The exact causes of anxiety disorders are unknown. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Trusted Source, a combination of genetic and environmental factors may play a role. Brain chemistry is also being studied as a possible cause. The areas of your brain that control your fear response may be involved.<\/p>\n
Anxiety disorders often occur alongside other mental health conditions, such as substance abuse and depression. Many people try to ease the symptoms of anxiety by using alcohol or other drugs. The relief these substances provide is temporary. Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and other drugs can make an anxiety disorder worse.<\/p>\n
CURRENT RESEARCH<\/strong><\/p>\n Much research is being done into what causes anxiety disorders. Experts believe it involves a combination of factors, including genetic factors and social stress.<\/p>\n Studies of twins suggest that genetics may play a role. For example, a study reported in PloS ONETrusted Source suggests the RBFOX1 gene may be involved in the development of anxiety-related conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder. The authors believe that both genetic and nongenetic factors play a part.<\/p>\n Certain parts of the brain, such as the amygdala and hippocampus, are also being studied. Your amygdala is a small structure deep inside your brain that processes threats. It alerts the rest of your brain when there are signs of danger. It can trigger a fear and anxiety response. It seems to play a part in anxiety disorders that involve fear of specific things, such as cats, bees, or drowning.<\/p>\n Your hippocampus may also affect your risk of developing an anxiety disorder. It\u2019s a region of your brain that\u2019s involved in storing memories of threatening events. It appears to be smaller in people who\u2019ve experienced childhood domestic abuse or served in combat.<\/p>\n CAUSES<\/strong><\/p>\n Factors that can increase your risk of developing an anxiety disorder include the following.<\/p>\n Stress<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone encounters stress, but excessive or unresolved stress can increase your chances of developing chronic anxiety.<\/p>\n In 2019, the authors of a research reviewTrusted Source examined evidence of neurobiological links between stress and anxiety from various studies. They concluded that neural features in specific parts of the brain, such as the amygdala \u2014 which plays a role in processing fearful and threatening stimuli \u2014 may help explain how stress contributes to anxiety.<\/p>\n Genetic factors<\/strong><\/p>\n If someone in your family has an anxiety disorder, you may have a greater risk of developing one too. Social and economic factors can play a role, but growing evidence suggests that genetic features might also contribute.<\/p>\n A 2019 studyTrusted Source looked at links between genetic features and anxiety and stress-related disorders. The authors concluded that if you have specific genetic features, you might be more prone to anxiety. These features could be hereditary.<\/p>\n Personality type<\/strong><\/p>\n Certain personality traits may affect your risk of developing anxiety and anxiety disorders.<\/p>\n A group of scientists followed 489 first-year university students for 6 years to see how certain outlooks \u2014 such as a tendency to experience negative feelings, extraversion, and introversion \u2014 might affect their risk of developing anxiety and depression.<\/p>\n They found that those who were hypercritical of themselves, had difficulty with criticism, or experienced a lot of negative thoughts and feelings as young adults were also more likely to develop panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and major depressive disorder over time.<\/p>\n Agoraphobia was also more common among those who scored high on a scale for introversion, rather than extroversion.<\/p>\n While these may act as \u201cvulnerability factors,\u201d the authors suggest that they are probably part of a far more complex picture.<\/p>\n Trauma<\/strong><\/p>\n A recent or past traumatic event, such as experiencing abuse or participating in military combat, can increase your risk of developing anxiety. It can also happen if you are close to someone who\u2019s the victim of trauma or have witnessed something traumatic.<\/p>\n Many people experience anxiety after a shocking or frightening incident; this is known as acute distress disorder (ASD). But ongoing symptoms could be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms usually start within 3 monthsTrusted Source of the event, but they can appear months or years later.<\/p>\n They include:<\/p>\n flashbacks Racism<\/strong><\/p>\n People who experience racial discrimination have a higher risk of developing anxiety and anxiety disorders, even after taking genetic factors into account.<\/p>\n Authors of a study published in 2021 concluded that discrimination is a risk factor for anxiety. The authors called for greater awareness of how racism and other forms of discrimination and social exclusion can affect people\u2019s mental health.<\/p>\n Mental Health America (MHA) notes that, in the United States, Black people and Indigenous People of Color are at risk of race-based traumatic stress injury (RBTS).<\/p>\n RBTS can affect you if you have experienced an \u201cemotionally painful, sudden, and uncontrollable racist encounter.\u201d Symptoms are similar to those of PTSD and can affect a wider community. MHA points out that, unlike PTSD, RBTS refers to a mental injury rather than a mental health disorder.<\/p>\n Sex<\/strong><\/p>\n Studies suggest that females are more likely than males to experience anxiety and develop an anxiety disorder, although this may depend to some extent on the disorder.<\/p>\n Rates of the following appear to be higher among females than males:<\/p>\n panic disorder However, males and females may be equally prone to social anxiety disorder (SAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD and SAD are also the most likely anxiety disorders to affect males.<\/p>\n The reason is likely to be a combination of biological and social or cultural factors, and there is still more work to do to find out how each contributes, say the experts.<\/p>\n Concerns about sexual performance can also lead to anxiety. Here, find out about the link between erectile dysfunction and performance anxiety.<\/p>\n Gender dysphoria<\/strong><\/p>\n For people with gender dysphoria, the gender people assigned them at birth does not match with the gender they identify with.<\/p>\n This can lead to turmoil and anxiety, but it can also increase your risk of conflict with people around you, especially if those around you have rigid perceptions of male and female roles.<\/p>\n StatisticsTrusted Source show that many people with gender dysphoria are at risk of:<\/p>\n anxiety and anxiety disorders Medical causes<\/strong><\/p>\n There are various ways in which a person\u2019s health can contribute to stress, such as:<\/p>\n past and present experience of mental and physical well-being Life events<\/strong><\/p>\n As with trauma, life events can increase your risk of stress and anxiety, according to the American Institute of Stress.<\/p>\n Examples include:<\/p>\n losing a loved one Medications<\/strong><\/p>\n Some drugs can cause anxiety as a side effect, or they may cause symptoms that feel like anxiety.<\/p>\n Examples include:<\/p>\n drugs containing caffeine, such as Excedrin Migraine, which can cause irritability What causes anxiety attacks?<\/strong><\/p>\n Triggers for anxiety vary widely between individuals. Different anxiety disorders will also have different triggers. Things that can cause feelings of anxiety in some people include:<\/p>\n health issues Risk factors<\/strong><\/p>\n Many factors can increase the severity of anxiety symptoms. Some may be specific to an anxiety disorder, but risk factors overall can include the following, according to the NIMHTrusted Source:<\/p>\n personality traits, such as shyness in childhood When to see a doctor<\/strong><\/p>\n Anxiety affects everyone from time to time, but if you find it does not go away or is affecting you severely, it might be time to seek help.<\/p>\n Signs that it\u2019s a good idea to see a doctor include the following:<\/p>\n Anxiety is affecting your work, studies, or other aspects of daily life. Takeaway<\/strong><\/p>\n Experts don\u2019t know the exact causes of anxiety disorders. Genetics, environment, and personal history likely play a part.<\/p>\n If you have symptoms of anxiety that are worrying you or are not going away, make an appointment with your doctor.<\/p>\n They can help diagnose it and create a treatment plan to address your symptoms. They may recommend lifestyle changes, counseling, medications, or other interventions.<\/p>\n Some medical conditions and medications can produce symptoms similar to anxiety. In these cases, your doctor will likely treat your underlying condition or adjust your medication regimen.<\/p>\n Healthline<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The exact causes of anxiety disorders are unknown. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Trusted Source, a combination of genetic and environmental factors may play a role. Brain chemistry is also being studied as a possible cause. The areas of your brain that control your fear response may be involved. Anxiety disorders often […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[352],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-resources","pmpro-has-access","no-img-post","blog-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nbad dreams
\nfeeling constantly on edge
\ndifficulty sleeping
\nangry outbursts
\navoiding places or situations that could trigger stress symptoms<\/p>\n
\nagoraphobia
\ngeneralized anxiety disorder
\nphobias
\nseparation anxiety
\npost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<\/p>\n
\ndepression
\nthoughts of suicide
\nsubstance use<\/p>\n
\nhaving a chronic illness that poses challenges to daily living
\nhaving a disease that causes very challenging symptoms, such as palpitations
\nhaving a condition where anxiety is a symptom, such as a hormonal imbalance
\nThese will not necessarily lead to an anxiety disorder.<\/p>\n
\ndivorce or separation
\nspending time in the criminal justice system
\ninjury or illness
\nfinancial pressures or a loss of employment
\nmajor changes, such as moving in a new house or getting married
\nA person can experience these events without developing an anxiety disorder, although some may do so.<\/p>\n
\ndrugs to treat ADHD, such as Ritalin
\ncorticosteroids, such as dexamethasone
\nsome asthma medications, such as fluticasone-salmeterol (Advair Diskus), which can cause tremors
\nphenytoin (Dilantin), an anti-seizure medication
\nRytary, a drug for Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/p>\n
\nthe use of some substances, such as drugs or caffeine
\nlifestyle factors, such as financial worries
\neither being alone or being with a lot of people
\nconflict
\nreminders of past trauma
\nHere, find out more about what can trigger feelings of anxiety.<\/p>\n
\npast experience of traumatic events
\na family history of mental health challenges
\nsome physical conditions, such as a thyroid disorder<\/p>\n
\nYou feel worried or distressed about your symptoms or anxiety levels.
\nYou are using alcohol or other substances to manage anxiety.
\nYou think there may be an underlying mental health problem.
\nYou are having suicidal thoughts.
\nYou have had treatment for anxiety before, and now it has come back.
\nHere, learn more about anxiety, when to seek support, and how to find help in your area.<\/p>\n