Where anxiety stems from?

Researchers aren’t entirely sure what the cause of anxiety disorders may be but believe that both environment and genetics play a role. Brain chemistry and structure may be involved, with certain neurotransmitters and areas of the brain involved in the disorders' development. Anxiety is a normal response to certain situations, but anxiety becomes a daily event that is difficult to manage for some people.

Scientists have identified certain risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders. These include:

• Having depression
• Substance abuse history
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Poorly managed chronic stress
• Specific personality types, like the “high strung” Type A personality
• Experiencing trauma like child abuse or neglect, or any event in which you felt your safety or health was in danger

Researchers have found that areas of the brain that may be impacted by trauma, like the amygdala and the hippocampus, may undergo physical changes due to trauma and contribute to activity in the brain that results in disordered anxiety. In some studies, a gene has been identified. However, this gene is not a determinant factor; people with or without the gene may still develop anxiety as the environment contributes to anxiety.

Although there are multiple anxiety-based disorders, some basic symptoms may help you determine if you are experiencing problematic anxiety. These include:

• Feeling tense or nervous
• Rapid heart rate
• Sense of panic or impending doom
• Rapid breathing
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Trouble focusing past the worry presently on your mind
• Obsessions about things (as in obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD)
• Anxiety focused on a particular event (as in posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD)
• Avoiding triggers or potential triggers
• Being unable to function with work, school, or another day to day activities due to worry or anxiety
• Experiencing panic attacks

Genetics, environment, and experiences each play a part in the development of anxiety. If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or panic that interfere with your daily life, talk with your doctor or licensed mental health professional. Anxiety is typically treated with medication, therapy, or a combination of both.