Anxiety why

You are currently: Home The facts Anxiety What causes anxiety? What causes anxiety? Family history of mental health conditions Some people who experience anxiety conditions may have a genetic predisposition towards anxiety and these conditions can sometimes run in a family. Personality factors Research suggests that people with certain personality traits are more likely to have anxiety.

Ongoing stressful events Anxiety conditions may develop because of one or more stressful life events. Common triggers include: work stress or job change change in living arrangements pregnancy and giving birth family and relationship problems major emotional shock following a stressful or traumatic event verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma death or loss of a loved one. Physical health problems Chronic physical illness can also contribute to anxiety conditions or impact on the treatment of either the anxiety or the physical illness itself.

Common chronic conditions associated with anxiety conditions include: diabetes asthma hypertension and heart disease Some physical conditions can mimic anxiety conditions, like an overactive thyroid.

Other mental health conditions While some people may experience an anxiety condition on its own, others may experience multiple anxiety conditions, or other mental health conditions. Substance use Some people who experience anxiety may use alcohol or other drugs to help them manage their condition. In some cases, this may lead to people developing a substance use problem along with their anxiety condition. Alcohol and substance use can aggravate anxiety conditions particularly as the effects of the substance wear off.

It's important to check for and get assistance for any substance use conditions at the same time. Thus, our body's natural alarm system can be activated even if a real threat is not present.

For example, if we expect a date to go badly, we may avoid going out on that date. Or, if we expect a job interview to turn out negatively, we may seek out a job that is less challenging or easier to get. These choices may interfere with our ability to build a meaningful and positive life for ourselves.

In addition, anxiety and fear can take us out of the present moment. If we are constantly worrying about what negative things could happen to our children, it may prevent us from really engaging with them.

We may be distracted and less likely to enjoy spending time with them. If you are ruminating about something bad that happened to you during the day while you are with friends and family, you may be less likely to really connect and enjoy your time with them.

People with post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD may have fear and anxiety that is much more frequent and intense than the general population.

In addition, people with PTSD may become hypervigilant to signals of danger or threat in their environment. As a result, they may constantly feel on edge, fearful, or tense. Anxiety and fear also have upsides. Anxiety and fear can signal that something is very important to us. For example, if you are worried about your children, it is likely because you really care about them.

If you didn't have a strong relationship with them, you may experience less worry. If you are anxious about a job interview, it may be because you really want that job—it matters to you. If you didn't care about the job or didn't really need it, you likely would not find the situation so threatening or anxiety-provoking. Sometimes it can be important to override our anxiety and fear system.

Even if our body is telling us to avoid something, we can move forward anyway, especially if we are moving toward something that is meaningful and consistent with our goals. We may not have much control over our emotions or thoughts; however, we can always control our behaviors. At any moment, regardless of what we feel on the inside, we can make a choice to engage in behaviors that are consistent with our goals. There are many skills that can make it easier to move forward in life despite anxiety and fear.

Diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation are two effective ways of coping with anxiety and fear. Mindfulness may also help you take a step back from unpleasant thoughts and emotions, allowing you to better connect with your present moment experience.

The next time you experience anxiety or fear, take a look at it. Ask yourself if the anxiety is stemming from a real or imagined threat. Try to determine whether the anxiety may be telling you that something is important or matters to you, and if so, make the choice to move forward, taking your anxiety along with you for a ride.

Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. The impact of anxiety upon cognition: perspectives from human threat of shock studies. Front Hum Neurosci. The ecology of human fear: survival optimization and the nervous system.

These elements are called triggers. Anxiety triggers can be different for each person, but many triggers are common among people with these conditions. Most people find they have multiple triggers. But for some people, anxiety attacks can be triggered for no reason at all. Identifying your triggers is an important step in managing them. Keep reading to learn about these anxiety triggers and what you can do to manage your anxiety.

This type of trigger is very powerful because of the immediate and personal feelings it produces. You can help reduce anxiety caused by health issues by being proactive and engaged with your doctor.

Talking with a therapist may also be useful, as they can help you learn to manage your emotions around your diagnosis. Certain prescription and over-the-counter OTC medications may trigger symptoms of anxiety. Those feelings can set off a series of events in your mind and body that may lead to additional symptoms of anxiety. Many people rely on their morning cup of joe to wake up, but it might actually trigger or worsen anxiety.

According to one study in , people with panic disorder and social anxiety disorder are especially sensitive to the anxiety-inducing effects of caffeine. That can lead to jittery hands and a rumbling tummy. It can also trigger anxiety. Eating balanced meals is important for many reasons. It provides you with energy and important nutrients. Remember, food can affect your mood. If you tend to use a lot of negative words when thinking about yourself, learning to refocus your language and feelings when you start down this path is helpful.

Working with a therapist can be incredibly helpful with this process. Worries about saving money or having debt can trigger anxiety. Unexpected bills or money fears are triggers, too.

Learning to manage these types of triggers may require seeking professional help, such as from a financial advisor. Feeling you have a companion and a guide in the process may ease your concern. To help ease your worries or unease, you can always bring along a companion when possible. Relationship problems, arguments, disagreements — these conflicts can all trigger or worsen anxiety. If conflict particularly triggers you, you may need to learn conflict resolution strategies.

Also, talk with a therapist or other mental health expert to learn how to manage the feelings these conflicts cause. Daily stressors like traffic jams or missing your train can cause anyone anxiety. But long-term or chronic stress can lead to long-term anxiety and worsening symptoms, as well as other health problems. Stress can also lead to behaviors like skipping meals, drinking alcohol , or not getting enough sleep. These factors can trigger or worsen anxiety, too.