While anxiety can affect anyone, research shows women are more likely than men to be affected for a variety of reasons, including hormones and social influences.
On this page, we explore what anxiety can look like in women, why it can sometimes go unnoticed, and when it might be helpful to seek professional support.
Anxiety in women isn’t always obvious, and it can often run in the background of everyday life without being recognised for what it is.
You might notice changes in your thoughts, emotions, body or behaviour, often accompanied by a sense of restlessness. Even during calmer moments, there may still be an underlying tension or sense of anticipation.
While some signs of anxiety are more obvious, for many women it can show up in more subtle but persistent ways.
Anxiety also has physical effects on the body. Many women initially worry that something is medically wrong before considering whether anxiety might be contributing.
Although ‘high functioning’ anxiety isn’t a clinical term, there are many women who continue to function very well in their daily life, despite experiencing symptoms of anxiety.
You might:
But internally, you may feel tense, overwhelmed and close to your limit. It’s often minimised as being ‘just stress’ but this can stand in the way of getting support.
Research (for example, McLean et al., 2011) suggests that anxiety can be expressed differently in women and men.
Statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggest that women are significantly more likely to experience anxiety than men. This difference reflects a combination of biological, psychological and social influences.
Some women experience symptoms of anxiety more noticeably during certain life stages or at certain times in their cycle due to shifts in hormones.
Fluctuations in hormone levels due to menstruation, pregnancy, postnatal periods and menopause can affect mood and stress responses.
Women are often socialised to be more attuned to others’ needs, manage relationships, and carry the bulk of responsibility, especially when it comes to childcare and home life.
Ongoing pressure to balance work, family and expectations can increase stress and anxiety, as can experiences in gender equality, discrimination or trauma.
Research suggests that women may be more likely to engage in rumination, which involves repeatedly thinking about worries, problems or difficult experiences.
While reflecting on emotions can sometimes be helpful, persistent rumination can make it harder to move past worries and may increase the likelihood of anxiety developing or continuing.
Women are more likely to experience certain forms of trauma or threat, such as harassment, abuse or gender based violence.
Even the need to remain vigilant about personal safety in everyday situations can contribute to higher levels of underlying anxiety for some women.
Women are more likely to recognise and report symptoms of anxiety or seek professional support than men, which may influence the higher prevalence rates of anxiety in women.
Anxiety can show up at any point in life, but certain life stages can increase the likelihood of women experiencing anxiety.
Hormonal changes during puberty can increase emotional sensitivity and self-consciousness.
For girls in particular, shifts in hormones such as oestrogen can affect mood and stress responses. Combined with other challenges such as peer relationships, social media and school expectations, it can increase the likelihood of experiencing anxiety.
Women go through hormonal shifts throughout each month.
Some women experience pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), which can negatively impact mood and cause irritability or exhaustion. PMS is fairly common, but some women can experience more serious symptoms as part of disorder known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which can significantly affect mood and may cause anxiety.
Pregnancy and the months after birth involve major physical, emotional and lifestyle changes. Hormonal fluctuations, disrupted sleep, recovery from childbirth and the adjustment to caring for a newborn can all affect emotional wellbeing.
Many women experience new responsibilities, worries about their baby’s health and pressure to adapt quickly to their new role, which can increase vulnerability to anxiety.
Many women experience anxiety as well as other mental health problems during menopause due to hormonal changes.
Perimenopause and menopause involve major hormonal shifts that can affect mood, sleep and overall wellbeing. Fluctuating hormone levels can influence how the brain regulates stress and emotions.
You do not need to wait until anxiety feels overwhelming to get support. Reaching out early can help stop symptoms from getting worse and make them easier to manage.
It may be time to seek professional help if your anxiety is lasting for weeks, affecting your sleep, work or relationships, causing panic or physical symptoms, leading you to avoid everyday situations, or feeling too difficult to cope with alone.
Have you noticed you’ve turned to alcohol, drugs or compulsive behaviours like gambling as a means of regulating anxiety?
Leaning on these maladaptive coping strategies can be emotionally draining over time – and therefore be a sign you might need support.
There are effective treatments for anxiety, and support can be tailored to your needs. A GP or psychiatrist can help you understand your options and find the right approach.
Treatment may include:
Living with anxiety can be exhausting, especially if you’ve been coping alone for a long time.
If you recognise yourself in the experiences on this page, it’s important to know that anxiety is treatable and support is available. Many women find that speaking to a professional brings both relief and a better understanding of what they’re going through.
At Priory, our confidential mental health assessments explore your symptoms and circumstances in detail, helping identify the right support and treatment options for you. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness, it’s a positive step towards feeling more supported and better able to manage your anxiety.
