What causes anxiety?

In depression, people experience inconsistent and persistent sadness, anxiety, or fear in response to emotional challenges. Anxiety is a normal and necessary emotion and can have many causes.

Various factors can make us depressed. These factors can be internal, such as genetic, or external, including concerns about racial or ecological inequality.

Anxiety and depression are not the same. Anxiety is an emotion associated with tension, anxious thoughts, and physical symptoms such as high blood pressure. Anxiety disorders include repetitive, intrusive, or anxious thoughts and other specific criteria that may lead to a diagnosis.

This article examines the various causes of concern.

Environmental factors

A 2020 review by Trusted Source defines anxiety as “a future-like state involving a complex system of cognitive, affective, physiological, and behavioral responses to prepare for an anticipated event or situation perceived as threatening.”

Various environmental factors can increase anxiety. For example, an individual’s family composition, cultural and religious upbringing, and many childhood experiences can be affected by the 2018 assessment.

Other studies have confirmed the link between childhood trauma and a greater likelihood of anxiety symptoms later in life.

Life stressors

People can become depressed due to various stressors in life. They are not universal and can affect different people differently.

Social conditions

Anxiety can occur in social situations when people believe they cannot behave in an acceptable way.

A person may experience anxiety when required to appear in public or in any situation where there is real or perceived danger.

The consequences of this anxiety can be different. For example, a 2014 review found that social anxiety can exacerbate stuttering and create a disabling experience for adults who stutter. However, the authors of this study concluded that more research is needed to better understand the relationship between social anxiety and disorders, especially in children and adolescents.

Anxiety, gender and sexuality

Concerns about gender, sexuality and stigma can cause anxiety in many people.

A 2016 study by Sumber Terpercaya found that non-heterosexuals are more likely to report anxiety than heterosexuals.

What’s more, according to a 2015 survey of students in the northeastern United States, bisexuals may be more likely to experience anxiety than gays and lesbians. Experts suggest that the main reason is ostracism from hetero and homosexual social groups.

For transgender people, gender dysphoria can be troubling, as can systemic stigma and marginalization.

For example, in an online sample survey conducted in the United States, transgender people were found to have higher levels of anxiety, depression, and general psychological distress than heterosexuals.

Stress and competition

Racism causes emotional stress. The American Psychological Association (APA) lists socioeconomic disadvantage and racism as its two main dimensions.

A 2014 study from Reliable Sources looked at the impact of police violence on the mental health of youth in New York City and found a link between increased police contact and pressure levels. Respondents were between the ages of 18 and 26 and 80% were non-Caucasian. On average, they have been stopped by the police more than eight times in their lifetime. Respondents who were arrested more than five times reported a dramatic increase in anxiety.

A 2015 review of research on mental health and gender found a consistent relationship between discrimination and anxiety, as well as many other mental health problems.

Climate change distress

Fear of environmental conditions can also cause anxiety, which is sometimes called “environmental anxiety.” APA defines environmental anxiety as “the chronic fear of environmental damage.”

Environmental stressors have not been described. Although the extent is unknown, a 2018 survey found that 70% of U.S. Respondents are concerned about climate change and about 55% feel “helpless” about the current situation.

Genetic factors

Certain genes can predispose a person to anxiety. This can vary by age, population and gender.

However, a 2020 study found that the effects of stress in general may be influenced by environmental factors rather than genetic factors.

Medical equipment

Stress can cause many health problems. For example, health problems or side effects of medications can cause anxiety.

These things may not cause changes that indicate an anxiety disorder, but they may cause a stressful situation or require lifestyle changes.

Recreational drugs

Using recreational drugs can cause anxiety. However, the relationship between drug use and anxiety is complex.

For example, a 2018 study in Trusted Source found a link between self-administration of cocaine and anxiety-related behavior in rats. Following the pattern of cocaine use, other studies have shown that anxiety can be both a cause and an effect.

Anxiety disorders

A person with chronic and severe anxiety can develop panic disorder. First, the doctor will do a physical examination.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2015, 3.6% of the world’s population had anxiety disorders. This percentage is usually higher for women. According to the World Health Organization, 7.7% of American women suffer from depression compared to 3.6% of men.

Diagnosis

There are many anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. It differs from general anxiety in terms of frequency, complexity and impact on quality of life.

Panic disorders can be difficult to distinguish from other mental disorders. Before making a diagnosis, a mental health professional will review the person’s medical history and conduct a thorough examination. They can also give advice or recommend treatment.

The doctor may also perform a physical examination and order laboratory tests. This is to rule out other conditions that may be causing the symptoms.

Index

Anxiety is a natural and important emotion that has many causes, such as anxiety, fear of failure in social situations, environmental disturbances, and systematic withdrawal.

Anxiety and stress disorders are not the same. Before diagnosing stress, a mental health professional evaluates the frequency and severity of stress and the results of various tests.