Do anxiety disorders affect women differently than men?
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Dr. Michael Mufson answered:Women are at least twice as likely as men to have generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depression and mood disorders, which frequently are paired with anxiety, occur more often among women, too. Social phobia, on the other hand, is equally common in both genders.
Why the difference between the genders? One reason may be that girls and women are more likely than males to experience physical or mental abuse. Childhood abuse can prompt long-term changes in brain chemistry and structure. At any age, abuse can raise odds of developing PTSD. Hormones are another possible culprit. Estrogen interacts with serotonin, a relationship scientists are just beginning to tease out.
Men are not strangers to anxiety, however. At some point, one in five men develops an anxiety disorder. Symptoms may vary between genders. In social phobia, for example, men are more likely to avoid calling a person they don't know well, while women express a greater fear of authority figures and being observed. Sometimes, anxiety may cause impotence in men. Medications like sildenafil (Viagra) and sex therapy often help overcome such anxiety-related sexual difficulties.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulWomen are at least twice as likely as men to have generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depression and mood disorders, which frequently are paired with anxiety, occur more often... More -
Dr. Kenneth Rogers of Greenville Health System answered:Women are much more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders than men. Many women operate in a state of low-grade anxiety that may erupt into episodes of panic attacks, phobias, or anxiety disorders in the face of increased stress or biological changes -- like monthly periods, the birth of a child, or menopause. Many women function in a state of constant anxiety and may not even realize the level of stress or anxiety that they are experiencing until they are asked.
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Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulWomen are much more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders than men. Many women operate in a state of low-grade anxiety that may erupt into episodes of panic attacks, phobias, or anxiety disorders in the face of increased stress or biological... More
