All of us have felt anxiety attack at one point in our life or another – and that is only normal. However, with the increasing pace by which many people are living their life, plus the emphasis being placed on multitasking, the cases of anxiety have been increasing in number. And while feelings of anxiety are but normal, there are certain cases that already require psychiatric attention.
If you are experiencing frequent feelings of anxiety and you’re beginning to consider getting the services of a professional, it might help if you first look into the possible anxiety causes. By being aware of these, you might have better control of your condition and you may be able to address it on your own, without getting professional help.
Before looking into the causes of anxiety, it’s important that you know this: different people behave differently, and some may be more prone to anxiety than others. If some of the factors mentioned below affect you but do not affect the people you know, don’t worry because that’s natural. We all have different temperaments, as well as biological and psychological makeup. What’s important is for you to know which factors may be causing your feelings of anxiety, so that you can easily address them.
Genetics
Does anxiety run in your family? Do you have a family member that also suffers from anxiety? If so, there is a likelihood that you’ll also experience anxiety at one point in your life or another. Family history, however, only increases chances of developing anxiety-related conditions – it doesn’t guarantee its occurrence.
Health and Lifestyle
Although an unhealthy lifestyle alone will not result in anxiety, it is a big contributor. If your diet is unhealthy, if you lack exercise and sufficient sleep, the chances of feeling anxiety will be bigger. The good thing here is that you have control over this area in your life, so you can easily improve on it.
Significant Life Events
Anxiety often comes with any big change, which is normal. Death is one of the biggest events in a person’s life that is almost always associated with anxiety. Aside from death, circumstances like losing one’s job or being divorced can also trigger anxiety and stress. In most instances, the feelings of anxiety decline over time. However, if they don’t, professional counseling may help.
Medications
Certain medicines are known to be anxiety triggers. Some of these meds are actually formulated to combat anxiety, but the side effect during the first days of use is often an increased anxiety level. If you’re taking a medication and you notice increased anxiety levels, you may check with your doctor to learn whether the meds can cause anxiety. If they do, you can ask for alternative medications.
Biological Factors
There are certain biological conditions associated with anxiety, such as hypoglycemia and infection. If you have these conditions, your chances of experiencing anxiety will be greater. You can ask for anti-anxiety medications to fight it off. If you have a phobia for anything, exposure to such will also likely cause anxiety attacks – the answer is to avoid that which you fear.
Most of the factors mentioned are within your control, but others are not and may need professional attention. By being able to determine the cause of the anxiety that you’re feeling, it would be easier for you to deal with such condition.