THE BODY SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS: Bridging The Gap Between Anxiety Symptoms and Solutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2103Keywords:
Anxiety, New York City, High School Girls, Women, Mental Health, Mental Health Care, Girls, Teenagers, Adolescents, MisdiagnosisAbstract
This article explores the personal experiences and challenges high school girls in New York City face when being diagnosed with and managing anxiety. Although anxiety is common in this age group, many girls report being misdiagnosed or feeling dismissed by healthcare providers, which may leave them without necessary mental health support. This op-ed investigates how high school girls recognize their anxiety symptoms, what barriers they encounter when seeking help for them, and why some feel they are not getting the care they need by using a personal narrative to highlight these challenges. To advocate for a healthcare system that is more empathetic, responsive, and accessible to this population, it is critical that we first understand the lived experiences of those seeking care within it. By bringing attention to the unmet needs of young women, this paper aims to inform the development of better practices to ensure mental health care is accessible and effective for all, regardless of gender, age, or health literacy.
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