What Causes Anxiety?

Anxiety rarely occurs due to only one factor. It is usually a combination of things that cause anxiety. However, scientific research suggests that a combination of genes and environmental factors may lead to anxiety disorders. Moreover, some life experiences such as trauma, ongoing stressful events, or other health concerns can contribute to anxiety symptoms.  

Genetics

A family history of mental illness may be a risk factor for developing anxiety. Research shows that some people with anxiety disorders may have a genetic predisposition towards anxiety; children of anxious parents are five times more likely than children of non-anxious parents to develop anxiety disorder.

However, the heritability factor doesn’t mean that you will automatically develop anxiety or other mental health conditions. It only means that some people have specific genes that make them more prone to developing an anxiety disorder. 

Neurotransmitters Imbalance

Research indicates that anxiety may be triggered by the imbalance of certain neurochemicals in the brain. These chemicals are known as neurotransmitters, and our brain uses them to send signals between the cells. 

Researchers believe that four neurotransmitters are the most involved in anxiety symptoms: serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The imbalance of these brain chemicals can trigger anxiety symptoms. 

Personality Factors

People with certain personality traits are more likely to develop anxiety. You are more likely to struggle with anxiety if you:

• Are a perfectionist

• Lack of self-esteem

• Always need to have control

• Tend to avoid things that cause stress 

• Are timid, irritable, and easily frustrated

Family Background

A person might develop anxiety, particularly social anxiety, if he or she was raised in an overprotective or controlling family environment. Parenting styles that involve high levels of criticism and control and low levels of warmth are believed to be linked to excessive anxiety in children. Critical, controlling, or rejecting parents may negatively affect the child’s confidence and self-esteem, causing them to become insecure, self-critical, and behaviorally inhibited.  

Life Circumstances

Ongoing or extremely stressful life events can trigger anxiety. Common anxiety causes include:

• Job change or work stress

• Family or relationship problems

• Death of a loved one

• Illness

• Divorce

• Pregnancy and giving birth

• Change of schools

• Move to another city, state, country, etc.

• Verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or trauma

Other Health Concerns

Chronic physical illness or other mental health conditions can also contribute to anxiety. Physical health conditions that typically trigger anxiety involve diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and asthma. Also, in many people, depression and anxiety occur together.

Negative Self-Talk and Thinking Patterns

A relationship between thoughts and emotions is significant and complex; our thoughts and feelings profoundly influence each other. For example, if you are in a low mood, you may notice that many of your thoughts are sad and gloomy.

And the other way around, if you have negative thoughts, they will fuel your gloomy mood. Also, these negative thoughts can provoke anxiety or depression. 

Negative self-talk is rooted in cognitive distortions – thinking patterns that encourage negative emotions and beliefs. Your mind uses cognitive distortions to convince you of something that is not true. Distorted thinking can provoke anxiety and interfere with your perception of situations, objects, and relationships.

Anxiety is not a life-threatening condition, but it can impair the quality of your daily life and your well-being if not addressed and treated appropriately.