Stress occurs occasionally for many people and leads to anxiety about certain situations. The anxiety often helps people deal with stressful conditions they are facing, but sometimes stress and anxiety can become overwhelming. Some causes of stress and anxiety are normal parts of everyday life, while others come about unexpectedly. Knowing the causes may help people better handle stress and anxiety.
Emotional Issues
Depression and grief due to the loss of a loved one are major causes of stress and anxiety. Divorce or job loss also set off stressful reactions. Less emotional but stressful situations include moving to a new location, attending a different school, starting a new job and getting pregnant, according to the University at Buffalo, New York.
Everyday events may result in emotional situations that cause stress. They include time or pressure at work or school, competition, financial problems, disappointments in life or living in a noisy environment. Terrifying experiences, including physical assault or natural disaster, can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, which causes people to remember the events and experience extreme anxiety during certain situations.
Health Conditions
Serious medical disease or symptoms of medical illness can cause anxiety, according to "Medical News Today." Diseases that cause a lack of oxygen and constant shortness of breath, such as emphysema, can produce frequent bouts of anxiety. Disorders such as overactive thyroid, low blood sugar or other medical factors can lead to stress and anxiety, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Poor nutrition may make people susceptible to anxiety. Diets with low levels of vitamin B12 contribute to stress and anxiety, the medical center points out.
Drugs
Medications or substance abuse may result in symptoms of anxiety either from side effects or withdrawal from the drug. Medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, may have anxiety side effects. Amphetamines, bronchodilators for asthma, cold remedies, decongestants, diet pills, thyroid medications and tricyclic antidepressants may cause anxiety side effects, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. Caffeine and nicotine contribute to anxiety for some people. Alcohol abuse can lead to anxiety, especially when drinking is stopped.
Biological Causes
Genetics may play a role in anxiety. Research suggests people with a family history of anxiety have an increased risk of developing it, according to Medical News Today. They have a greater chance of suffering from anxiety disorders that include generalized anxiety disorder, which results in constant worry. Research also shows abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brains of people with generalized anxiety disorder, "Medical News Today" says. The abnormal levels cause a disruption in the communication of the brain's network, leading to inappropriate reactions in some situations that cause anxiety.
