Anxiety can make a person feel apprehensive or fearful, but too much can interfere in the patient's life, resulting in an anxiety disorder. Certain factors, like early trauma or substance use, can exacerbate the symptoms, or even cause anxiety to occur. Some of these factors can be controlled, such relaxing to reduce stress, while others start early in the patient's life.
Childhood Events
Traumatic events, like the death of a loved one or sexual abuse, can cause anxiety in patients; while events during adulthood can affect the patient, childhood events can have even more influence on the patient's mental health because the patient's brain is still developing. The Mayo Clinic states that patients who were abused or traumatized during childhood have a higher risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a type of anxiety disorder. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), another type of anxiety disorder, is caused by traumatic events.
Substance Use
Substance use can also play a role in the severity of the patient's anxiety symptoms. The Mayo Clinic states that patients with GAD who abuse drugs or alcohol have more-severe symptoms than GAD patients who do not abuse drugs. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) adds that either drug use or withdrawal can lead to symptoms; examples of drugs include ADHD medications, tricyclic antidepressants, alcohol, thyroid medications, amphetamines, nicotine, bronchodilators, diet pills, caffeine, decongestants, cocaine and cold remedies. If a patient is experiencing anxiety from a prescribed medication, he should talk to his doctor about changing the dosage or medication.
Chronic Illness
Chronic illness is another factor that may affect anxiety. Patients who have an illness like cancer also have changes in their mood, like anxiety, brought on by fears about their future or how their disease will affect their finances.
Stress
Excessive stress can also lead to anxiety or make the symptoms worse. If the patient is in a stressful environment, such as a high-pressure job, he may have constant worry or unexplained fear, which are symptoms of anxiety.
