Interesting Psychology Team
While knowing the causes of Anxiety and reasons why we are anxious may not be enough to alleviate our anxiety, self-awareness of where our anxiety comes from, and how it is triggered, can be a key first step.
Finding the cause of anxiety can be difficult as there are many possible variables that contribute to the way we feel, and they vary from individual to individual. Letβs look at some of the most common reasons.
Our Brains can be the cause of Anxiety
In order for our early ancestors to survive in very dangerous environments, their brains evolved to help keep them safe by being very attentive to threats.
Consequently, they remembered every bad thing that happened and spent much of their lives anticipating more trouble, and this is the mind we inherited from them. Despite living in relatively safe environments in the modern world, these instincts can still set us up for a number of difficulties.
Family Genes –
The genes we inherit from our grandparents and parents may play a role, but only by creating a disposition towards anxiety. Our environment, experiences, and lifestyle will determine whether we βswitch onβ our propensity for anxiety, so we play a large role in determining our personal experience of it.
Life Events –
Major life events, both good and bad, often affect our anxiety levels. A death in the family, the end of a relationship, being involved in an accident, losing a job. Experiences like this make us fearful and uncertain about life.
After such events, life can seem unstable and anxiety can kick in to protect us from similar things happening in the future. If we withdraw, we canβt get hurt. An accumulation of small but stressful life events such as arguments with family members, difficult periods at work, and financial hardship can also contribute to our anxiety in the long-term.
Childhood Experiences
The way we were brought up has a considerable influence on our mindset, thinking styles, and emotional coping strategies. We often learn how to react to difficult situations by modelling our parents or guardians, and listen to their opinions about who we are, how we should feel, and how we should handle life.
These influences can shape our expectations and the way we perceive ourselves, others, and the world in general, and particularly how we cope with stress and difficult challenges.
Lifestyle
Not taking care of ourselves, or continually putting the needs of others before our own can create anxiety or make an anxiety problem worse. The impact of lifestyle factors are often ignored as people search for a magic bullet to overcome their anxiety.
Health Problems
Chronic health problems can make us anxious about the present and future, particularly if weβre in pain or think the issues are beyond our control.
Alcohol / Drugs
People may drink alcohol or take drugs (including prescribed medication) to mask anxiety or block its effects. While this may give us some short-term relief, it tends to make our anxiety worse in the long-run, while also creating other complications.
Conclusion
This list only contains some of the most common causes of Anxiety, so donβt worry if you donβt recognize any of these in your experience of anxiety. Wherever your anxiety has originated from, it is still possible to overcome it. Change is achievable.
