Anxiety disorders affect children, teens and adults, making it difficult for them to be successful at work or school and to maintain healthy relationships. If a person suffers from an anxiety disorder such as panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder, it is helpful for that person to learn about his triggers and how to cope with those triggers to reduce the symptoms of anxiety.
Types
Different types of anxiety triggers exist. Significant circumstances can cause stress, such as the death of a loved one or the birth of a new baby, reports Mayoclinic.com. Anxiety can be increased by everyday stressful situations such as losing keys, running late for work or getting a speeding ticket. When multiple everyday stressful situations occur, the person is more likely to be affected. For instance, a person with generalized anxiety disorder may be able to cope with a negative review at work, but if she receives a negative review and gets into an argument with her spouse, her anxiety might escalate. If someone has been exposed to a traumatic event such as childhood sexual abuse, she might become anxious when she smells the cologne of her abuser in a shopping mall or sees a man who resembles the abuser.
Considerations
Other factors can play into whether someone develops an anxiety disorder and becomes overwhelmingly anxious due to stressful situations. Mayoclinic.com reports that people with a family history of anxiety disorders are more likely to suffer from one than people without such a family history, and people with certain personality traits such as perfectionism and disorders such as borderline personality disorder are more prone to significant problems with anxiety.
Misconceptions
It's not always possible to prevent anxiety triggers. People with panic disorder report that many times their anxiety attacks come out of nowhere. They can't relate a specific event or trigger to having an attack. Avoiding stressful situations all the time isn't possible, so people need to learn how to manage anxiety triggers.
Managing Anxiety Triggers
When a person feels symptoms of anxiety taking over--such as sweating palms, racing heart and shortness of breath--he can take steps to reduce the symptoms. He could practice deep breathing, take a 10-minute walk around the block, call a friend to talk for a few minutes or do something else enjoyable. Anxiety attacks and symptoms can be reduced and managed with regular exercise, adequate sleep and a healthful diet, reports the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. People who suffer from panic attacks or serious anxiety symptoms should seek the help of a licensed mental health professional such as a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist.
Warning
Some people who experience anxiety use drugs and alcohol to cope. For instance, a person might have a couple of beers after a stressful day at work to unwind. However, Mayoclinic.com reports that drug and alcohol use can cause and increase symptoms of anxiety.
