What Are the Causes of Anxiety?

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. It affects millions of people across the globe. But, if you’re struggling with it, it can be hard to focus on anything but how it impacts you.

Because anxiety is so vast, its effects are widely varied. Some people have more severe anxiety than others. Some people can manage their symptoms a bit easier. For some, something as simple as getting out of bed in the morning and facing the world can feel challenging. 

Whatever the case, one of the best ways to start overcoming anxiety is to get to the root of it. 

With that in mind, let’s cover some of the causes of anxiety. Use them as a launching pad to help you better understand your own anxious thoughts so you can start to fight back against them. 

Genetics and Biological Factors

Some research has suggested that anxiety can be genetic or passed down through families. That doesn’t mean if your parents struggled with anxiety, you will, too. It also doesn’t mean just because your family doesn’t have a history of anxiety that you won’t experience it. 

You might also be more prone to anxiety if you deal with other mental health conditions, like depression. Feeling sad and helpless can trigger anxious thoughts that create a sort of vicious cycle with your mental well-being. 

Although not necessarily genetic, anxiety can also stem from childhood if you experience trauma at a young age. Children who are abused or neglected are often more prone to experience anxiety as adults. Unfortunately, they might not immediately know where it comes from, often requiring therapy to dig into the root cause and peel back trauma that happened years ago. 

Environmental Factors and Triggers

You don’t necessarily need to be prone to anxiety to experience it at any stage of life. Certain situations and triggers can cause anxiety in someone who has never had issues with their mental well-being before. 

Excessive stress can quickly trigger anxiety. A toxic workplace or the sudden loss of a job can make you anxious. Stress over your financial situation can turn worry into anxiety. Even stress in your relationships can make you anxious, especially if you can’t figure out a way to alleviate that stress. 

A lack of self-care can also eventually contribute to anxiety. Some people consider self-care excessive or even selfish, but nothing could be further from the truth. Suppose you’re not getting enough sleep, staying active, eating healthy foods, and trying to prioritize your mental well-being. In that case, you’re going to be at a greater risk of developing anxiety issues and feeling like you can’t fight back against stressful situations. 

What Can You Do?

If there’s a silver lining to anxiety, it’s that it’s often very manageable. But it’s not something you should tackle on your own. 

Therapy is often the best way to better understand your anxiety and where it comes from. That’s not always an easy path to take, especially if your anxious thoughts stem from childhood or extremely stressful situations. Getting to the root will help you start your healing journey on the right foot. 

Along the way, a therapist can help you with symptom management and provide techniques you can use to start overcoming your anxious mind. 

In addition to therapy, start practicing self-care. Exercise and getting enough sleep can greatly affect how you feel. Taking a step further with journaling, mindfulness, and meditation can make it easier to manage your anxiety on a daily basis. 

No matter how long you’ve been experiencing the symptoms of anxiety or letting stress take its toll, it’s never too early or too late to seek professional help and to better understand the cause of your anxious thoughts. 

Reach out to learn more about anxiety therapy and how it can help you.