Anxiety is a normal feeling, on occasion. It typically strikes when high levels of stress are present. However it becomes an issue when it begins to interfere with your life, making it difficult for you to enjoy the activities you once looked forward to. While the exact cause is not known, risk factors have been identified that may help you reduce your risk of suffering from this disorder.
The Genetic Link
The Anxiety and Management Service of Australia, a service designed to help those suffering from stress and anxiety discover ways of living a healthy, happy life, states that while high levels of anxiety are generally not inherited, the personality traits causing this disorder may be.
The more sensitive a person is, the more likely she is to worry. This sensitivity can be inherited, thus increasing your risk of suffering from an anxiety disorder. While in certain respects your increased sensitivity enables you to be a more compassionate and caring person, it also increases your tendency to find things to worry about. This incessant need to worry creates feelings of anxiety.
A Traumatic Childhood
A traumatic childhood is considered an environmental factor, and as the Mayo Clinic states, children who have witnessed the death of a loved one or suffered from abuse are at a greater risk for developing an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.
The Anxiety and Stress Management Service of Australia further backs this by stating that children are influenced heavily by the role models in their lives. Aside from death and abuse, other contributing factors include constant criticism, lack of support or nurturing, excessively high parental expectations and a lack of encouragement.
Chemical Imbalance
The brain functions with the help of chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters. These messengers are responsible for regulating how you feel and think. The neurotransmitters responsible for these emotions are serotonin and dopamine. When these chemicals are out of balance, depression and anxiety may result.
Your Personality
Some people are simply more prone to anxiety than others because of their existing personalities. In addition to personality types, there is a noted link between personality disorders and anxiety disorders. Some of these disorders include borderline personality disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
