Top 3 Mental Health Diagnoses in Women

By: Hailey Robertson

The top 3 mental health diagnoses in women are Anxiety, Depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

1. Anxiety and other specific phobias: women are twice as likely to have a panic disorder, generalized anxiety, and specific phobias than men. 
2. Depression: Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. 
3. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with PTSD following a traumatic event than men. 

What is Anxiety?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is marked by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events for no obvious reason. 

Symptoms include: feeling restless, easily fatigued, irritability, constant feelings of worry, etc. 

• 1 in 5 women develop anxiety in the United States

What is Depression? 

Major Depressive Disorder is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. 

Symptoms include: feelings of sadness, hopelessness, angry outbursts, loss of interest, sleep disturbances, lack of energy, reduced appetite, trouble thinking, etc.

• 1 in 8 women develop depression in the United States

What is PTSD? 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that is triggered by a traumatic event. 

Symptoms include: recurrent unwanted distressing memories, reliving traumatic events, upsetting dreams or nightmares, severe emotional distress, etc.

• 10% of women have PTSD sometime in their lives

Resources for help:

-Psychiatry: A psychiatrist can allow you to get the medications needed to treat your disorder.

-Therapy: A therapist can allow you to process your diagnoses and receive techniques available to use for treatment 

-Support: A Client Support Specialist can allow you to build skills needed to help reduce the effects of your disorder

Resources

3 most common mental health disorders in America. Access Community Health Network. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2022, from https://www.achn.net/about-access/whats-new/health-resources/3-most-common-mental-health-disorders-in-america/

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 26, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/