Causes of Anxiety: An Overview
Anxiety is an emotion that everyone will experience at different times in their life.
While anxiety is normal, there are several anxiety disorders in which a person experiences anxiety on an ongoing basis and it begins to have a serious impact on their life. Anxiety can naturally come and go throughout the day depending on the person’s job and family life, but it’s important to know that there is a difference between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
There are a few different types of anxiety disorders, one being generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry including anxiety over the everyday life events. People who suffer from GAD may worry about different things that may be individualistic to that particular person, but include: money, work, family and health.
Instead of the typical anxiety that most people experience around certain events, someone with GAD will have exaggerated symptoms and often create worries around unrealistic outcomes of certain situations. GAD can become so complex that it filters into their daily life, impacting how a person functions socially.
The causes of this particular disorder include genetics and brain chemistry, as well as some outside factors. Genetics can make one more prone to certain diseases and disorders. There has been some studies around GAD that suggest that the chances of developing this disorder can be passed on to other generations.
If certain neurotransmitters in the brain are not functioning proper, this can affect brain chemistry and make someone susceptible to generalized anxiety disorder. Other reasons why someone may experience this disorder can be attributed to a serious stressful event, such as the loss of a loved one or the loss of a job.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder occurs during times of social activity, including school, work and even can be triggered by just being out in public. Someone experiencing this disorder maybe afraid that they will make mistakes and will be teased or degraded by others. It is also more likely that someone with this disorder will experience severe anxiety leading up to an event, as far away as weeks beforehand. Once the event comes around, the person may experience a panic attack.
Generally speaking, social anxiety disorder often includes unwarranted thoughts about social activity in general. For example, the person may create ideas that no one likes them or that they will always somehow become incompetent during a social event. If the person begins to refrain from social activity in general, the condition will only get worse.
This type of disorder is found in both children and adults. This particular disorder could possibly be linked to other disorders, including depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The cause of social anxiety disorder could merely by psychological. It may develop due to a prior event in life that was embarrassing or humiliating. That may not be limited to themselves, some experience this disorder merely because they witnessed someone else in a negative social situation. A person may also be more likely to experience this disorder if it runs in the family. There can also be a biological cause, if the neurotransmitters in the brain are out of balance.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety can range from mild to severe. Some children begin to cry, throw tantrums and become impossible to console during times of separation anxiety. Some of the symptoms include worry that something bad may happen while their caregiver is gone or that something may happen to their caregiver. A child may also merely be afraid of being alone. This disorder is more common in children under 11, including toddlers.
The exact cause can be anything from significant stress to a relocation. This disorder is often found when the family moves to a new town. When a child feels they are not safe or are experiencing emotions that they are not familiar with, they can experience this disorder.
Anxiety is definitely a normal response to stress, but sometimes (for various reasons mentioned above) it can manifest into a more serious condition. Life with an anxiety disorder can become unpleasant and the disorder can severely impact the person’s ability to work and carry-out daily activities.
Because each cause may be individualistic to each person who experiences anxiety disorders, it’s important to seek the treatment of a doctor if anxiety is becoming a problem.
