Anxiety Disorder Causes

The cause of anxiety disorders is not fully understood. Scientists believe that a genetic predisposition combined with certain environmental factors (such as life experiences or a medical condition) make some people susceptible to developing an anxiety disorder.

General contributing factors

The following biological, genetic, and environmental factors contribute to the development of an anxiety disorder and its symptoms:

Biochemistry

Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that carry messages between the brain's nerve cells (neurons). Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are associated with both anxiety disorders and depression. Many people with these conditions are successfully treated with medications that increase the availability of serotonin to nerve cells, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Brain structures

Several brain structures are associated with anxiety and fear. The combined activities of the amygdala and the hippocampus regulate emotions and memory. The amygdala warns the brain when a threat is present and triggers a fear or anxiety response. The hippocampus forms memories of these threatening events.

Fight-or-flight reaction

It's normal for people and animals to fight back, run away, or hide when there is a threat of danger. This "fight-or-flight" reaction is part of an organism's evolutionary response to danger.

In response to danger, the body releases the hormones adrenaline (epinephrine) into the blood and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) into tissues. These hormones cause physiological changes, such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Some scientists believe that anxiety disorders are caused by an overreaction of this internal alarm system, which overwhelms the body with stress hormones.

Genetics

Many anxiety disorders run in families. It's not clear whether people develop anxiety disorders due to their genes, from behaviors they learn from other family members, or from a combination of the two. Despite this connection, not everyone with a family history develops an anxiety disorder, while some people without a family history do. Researchers are investigating several genes suspected of being involved in the development of anxiety and fear.

Life experiences

Life experiences that may make people susceptible to developing anxiety disorders include:

Maladaptive behaviors learned in childhood.
Lack or loss of support from family, friends, or community
Stressful, threatening, or humiliating experiences

Mental disorders

Anxiety disorders often coexist with and may be triggered by another anxiety disorder, depression, or substance abuse.

Medical conditions

Anxiety is a side effect of the following medical conditions:

Heart attack
Hyperthyroidism (high thyroid hormone level)
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Mitral valve prolapse (malfunctioning heart valve)
Pulmonary embolism (blockage of an artery in the lungs)

Drugs and stimulants

The following legal and illegal drugs, and stimulants may trigger anxiety symptoms:

ADHD medications (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
Alcohol
Amphetamines
Asthma bronchodilators
Caffeine
Cocaine
Cold remedies
Decongestants
Diet pills
Nicotine
Tricyclic antidepressants
Thyroid medications

Anxiety disorder triggers

The concerns, thoughts, objects, or situations that can trigger the symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:

Generalized anxiety disorder

General anxiety disorder symptoms are triggered by irrational worries that involve all aspects of a person's life, including:

Family concerns
Finances
Health
Safety
Work issues

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive thoughts or images that trigger compulsions (repetitive rituals) include:

Being embarrassed socially
Becoming contaminated by dirt or germs
Doubts about locking doors, turning off the stove, or setting the alarm clock
Hurting loved ones
Intruders
Religious belief prohibitions
Sexual acts

The associated compulsions include repetitive:

Arranging objects
Checking
Cleaning
Counting
Washing

Panic disorder

Common panic attack triggers include:

Illegal drugs, such as cocaine, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana, methamphetamines, psilocybin
Medications, such as asthma medications, heart disease medications, methylphenidate (brand name: Ritalin), or SSRI antidepressants (when first started or stopped)
Stimulants, such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine
Irregularity in the body's physical or chemical systems, such as hyperventilation (abnormally fast or deep respiration) or an irregular heartbeat

A person's panic attack triggers are not always obvious. A trigger may be a personal thought or situation that only has significance to that individual. Cognitive therapy helps people with panic disorders identify their panic attack triggers.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Stressful events that may trigger post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms include:

Childhood abuse or neglect
Imprisonment
Life-threatening accidents (bombing, car crash, plane crash)
Natural disasters (earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, tornado)
Sexual or physical assault
War

Social phobia

Common situations that may trigger social phobia symptoms include:

Speaking in public
Meeting new people
Eating, drinking, and writing in public
Using public restrooms
Social gatherings (such as parties or crowds)

Specific phobia

Common objects and situations that may trigger a specific phobia include:

Blood
Closed-in places
Elevators
Escalators
Flying
Heights
Highway driving
Snakes
Spiders
Tunnels
Water

Back | Top | Next