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Do I Have Anxiety?
Types of Anxiety
Navigating Anxiety
Understanding Anxiety
Personal Stories

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is your body’s alarm system, telling you that something is wrong. However, when you worry (instead of problem-solving) or experience fear when there is no real threat, and it interferes with your daily life, it is called an anxiety disorder.

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Do I Have Anxiety?
Types of Anxiety
Navigating Anxiety
Understanding Anxiety
Personal Stories

Signs of Anxiety Can Include

Sense Of Impending Doom

Increased Heart Rate Or Breathing

Gastrointestinal Issues (GI)

What Causes Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of things, including your genetic makeup, your response to stress and trauma, and your life experiences. For women, a contributing factor is the way their brain chemistry is affected by major, and often daily, changes in reproductive hormones.

Types Of Anxiety Disorders

Even though anxiety disorders are one of the most common forms of mental disorders, it can be hard to recognize. Understanding your type of anxiety disorder is one of the first steps in getting help.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Your mind feels like it's constantly running through what could go wrong, and you can’t stop worrying.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Social situations like speaking up in meetings or attending events make you overly anxious because you’re afraid of being judged.
Panic Disorder
You’ve had a panic attack — racing heart, trouble breathing — and you’re afraid it will happen again.
Specific Phobias
You know something is safe, like flying or spiders, but your body reacts as if you’re in danger.
Illness Anxiety Disorder
You worry a lot that you’re seriously ill, even when doctors tell you that you’re healthy

Many people with an anxiety disorder also suffer from depression or other related disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma and stressor-related disorders (such as posttraumatic stress disorder), and bipolar disorder.

When more than one disorder is present, it can exacerbate your symptoms and make recovery more difficult. It is important to treat these co-occurring conditions to ensure the best possible outcome.

Learn about related disorders →
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Learn More About Mental Health

These short videos help explain complex mental health topics in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Scroll through to find a variety of content related to disorders and treatments.
Short Video

What is Anxiety?

1.5 minutes
Short Video

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?

1.5 minutes
Short Video

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

2 minutes

Stories From Women With Anxiety

Dealing with anxiety can feel isolating. Healing can happen when you hear from other women like you.

"I Have To Be OK With Uncertainty"

After experiencing a sudden health crisis and battling both COVID-19 and severe anxiety, Morgan’s journey of ups and downs shows us that recovery is possible and that learning to be yourself again is a journey worth taking.
Read Morgan’s Story →

"This Community Became A Beacon Of Light"

Read Octavia’s Story →

"I Needed To Go Inward And Process Unhealed Traumas"

Read Linda’s Story →