Causes

What causes Anxiety

While the cause of anxiety disorders is still poorly understood, it is thought that the cause of each sub-type may differ. Several factors may impact on the disorder’s development, either individually or in combination, including:

Personality – people who are easily aroused, upset, sensitive and emotional are more likely to develop anxiety disorders

Learned response – some people may repeat their experience of a stressful event when faced with a situation, object, or feeling that is similar. In this way, it can be said that they learn to respond in a certain way to the same situation or event.

Hereditary factors – the tendency to develop anxiety disorders may run in families (as well as being a response learned by the family)

Biochemical processes – some sub-types of anxiety disorders may be caused by chemical processes in the brain, in particular those affecting neurotransmitter levels (e.g., reducing serotonin).

Anxiety may be a condition in itself, or it may be caused by an underlying psychiatric/physical illness. It may occur as part of a variety of syndromes, including depression. Anxiety that is caused by an underlying physical illness – like certain endocrine conditions – improves with treatment of the underlying condition.