Anxiety is something many people deal with, but figuring out where it comes from can help you take steps to feel better. While feeling anxious every now and then is normal, ongoing anxiety often has underlying causes.
Understanding what’s behind your anxiety can help you find the right ways to manage it and improve your well-being. In this post, we’ll look at some common reasons for anxiety, such as stressful life events, family history, brain chemistry, substance use, and childhood trauma.
Root Causes of Anxiety
There are several potential root causes of anxiety. These causes may affect you individually. Your anxious feelings may also result from multiple issues that occur together.
Stressful Life Events
Anxiety often arises from significant life changes, such as losing a loved one, going through a divorce, or dealing with financial troubles. These situations can overwhelm a person’s coping ability, leading to ongoing worry and stress.
While everyone faces challenges, for some, these events can spark anxiety disorders that linger long after the situation has passed. Ongoing stress from life changes can also worsen existing mental health conditions, making recovery more difficult without treatment.
Genetic Background
Genetics plays a big part in anxiety. Research shows that anxiety disorders tend to run in families, suggesting a hereditary connection. If someone has relatives with anxiety or other mental health issues, they may be more likely to develop it themselves. However, having a genetic predisposition doesn’t mean a person will definitely experience anxiety, but it does make them more sensitive to stress that could trigger it.
Brain Chemistry Imbalance
Anxiety is also linked to imbalances in brain chemicals. Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA regulate mood and stress responses. When these chemicals are out of balance, it can lead to increased anxiety. For instance, low serotonin levels are associated with heightened worry. These imbalances can be caused by factors like genetics, stress, or other health conditions, and they often require a mix of therapy and medication to manage.
Substance Use
Substance use, including alcohol, drugs, or certain medications, can greatly affect anxiety levels. Some people turn to these substances to relieve their anxiety, but this often leads to a cycle where substance use actually makes the anxiety worse.
Withdrawal symptoms can also trigger intense anxiety, making it harder to quit without professional help. Some drugs can even alter brain chemistry in ways that increase anxiety long after stopping use.
Past Childhood Trauma
Childhood trauma, like neglect, abuse, or witnessing violence, is another common cause of anxiety. Early traumatic experiences can have lasting effects on mental health, disrupting normal emotional development. Many who experience trauma in childhood develop anxiety as a way to cope with their unsafe environments, and these patterns often persist into adulthood unless treated in therapy.
How Is Anxiety Triggered?
Anxiety is a natural response to certain kinds of circumstances, such as:
- Actual physical danger
- Various types of personal misfortune
- A catastrophe that could impact you or other people
Common physical reactions to this anticipation include an accelerated heartbeat and faster breathing. They also include increased muscle tension and stomach distress, as well as emotional responses like dread and worry.
What Makes You Feel Anxious?
So, what makes you actually feel anxious? These steps happen automatically and quickly when your body perceives a threat, leading to the anxious feelings and physical symptoms you experience.
- Perceiving a Threat: Your brain senses a potential danger, whether real or imagined (like an upcoming test or social situation).
- Amygdala Activation: The part of your brain that controls fear and emotion (the amygdala) signals to the part of your brain that reacts to these messages to keep your body in a stable, balanced state (the hypothalamus) that something is wrong.
- Fight-or-flight Response Triggered: The hypothalamus activates the fight-or-flight response, telling your body to prepare for action.
- Hormone Release: Your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which cause the physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Physical Reactions Begin: Your heart rate increases, breathing speeds up, muscles tighten, and you may start sweating.
- Cognitive Effects: At the same time, your prefrontal cortex (responsible for thinking clearly) may struggle to function properly, making it harder to stay calm or think logically.
Treating the Root Cause of Anxiety
Treating anxiety means addressing its underlying causes, not just managing the symptoms. For some, therapy can help process past traumas or stressful events. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly used to change anxious thought patterns into healthier ones.
Medication might be needed to correct brain chemistry imbalances or control severe symptoms. Lifestyle changes, like practicing mindfulness, cutting back on substance use, and improving sleep and diet, can also help with long-term recovery.
Benefits of Treating the Causes of Anxiety
Treating the root causes of anxiety can lead to significant improvements in your quality of life. It can help you regain control, manage symptoms, and engage in daily activities without the disruption of overwhelming anxiety.
The benefits of treating the causes of anxiety include:
- Reduction in the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks
- Improved sleep patterns
- Enhanced ability to focus and concentrate
- Increased social interactions and relationships
- Better management of stress and other life challenges
Successful treatment of anxiety can give you a new lease on life, turning your daily struggles into manageable tasks. By addressing the root causes of your anxiety, you’re not just alleviating symptoms — you’re working towards long-lasting change.
Get Help for Anxiety at Northpoint Recovery
Managing anxiety can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Northpoint Recovery, we offer comprehensive treatment plans designed to address the root causes of anxiety and help you regain control of your life.
Our team will create a personalized plan based on your unique needs, providing the support, tools, and care you need to overcome anxiety and thrive.
Contact us today to learn more about our treatment programs and how we can support you on your path to lasting relief.
