Anxiety---also known as nervousness or fear---is a feeling of uneasiness characterized by rapid heartbeat, racing thoughts and other troubling symptoms. Anxiety is a key feature of mental health conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though it can also affect people without these conditions. Understanding the common causes can help identify factors that trigger your own anxiety, thereby allowing you to find the most effective solutions.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety comes in many forms. For people with social phobia, social situations can trigger intense anxiety that may lead to agoraphobia, or fear of leaving the home. Social anxiety generally stems from fear of embarrassment or rejection that is often imagined, but can be real in the case of bullying, teasing and other forms of harassment. According to MayoClinic.com, untreated social anxiety disorder can lead to complications like substance abuse, depression and suicide.
Many people experience some degree of social anxiety from time to time. Public speaking, performing onstage and hosting large events are common triggers for anxiety in the general population. Positive affirmations and relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation may be helpful for reducing anxiety in social situations.
Stimulant Drugs
Stimulants are drugs that increase the speed of bodily functions like heartbeat and metabolism. In some users, stimulants cause anxiety-like symptoms, such as sweating and heart palpitations, that may precipitate actual anxiety.
Amphetamines, cocaine and other stimulants can produce anxiety as a result of side effects or withdrawal, according to the National Institutes of Health. Even milder stimulants like caffeine can provoke symptoms in sensitive individuals. According to the "Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders," caffeine triggers anxiety by affecting levels of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine, which regulates the body's "fight-or-flight" response to stress.
Limiting your daily intake of stimulants may help reduce anxiety caused by these substances. People who take prescription stimulants for conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should consult a doctor before attempting to change the dose of these medications.
Stress
Stress is a physical response to external triggers perceived as threatening. While life-changing scenarios like death of a loved one, divorce or job loss often trigger a great deal of anxiety, everyday stressors can also provoke anxiety as well. Work deadlines, relationship woes and financial troubles are common causes of anxiety in people with and without anxiety disorders. Stress-induced anxiety often stems from fears of negative consequences like job loss or bankruptcy and generally is not conducive to preventing such outcomes.
Practicing healthy stress-management strategies like deep breathing and meditation may reduce the anxiety and tension caused by stress. Keeping a journal of the stressful situations in your life--and how you respond to them--can help monitor your progress.
