Are women more prone to panic attacks then men? Recent academic studies claim that this is the case. However, while it’s too soon to decide whether women are affected more often than men, the fact remains that there are lots of women suffering from panic attacks. I should know: when I first began to discuss my problems of panic attacks, some of my closest female friends revealed that they too suffered from the same problems as me. Of course, the symptoms were different for my female friends, and when I researched the issue further, it appeared that the causes were also different.
Symptoms of panic attacks in women:
Panic attacks in women are often indicated by hot flashes, migraines and heart palpitations. Apart from the hot flashes, most of the other symptoms are similar to those that men experience.
Why do more women suffer from panic attacks?
It’s not really known why women seem to suffer from panic attacks more than men. One of the explanations put forward is that panic attacks are a genetic problem, and this disease has been transmitted through generations. Panic attacks may be more common in women because of already prevalent genetic conditions.
Another possibility is that panic attacks are more common in women due to hormonal issues. It’s said that women undergo greater hormonal changes through adolescence, puberty, pregnancy and menopause. These hormonal changes lead to changes in the chemical balance in the brain, which makes women more susceptible to panic attacks.
Societal Conditions:
Women are more aware of societal expectations and are generally more compliant with social norms and regulations.
Starting from childhood, women are more inclined towards being part of a group, and tend to feel a greater need for acceptance. Because of this need to belong, women are more worried about what other people think. Rejection, betrayal and abandonment affect women more than men.
Because of this, women start to deal with stress and pressure situations earlier than men. It may be that the higher frequency of panic attacks in women is a result of such early exposure to stress.
Menopause and Panic Attacks
Another reason women suffer from panic attacks is linked to menopause. During menopause, a woman’s hormones are more active, because her body is putting an end to its reproductive functions. As a result of such high hormone levels, menopausal women tend to suffer from depression, higher stress and anxiety levels, and ultimately panic attacks. There’s some scientific evidence which indicates that menopausal women are more prone to panic attacks due to lowering of oestrogen levels.
While I’m not a woman, I’ve learned a lot from my friends about the particular reasons as to why women suffer from panic attacks, and I hope to talk about them through my blog.
I am a former panic attacks sufferer, but I totally eliminated my panic attacks and I am now enjoying a peaceful life that I never thought I will ever live!
To learn how I did this, download my free report “No Panic No More”.
