Nearly everyone feels the effects of stress and anxiety from time to time, with a fast-paced lifestyle defining our culture today.When you wonder what causes anxiety, it can often be traced to a particular event or occurrence that was especially stressful, such as a death, move or divorce.However, for those who begin to experience anxiety on a regular basis, it can be much more challenging to determine what the original cause of the anxiety might be.This article will delve into the question, what causes anxiety, to provide some insight into why the disorder occurs and what can be done about it.

Before we begin, it is important to state that medical professionals are not entirely certain what causes anxiety over the long term.They do, however, have a number of theories that have been shown to be contributing factors in the development of an anxiety disorder.In some cases, it might be a combination of factors that contribute to the development of a full-fledged anxiety disorder.The best medical professionals can hope for at this time is to understand risk factors that might contribute to the likelihood of developing this disorder as they study what causes anxiety.

Genetics has been identified as one of the first contributing factors to anxiety disorders.Genetics are passed down from parents to their offspring, so if you have a parent, grandparent or sibling that has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you might be more likely to be diagnosed with one as well.The bad thing about genetics is that a genetic predisposition to a specific condition doesn’t give you much control over whether you will be diagnosed with the condition or not.The good news is that a family with a general understanding of anxiety disorders due to a common family history will be more likely to support family members with the condition and seek professional help early in the process.

For additional insight into what causes anxiety, we don’t have to look any further than the brain.Specifically, the neurotransmitters in the brain that send messages to the rest of the body may provide information about why anxiety disorders occur in some.When the levels of these neurotransmitters get off kilter, the messages sent from the brain get switched around and the body does not respond to some situations in the way one might expect.The final result of an imbalance of neurotransmitters may be a psychological condition like an anxiety disorder.The best solution for treating a chemical imbalance in the brain is a medication like an SSRI that can correct chemical imbalances and minimize symptoms.

No one can pinpoint what causes anxiety but many possible factors have been identified.With this information in hand, it is easier to know whether you are at higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder.Knowing the risk factors allows doctors to diagnose and treat anxiety disorders more efficiently.