Anxiety is a normal emotion, according to the Anxiety and Stress Management Service of Australia. However, just as with any emotion, some people have a tendency to experience higher levels of anxiety, which eventually may lead to the onset of an anxiety disorder. While the exact cause of this illness is not known, many factors are recognized. Addressing these factors may help prevent episodes of this illness from becoming worse than they have to be.
Traumatic Childhood
The Mayo Clinic states that children who have experienced some type of trauma in their life, such as physical or sexual abuse, or who were witness to a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, are at an increased risk of suffering from generalized anxiety disorder during some point in their life.
Certain Personality Types
Personality also may factor into the development of an anxiety disorder. Those who are diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, for example, may be more prone to an anxiety disorder than those who do not have a condition that affects their personality.
Chemical Imbalance
The brain relies on certain chemicals to transmit messages and regulate thoughts and feelings--these chemicals are referred to as neurotransmitters. The main neurotransmitters responsible for how a person feels are dopamine and serotonin. When these are out of balance, the person feels out of balance, causing feelings of depression and anxiety.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions may be at the root of an anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Stress Management Service of Australia, a program designed to help individuals suffering from anxiety. Some of the medical conditions responsible for anxiety disorder include hyperventilation syndrome, premenstral syndrome, low blood sugar and inner ear disturbance. All of these can result in a panic attack, whether it be from a drop in insulin levels, rapid, shallow breathing, a fluctuation in hormones or swelling of the inner ear.
Genetics
The Mayo Clinic reports that generalized anxiety disorder may run in families. While the disorder itself may not be inherited, the sensitivity that causes incessant worry can be. This tendency to worry can affect you both physically and emotionally. Although being sensitive makes you a more caring and compassionate person, you also may find that you find things to worry about when there is no cause for those concerns; eventually this constant worrying consumes you, leading to fear, panic and anxiety.
Physical Factors
Certain physical factors can contribute, or even can be, the underlying cause of your anxiety disorder. If you are predisposed to developing an anxiety disorder, using recreational drugs such as cocaine and marijuana may increase your risk of this disorder. Drug withdrawal is another cause of this illness, as those withdrawing from alcohol and tranquilizers are more prone to suffering from feelings of anxiety.
Lack of nutrition is another factor, as being deficient in certain nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium and vitamin B6, can increase anxiety. Stimulants such as coffee also may spark an attack.
