Anxiety can be characterized by excessive worry, physical arousal and nervousness. Anxiety causes emotional, physical and psychological reactions that can be debilitating. Anxiety disorders significantly impair daily functioning and often need to be treated before they consume your life. There are many causes of anxiety.
Genetics
Along with most mental health disorders, genetics plays an important role in the development of anxiety disorders. Individuals with first-degree relatives who have anxiety disorders are more likely to develop one. Gender also plays a role, as women develop anxiety disorders more often than men; the cause of this is unknown, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.
Biochemical Factors
Research shows that the part of the brain called the amygdala, which regulates fear, memory and emotion, is often hypersensitive to novel situations, thus reacting with a high stress response. Additionally, an imbalance in chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, may also contribute to anxiety disorders. Specifically, these chemicals are serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid).
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors are very important in the development of anxiety disorders. Examples of these are: phobias, history of trauma, medical conditions, drugs, negative or irrational beliefs about self and world, and stress.
References
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders;" Fourth Edition; Text Revision
- Surgeon General: Etiology of Anxiety Disorders
- Dr. Theodore Burns, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
