety
Feeling restless
Feeling tense and jumpy
Feeling irritable
Feeling exhausted
Feeling like you're all alone
You're not alone.
If you regularly experience more than three of the above symptoms, take a minute and take a hard look at the role that anxiety plays in your life. Does it keep you from going places, doing things, you'd really like to do? Does it keep you from speaking up for yourself? Does it keep you hostage in your house, or make your life one long tough journey? Does it limit your life?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, I invite you join our on-line community of like-minded women here as we work together to feel better, stronger and calmer.
I also offer you some wonderful on-line resources you can access whenever the need arises.
I'm so glad you're here. Let's do this together.
