By Cari Shane (USA Today/Modern Woman magazine 2026) “I felt trapped in my head, overwhelmed with everything,” says Jen Lancaster of the anxiety that plagued her since she was a child. “I couldn’t control the racing thoughts, because I didn’t know racing thoughts were a thing.” While one-third of Americans will have an anxiety disorder in their lifetime, anxiety will affect nearly two times more women than men, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. One in

In reality, hormones are powerful messengers linking the body, brain, and emotions. Understanding this helps us approach the connection between menstrual cycles and mood with compassion, clarity, and a deeper sense of self-awareness.

Learn how women can break negative thinking patterns through mindfulness, self-compassion, boundaries, and practical mental health strategies that build resilience.

Mental health has become a major global concern, yet women’s struggles often remain overlooked or misunderstood. Women carry a unique emotional burden shaped by societal expectations, caregiving responsibilities, relationship pressures, workplace challenges, and cultural norms (World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). Society expects women to be nurturing yet strong, calm yet productive, and capable of managing everything without losing composure. Behind these expectations lie