Causes Of Anxiety
The causes of anxiety can be rooted in anything from emotional upset to chemical imbalance to the effects of drug use. A great example of the latter would be the anxiety, stress, and often physical discomfort associated with quitting smoking or alcohol use. The body comes to depend on not only the substances that we use on a regular basis, but on its own chemical and hormonal buildup to gauge and maintain our mental functions. When any one of these elements undergoes sudden adjustment, the body will often react physically to let you know that it is missing something it feels it needs. This is the danger in training your mind and body to depend on foreign substances for their calming effects. Your psyche is out of practice when it needs to be fully intact.
The causes of anxiety in those who are not dependent on substances are even more baffling, though most doctors will attest that they can pinpoint the general circumstances under which a condition began after fully examining an individual’s case. So very often, a catastrophic or life changing event has triggered the symptoms of an anxiety disorder, and these cases are a bit easier to determine and treat. The death of a loved one would be one of the predominant causes of anxiety, as the survivor deals with the pain, loss, and fear of going on without that person, but also begins to question how fragile his own life is as well. Worry, stress, fear, and overwhelming pain suffered from this type of loss can escalate into a torrent of paranoia and physical symptoms of anxiety.
Causes of anxiety for those who haven’t lost anyone close to them may include a general fear of death bolstered by such tragic events as terrible car accident stories, sightings, or experiences. Any type of added or continued stress, such as money worries, work issues, parenting problems, health scares or invasive medical procedures, and overwhelming loads of studying or school work, can trigger anxiety disorders in people from all walks of life. Mental health illness, unfortunately, is in no way discriminatory, and can be rather opportunistic in today’s troubled world climate.
Some causes of anxiety disorders include side effects from certain medications, and any changes that you may notice in your normal thinking patterns or emotional levels should be discussed immediately with your health care provider. Many prescription drugs can cause depression as a side effect, and it is very important to learn whether the risk is worth the reward in your specific case. As many anxiety disorders will eventually cause physical symptoms which can closely resemble those of a heart attack, you may want to keep a close watch on any excessive worry or pain that you experience, and have this information ready for your doctor.