Even though I’m well aware of women’s health risks, my eyes popped out of my head when I took in these stats: Women worldwide account for almost 80% of autoimmune disease cases, and are at higher risk of suffering from ailments like chronic pain, insomnia, and migraines. We're twice as likely as men to die after a heart attack. And we experience depression, anxiety, and PTSD at twice the rate of men. In a new piece for TIME, psychologist Maytal Eyal explores why women are falling ill to these diseases so much more frequently. "It seems that the very virtues our culture rewards in women—agreeability, extreme selflessness, and suppression of anger,” she writes, “may predispose us to chronic illness and disease.” In other words, women self-silence, rarely expressing their anger or needs. It can be challenging to overcome these tendencies, especially in a society that celebrates them. But there are strategies that can make a meaningful difference, Eyal says: looking at emotions as windows of insight that teach us about our needs, and setting boundaries that can help our relationships become stronger and healthier. READ MORE |
