Experiencing some anxiety is perfectly natural, and it can even help us thrive in certain situations. But when someone is constantly overwhelmed by severe anxiety, it will eventually have a negative impact on their health, their relationships, their work, and their ability to simply enjoy their life.

Both men and women can suffer from severe anxiety, but anxiety disorders are more common in women. Learn more about the following anxiety symptoms in women, and see if it might be time to ask for some help.

1. Constantly feeling exhausted

It’s perfectly normal to feel tired after a long day at work. But if you are constantly feeling exhausted even if you are not doing anything demanding, it could be a sign that something is wrong.

Anxiety can lead to exhaustion and chronic fatigue. If you lack energy day after day, try to relax not only your body, but also your mind. Meditation and breathing exercises could help.

2. Worrying about everything

Anxiety brings us to worry about everything and nothing, and to have a pessimistic outlook towards any situation. If you are always certain that something bad will happen, and that this something bad will lead to an even worse catastrophe, you are probably dealing with severe anxiety.

When you can’t stop exaggerating your problems, and imagining new ones, you probably need to get help from a professional psychotherapist.

3. Feeling dizzy and disoriented

Being stressed out and worried all the time can even cause dizziness, disorientation, and migraines. If you have recently noticed you are more clumsy than you used to be, or if you seem to have balance problems, it could be a symptom of severe anxiety.

Whenever you start to feel dizzy, sit down, try to relax, and take deep breaths until you are feeling better.

4. Experiencing sleep issues

If you are frequently  going to bed worried about whatever will happen tomorrow, you probably have some trouble falling asleep. Insomnia, nightmares, night terrors and night sweats can be common anxiety symptoms in women.

Not getting enough sleep each night can increase anxiety symptoms, and anxiety makes it more difficult to fall asleep and to stay asleep. Taking some sleeping pills could help break the cycle.

5. Losing appetite

Loss of appetite can be another symptom of anxiety in women. If you usually have a good appetite, but you frequently find yourself skipping meals or being unable to finish your plate, this is a sure sign that something is wrong.

Anxiety can also cause an increase of appetite, or different eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa. If your appetite has changed, you need to feel concerned.

6. Being obsessed about your appearance

Many women will not leave their house without makeup, if their hair is a mess, or if they feel like they have nothing nice to wear. It’s normal for most women to be preoccupied with their appearance.

But for anxious women, this preoccupation can become an unhealthy obsession. If you can’t stop obsessing over your wrinkles or your weight, it could be a symptom of severe anxiety.

7. Comparing yourself to other people

Women who suffer from anxiety can also obsess over comparing themselves to others. They will feel like what other people do or have is better than what they do or have, and they will beat themselves up because of it.

If you are constantly comparing yourself to other women, in real life or on social media, all this negative thinking could be the anxiety symptoms in women.

8. Avoiding social situations

If you find yourself constantly avoiding social situations, whether it’s a big party or simply enjoying supper at the restaurant with a few friends, it could be a sign that you are dealing with anxiety.

Staying home one night because you don’t feel like going out is fine, but if you start to avoid all social events, it could eventually damage your relationships and your health.

9. Isolating yourself

Many anxious women will isolate themselves. They will not only want to avoid interacting with other people, but they will feel like the world is a dangerous place, and will convince themselves that they will be much safer if they stay on their own.

If you used to enjoy being around people, but you now prefer staying alone, it could be a sign that you are struggling with some form of anxiety.

10. Abusing drugs and alcohol

People who abuse drugs or alcohol are not necessarily struggling with anxiety. However, for many anxious women, substance abuse is a way to try to forget their problems, whether they are real problems, or problems that they imagined.

Of course, abusing drugs or alcohol will not make severe anxiety disappear. If you recognize many of these anxiety symptoms in yourself, please seek help from a professional.