Women are More Prone to Certain Anxiety Disorders
According to the US Surgeon General, there are certain kinds of anxiety disorders that occur more frequently in women than in men. These include panic disorder, agoraphobia, and any generalized anxiety disorder.
In women who have a panic disorder, the age of onset is commonly from mid-adolescence to late adulthood. The occurrence of agoraphobia, or the fear of heights, is attributable at least in part to socio-cultural factors that allow women to more freely express avoidant coping strategies. Generalized anxiety disorder usually takes a fluctuating course, oftentimes in relation to stress.
These disorders can be very debilitating, and are often chronic conditions that were triggered by an event in early childhood. High-stress conditions in later life can cause the disorder to manifest itself, leading the person to look for professional treatment. Moreover, the various anxiety disorder symptoms are difficult to detect, and will require the aid of a highly trained expert for accurate diagnosis.
Complicating the problem of anxiety disorder treatment is the potential for a dual diagnosis, in which substance abuse or addiction compound the effects of a mental illness. In such cases, the challenges of addressing physiological medical conditions at the same time as coming to terms with addiction can be a very daunting task.
Here at Harmony Place, anxiety disorder treatment is a matter that we regard with nothing but the highest respect and care. We offer our clients proactive relapse prevention education coupled with psychodynamic and cognitive theories, all of which are encompassed by our 12-Step Program targeted specifically at women. This program places equal emphasis on physical, mental, and spiritual healing for anxiety disorders and other conditions, with an emphasis on female-specific issues.
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