What Are the Causes of Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders may be a result of a combination of biological, psychological, and other individual factors. For example, altered brain chemistry can contribute to the cause of anxiety. How we think or perceive a situation can trigger anxiety (e.g. fear of flying) Bad past experiences may also cause present day anxiety when the fear arises that it may happen again. Genetic components, bad childhood experiences, or traumatic life events also have their part in anxiety disorders.

Symptoms and Complications of Anxiety Disorders

Many symptoms of anxiety are common to all types of anxiety disorders. Other symptoms are more specific to a certain type of anxiety disorder. Listed below are some of the most common symptoms associated with each type of anxiety disorder.

Panic attacks involve sudden anxiety that occurs without warning. Symptoms can includes chest pain, heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, feeling of unreality, trembling, dizziness, nausea, hot flashes or chills, a feeling of losing control, or a fear of dying. Panic attacks are extremely common - Some people start to avoid situations that might trigger a panic attack - this is called panic attack with agoraphobia

A panic attack usually lasts ten minutes or less, but it can last longer. Panic disorder is much less common. Panic disorder refers to recurring feelings of terror and fear, which come on unpredictably without any clear trigger.

Phobias involve a fear of something specific, such as an animal, storms, heights, or flying. Symptoms can include sweating, muscle tension, and dizziness. People may also go to extremes to avoid the situation they fear. Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, involves excessive anxiety in social situations where people fear being embarrassed or made fun of. Situations that can trigger social anxiety include small group discussions, dating, going to a party. Common symptoms of social anxiety include blushing, sweating, and dry mouth. People with social phobia often avoid social situations that cause anxiety.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with continual excessive anxiety and worry about a number of things (e.g., work, money, and health). There is no specific source of fear. Symptoms can include muscle tension, trembling, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, sleeping problems, and poor concentration.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves recurring thoughts that are unpleasant (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). The thoughts may be connected to the repetitive behaviors. For example, people who fear getting an infection may constantly wash their hands. Thought at times, there's no connection at all between the thoughts and the behaviors.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) disorder is associated with extreme anxiety that appears after a traumatic experience. Symptoms usually start within 3 months of the traumatic event but may take years to start. PTSD can be associated with sleep problems, nightmares, irritability, and anger. Feelings of guilt and unworthiness are common with PTSD. Traumatic experiences that can trigger PTSD include wars, plane crashes, natural disasters (e.g., hurricane, earthquake), and violent crimes (e.g., rape, abuse).

Complications of anxiety disorders are mostly linked to feelings of inadequacy or depression, because people with these conditions know their behavior is irrational and damaging to their lives. Depression is particularly common with anxiety.

Treating and Preventing Anxiety Disorders

Most anxiety disorders are treated with a combination of medication and therapy. Lisa uses cognitive behavioral therapy which challenges irrational thoughts and fears. Sometimes this may entail exposure therapy which involves slowly confronting the fear. A Counselor helps you to gain perspective by encouraging you to talk about your thought and feelings in a safe, secure environment.