Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition that affects every aspect of a person’s life. Anyone who experiences trauma is affected by it on some level, but not everyone who does will develop PTSD. As reported by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, approximately ten percent of women will have PTSD in their lifetimes. In fact, women are two to three times more likely to develop PTSD than men.
Is PTSD different in men and women? Yes—in addition to being more common among women, PTSD often manifests for them with different symptoms. Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health has PTSD therapists in Boston, MA, who provide gender-specific PTSD treatment. Women with PTSD and their loved ones can access top-quality care and information at Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health.
Why is PTSD more common in women?
PTSD tends to affect women more frequently than men, and the reasons go beyond just exposure to trauma. Scientists have identified several key differences that help explain this pattern. Gender differences in PTSD have to do with three factors.
Kinds of trauma
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that between 50% and 60% of people experience trauma, but that the kind of trauma largely determines the likelihood of developing PTSD. Men experience combat trauma at higher rates than women, and both men and women experience natural disasters, accidents, and personal tragedy. However, women are far more likely to be sexually abused as children, raped, and sexually assaulted than men. 91% of rape victims are women, for example, and according to a study published by the McGill Journal of Medicine and available in the National Institute of Health’s Library of Medicine, 94% of women who have experienced sexual assault show symptoms of PTSD.
Gender roles
Societal norms are a factor in many aspects of how people experience and process life events. The research reported by NAMI indicates that the greater the disparity between men and women regarding social power and personal autonomy, the greater women’s emotional vulnerability. This leads to higher susceptibility to PTSD.
Coping strategies
Men and women deal with stress in different ways. The fight or flight response is more common among men, whereas women faced with threatening or dangerous situations rely on support networks. Women who are isolated, abandoned, or rejected by the people they depend on for emotional support are more susceptible to PTSD. In cases in which their intimate partner is the source of sexual, psychological, or physical trauma, women are profoundly vulnerable to PTSD.
Not only is PTSD more common in women, but it also presents differently.
What does PTSD look like in a woman?
The National Center for PTSD at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs reports findings that, though men and women can experience PTSD in similar ways, overall, women and men experience different conditions that commonly co-occur with PTSD. Women are more likely to experience internalizing mental health issues, whereas men are more prone to externalizing them.
In simple terms, internalizing refers to emotions and behaviors that are directed inward, such as:
- Worry and sadness
- Self-criticism
- Major depressive disorder
- Anxiety disorders
On the other hand, externalizing involves outward-directed behaviors and emotional responses such as:
- Anger and impulsiveness
- Rule-breaking
- Anti-social behavior
- Conduct disorder
- Substance use disorders
In some cases, PTSD is misdiagnosed among women. In fact, as reported by the Office on Women’s Health, it typically takes women four times longer than men to be diagnosed and receive treatment for PTSD.
How do women with PTSD act?
When people ask, “Is PTSD different for women?” they may be wondering how to correctly recognize the symptoms. PTSD can be misdiagnosed in women.
Women with PTSD can exhibit all the same symptoms that men do, such as flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, and reactivity. But women are also more likely to experience:
- Negative thoughts
- Guilt and shame
- Memory loss, especially around the trauma
- Emptiness
- Emotional numbness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Jittery nerves
- Self-isolation
Compared to men, these are quieter symptoms and can be missed.
Schedule an appointment with a PTSD therapist in Boston, MA, at Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health
Our women’s program provides exceptional care, tailored to the unique ways women experience PTSD. A gender-specific approach often proves most effective, offering a supportive environment where women feel truly seen, heard, and understood. Surrounded by peers with shared life experiences, participants can heal in a safe and compassionate setting.
No one should have to face PTSD alone. At Rockland Recovery Behavioral Health, we understand the unique challenges women face and offer a comfortable, healing environment. Reach out today—your recovery starts here. Call 855.520.0531 or connect with us online.