What causes anxiety?
Researchers are not sure of the exact cause of anxiety. But, it’s likely a combination of factors play a role. These include genetic and environmental factors, as well as brain chemistry. What Causes Anxiety
In addition, researchers believe that the areas of the brain responsible for controlling fear may be impacted. What Causes Anxiety
Current research of anxiety is taking a deeper look at the parts of the brain that are involved with anxiety. What Causes Anxiety
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety feels different depending on the person experiencing it. Feelings can range from butterflies in your stomach to a racing heart. You might feel out of control, like there’s a disconnect between your mind and body. What Causes Anxiety
Other ways people experience anxiety include nightmares, panic attacks, and painful thoughts or memories that you can’t control. You may have a general feeling of fear and worry, or you may fear a specific place or event. What Causes Anxiety
Symptoms of general anxiety include: What Causes Anxiety
- increased heart rate
- What Causes Anxiety
- rapid breathing
- restlessness
- trouble concentrating
- difficulty falling asleep
Your anxiety symptoms might be totally different from someone else’s. That’s why it’s important to know all the ways anxiety can present itself. Read about the many types of anxiety symptoms you might experience.What Causes Anxiety
What is an anxiety attack?
An anxiety attack is a feeling of overwhelming apprehension, worry, distress, or fear. For many people, an anxiety attack builds slowly. It may worsen as a stressful event approaches. What Causes Anxiety
Anxiety attacks can vary greatly, and symptoms may differ among individuals. That’s because the many symptoms of anxiety don’t happen to everyone, and they can change over time. What Causes Anxiety
Common symptoms of an anxiety attack include: What Causes Anxiety
- feeling faint or dizzy
- shortness of breath
- dry mouth
- sweating
- What Causes Anxiety
- chills or hot flashes
- apprehension and worry
- restlessness
- distress
- fear
- numbness or tingling
A panic attack and an anxiety attack share some common symptoms, but they’re not the same. What Causes Anxiety
What is an anxiety disorder?
Ever wondered why you were trembling before your exam, or why your palms got sweaty before that job interview? These anxious feelings are a natural way for the body to prepare itself for an important event. You would have also noticed how you started to calm down once the event was under way; you started to breathe easier and your heart stopped thumping. Such an anxiety actually helps us perform better as it makes us more alert.
However, some people experience anxiety or anxiety attacks for no apparent reason. If you find it hard to control your worries and if these constant feelings of anxiety affect your ability to go about your daily activities, then it might be a case of an anxiety disorder.
What is the difference between regular anxiety and an anxiety disorder?
Here is a quick checklist that you could use to see if your anxiety is a disorder:
Regular anxiety
-
Worrying about bills, job interviews, tests or other important events. The feeling of ‘butterflies in your stomach’ before a public performance or a big meeting.
-
Fear of a dangerous object, place or situation, for instance, a stray dog barking at you on the street.
-
Sadness or worry immediately after a traumatic event such as the loss of a loved one.
-
Maintaining hygiene personally and in your surroundings.
-
Breaking into a sweat before a big match.
Anxiety disorder
-
Worrying constantly and excessively for no apparent reason, making it difficult for you to perform day-to-day activities.
-
Fearing any social or performance-related situations, in which you may be exposed to possible scrutiny by others. You fear that you will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing.
-
Irrational fear of an object or place, such as fear of entering an elevator believing that an escape might be not possible.
-
Repeated flashbacks, dreams and subsequent worry following exposure to an extremely traumatic event in the past.
-
Performing excessive and repetitive cleaning and rearranging things and objects around you.
-
Repeated panic attacks along with nervous feelings like “I am going to die“ for no apparent reason, and the constant fear of having another attack.
Get resources on mental health and wellbeing in your inbox. Subscribe here.
What are the symptoms of an anxiety disorder?
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety, so it is difficult to say when it can be diagnosed as an anxiety disorder. If your feelings of worry and dread have a disabling effect on you over a period of time, you should seek advice from a mental health professional. There are many types of anxiety disorders but their most common symptoms are:
-
Increased heart rate and heavy breathing
-
Increased muscle tension
-
Tightening sensation in the chest
-
Unsubstantiated and growing worries, and restlessness
-
Obsessing over needless things leading to compulsive behavior
If you have noticed these signs in a friend or family member, you should talk to them about their possible condition and advise them to meet a mental health professional.
What causes anxiety disorders?
The most common factors that cause anxiety disorders are:
-
Family history: People who have a history of mental health issues in the family may usually have problems with anxiety. For instance, OCD can be passed down in a family.
-
Stressful events: Stress at the workplace, loss of a loved one, or troubled relationships, can also trigger symptoms of anxiety.
-
Health issues: Ailments such as thyroid problems, asthma, diabetes or a heart disease can also cause anxiety. People suffering from depression can also develop symptoms of anxiety disorders. For instance, someone who has been suffering from depression for a long period, may start to under-perform at work. This can then lead to work-related stress which could trigger anxiety.
-
Substance use: People who are heavy users of drugs, alcohol and other substances, develop anxiety problems when the effects of the substance begin to wear off (in withdrawal).
-
Personality factors: Sometimes, people with certain personality traits such as perfectionists or people who like to be in control, develop anxiety-related issues.
Types of anxiety disorders
Anxiety affects people in different ways leading to a variety of disorders. The most common forms of anxiety disorders are: what causes anxiety