The Role of Gender in Mental Health
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder triggered by a mentally and/or physically traumatic event. PTSD is characterized by severe anxiety as well as recurring flashbacks, nightmares and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic event. News outlets and media often focus on PTSD in the military and tend to associate the condition with male soldiers in combat. However, women are actually two times more likely than men to experience PTSD. Additionally, PTSD in women is associated with worse outcomes, on average, than it is in men. This gender disparity could be partially explained by the fact that women are more likely to be sexually assaulted or sustain physical injury by someone they know. PTSD has been associated with a variety of conditions and may increase the risk of developing psychological issues like depression, substance abuse and suicide. Additionally, the condition has been linked to an increased risk of physiological conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and overactive bladder.
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