Defining Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression can be debilitating, especially if you are not even aware that you are experiencing them. Below are some definitions of both anxiety and depression, as well as the prevalence at which it occurs within the population.

(WIX, 2020)

Anxiety Defined

Anxiety is a normal response to stress. It can manifest in symptoms, such as fear, panic, or worry, that can be hard to control and can start to have a negative effect on day to day life (OWH, 2019).

Anxiety is a serious condition that is one of the most common and pervasive mental disorder in the U.S., and includes such anxiety disorders as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and social anxiety (ADAA, 2020).

Depression Defined

A serious mental health condition where one feels sad, hopeless, helpless or any number of other symptoms of depression for an extended period of time. Typically these symptoms last longer than 2 weeks and can often interfere with every day activities (OWH, 2020b).

(WIX, 2020)

(WIX, 2020)

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Women

Women are two times as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression then men.
Anxiety affects 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.
Anxiety affects roughly 40 million adults every year, affecting 8% of teens between 13 and 18 years, with symptoms that can start as early as age 6.

(OWH, 2019a)

Depression affects 1 in 6 adults in the U.S.
Depression affects roughly 16 million adults every year, and it can happen to anyone at any time

(OWH, 2019b)

(WIX, 2020)

Women through the Lifespan

Puberty
- During this time there is a high likelihood of developing anxiety or depression, especially in females.
Menstruation
- Changes in hormones during this time can bring with it considerable mental and physical stress. A majority of women will experience a physical, mood, or anxiety symptom during this period.
Pregnancy & Postpartum
- Hormones are fluctuating during this time and during this phase of a woman's life the added stress on the body and mind can also exacerbate preexisting mental health conditions.
Menopause
- Can be a time of extreme stress and anxiety as a woman enters this transitional period, especially with all of the physical symptoms that typically come with it.

(Hantsoo & Epperson, 2017)