Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition in America. 42.5 million adults are currently living with an anxiety disorder. Plus, according to recent CDC data, 18.2% of adults experienced anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks.
Despite these numbers, the exact cause of anxiety is unknown. Some scientists wonder if genetics plays a role in the development of anxiety disorders. Others focus on environmental and lifestyle factors. Regardless of how or why it occurs, it’s clear that it’s a problem for many.
But it’s not just those who live with clinical anxiety disorders that experience this mental discomfort.
Anxiety can affect anyone at various times in their lives. Just ask anyone who’s dealt with major life stress. They’ll tell you anxiety can be hard to avoid. Anxiety can even impact your physical health.
The good news? Understanding these factors can be the first step toward finding relief. Even more importantly, anxiety is highly treatable, and support is available right here in Davis County.
Anxiety Is More Than Just Worry
Everyone has anxiety from time to time. But for some people, anxiety can happen too often or become too intense—to the point where it interferes with daily life. When this happens, it can be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety becomes a disorder when:
- It interferes with your ability to function
- Your reactions are often out of proportion to situations
- You can’t control your responses to situations
If you’re feeling anxious but don’t know why, talking with a therapist may help determine possible risk factors and triggers.
What Causes Anxiety? Six Major Contributing Factors
While anxiety affects everyone differently, research has identified several key factors that can contribute to it. Being aware of these causes gives you more control over improving your mental health.
1. Personality Types
Type A personalities are more prone to experience anxiety than others. The impatient, punctual, ambitious, competitive nature of Type A personalities means more stress is placed on their daily lives and, thus, more chances to experience anxiety.
If you find yourself often mired in negative emotions like sadness and anger, you also have a much higher likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder.
When these traits are indeed part of your personality, focusing on stress management techniques like deep breathing, regular exercise and setting realistic expectations can help reduce anxiety triggers in your daily life.
Not sure whether this describes you? Take this Type A Personality quiz to find out how much “A” you have.
2. Low Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem is linked to social anxiety disorder (SAD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Whether low self-esteem leads to anxiety disorders or anxiety disorders lead to low self-esteem, it’s clear that the two are connected.
People with low self-esteem are more likely to bottle up their emotions, which can make anxiety worse. But building self-esteem can help protect against anxiety.
If you’re prone to feeling bad about yourself, focus on your positive characteristics. Write them down, practice positive self-talk and get plenty of exercise to help improve your overall mental health.
3. Stressful Life Events
From work-related stress and changes in living arrangements to problems with family or dealing with loss, life can get stressful. Family problems can lead to social anxiety and fears about stability, while health scares often create ongoing worry about illness.
While stress comes and goes, if it turns into excessive worrying, even when there’s nothing obvious to stress about, that’s anxiety. So while the two can be hard to tell apart, persistent worry without a clear cause is usually anxiety.
70% of Americans worry about money, and financial stress has become a major anxiety trigger. Job insecurity, rising costs and economic uncertainty affect mental and physical health.
4. Substance Use
Nearly 18% of people with substance use problems also have anxiety disorders. People may “self-medicate” with alcohol or drugs to numb anxiety. It’s so common that generalized anxiety disorder often overlaps with substance use disorders.
But substance use can also make anxiety worse. Using alcohol or drugs to cope with anxiety makes you much more likely to develop addiction. Self-medicating with alcohol leads to new social anxiety problems in many cases. Like many other mental health challenges, it can be a vicious cycle.
The most effective way to break the cycle is to curb substance use and learn healthier ways to manage anxiety.
5. Physical Health Problems
From diabetes to heart disease, problems with your physical health can be stressful and lead to anxiety. Stomach problems, chronic pain, heart problems and high blood pressure are also connected to anxiety.
The best way to prevent these problems is through improving your physical health, or getting treatment for health challenges you already have. Plus, being active can help improve your brain’s health and lead to a happier, more fulfilled life.
Some medications can also trigger anxiety, including:
- ADHD medications
- Asthma medications
- Steroids like prednisone
- Thyroid medications (when doses are too high)
If you think a medication is causing anxiety, talk to your doctor before you stop taking it.
6. Caffeine Use
Who can go without their morning dose of caffeine? Caffeine has its place. It can increase your alertness and give you energy when you need it. But too much caffeine leads to nervousness, irritability or even anxiety.
New research shows that drinking a lot of caffeine significantly increases anxiety risk. The FDA recommends limiting caffeine to 400mg per day—that’s about 3 cups of coffee. But be aware that some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others.
So, if you find yourself sweating, shaking or feeling nervous after your last cup of coffee or energy drink, you might want to cut back.
You Don’t Have to Face This Alone—We’re Here To Help
Davis Behavioral Health is here to help when life gets stressful. We have trained, experienced, caring mental health professionals on staff to help you manage anxiety. We also offer classes that range from managing emotions to mindfulness. We provide substance use support, as well.
We are your ally in improving mental health and wellbeing. If you’re struggling with mental health challenges, remember that seeking help is an act of strength and self-respect, rather than a sign of weakness. Contact Us today. We’d love to help.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers about your specific situation and treatment options.
