Are feeling anxious? Stressed-out? Maybe a little bit like there is no way you will ever do all the things you are supposed to do and even if you do do those things, you’ll probably mess them all up? Well, congratulations! You may be a woman!
According to a study from the University of Cambridge, women are nearly twice as likely to suffer from anxiety disorders as men, with a ratio of 1.9 women to every 1 man affected.
The study was a “systematic review of reviews,” looking at 48 studies to discover what social and cultural factors may play a role in a variety of anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and a host of different phobias.
The results show that women, people under the age of 35 and people from “Euro/Anglo cultures” are most likely to suffer from anxiety.
In the United States, the study estimates that 18 percent of the population suffers from anxiety disorders. So, if you’re like me–that is an American woman under the age of 35–I’m sorry and you aren’t alone. Take a deep breath. Meditate. And maybe go get some counseling.
— Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052
lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker