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What Causes an Anxiety Disorder?
by
Deanne Repich
There
are several factors that can contribute to an anxiety disorder. An
anxiety disorder is caused by a combination of several of these factors
working together over a period of time. Usually one factor alone does
not result in an anxiety disorder.
Several of the contributing factors are:
-- Biological Factors
-- Stress Overload/Lifestyle Factors
-- Childhood Environment
-- Thought Patterns
-- Genetic Factors
Biological Factors
We all have an inborn "fight or flight" response designed to protect us
from harm. When our survival is threatened, the fight or flight
response creates physical and psychological changes that encourage us
to act and protect our survival. These changes include rapid heartbeat,
muscle tension, shallow breathing, and more.
People suffering from anxiety disorders often have a physical
overreaction to stress. This overreaction occurs because your body
perceives everyday events and situations as threats to survival. In an
effort to protect you, your body triggers the fight or flight response
even though no real danger exists.
There is some indication that an overreaction to stress is caused by a
chemical imbalance in the brain. However, we don't know what initially
causes this chemical imbalance. It has not been proven which occurs
first - the overreaction to stress that causes the chemical imbalance,
or the chemical imbalance that causes the overreaction to stress.
Can I change it?: Yes. What's important to realize is that if you
overreact to stress, you can learn to change it, no matter how it
began. You can learn deep breathing techniques, relaxation techniques,
and techniques such as the Anxiety Pyramid (all included in our course)
to train your body to react more calmly.
Stress Overload / Lifestyle
Factors
When you experience excessive stress over time, your body can trigger
the fight or flight response and start to react to daily events as if
they were dangers. Poor lifestyle habits such as overwork, lack of
sleep, poor diet, and lack of regular exercise can cause unnecessary
stress and promote anxiety.
Let's look at an example of how stress overload and lifestyle factors
can contribute to anxiety. Donna works 70 hours a week for several
years. This puts excessive stress on Donna's body. To make matters
worse, Donna is so busy working that she only manages to get five or
six hours of sleep a night, she doesn't exercise regularly, and she
eats mainly fast food. She can't remember the last time she took time
out for herself.
Do you see how Donna's lifestyle creates stress in her life and
produces a negative snowball effect? Over time Donna's body starts
perceiving these constant stressors as a threat to her survival. Her
body eventually gets "burned out" from repeated unnecessary stress
reactions. It is on a constant state of alert - contributing to the
physical and mental symptoms of anxiety.
Can I change it?: Yes. You have the power to reduce or eliminate many
of the stressors in your life. You do this by integrating healthy
lifestyle habits - by making choices that promote calmness, self-care,
and a balanced lifestyle. For example, sleep eight hours a night
instead of six. Eat well-balanced, healthy meals. Work 40-50 hours a
week instead of 70, and so on.
You can also learn to view stressors in a less anxious way so your body
does not overreact to stressors when they occur.
Childhood Environment
Your childhood environment affects how you think and act as an adult.
Even though the adults around you meant well, as a child you may have
learned habits and beliefs that contribute to anxiety.
For example, you may not have been taught to have a sense of control
over your world. You may have been expected to achieve as a way of
gaining love and acceptance. You may have been taught all or nothing
thinking or were not allowed to freely express your feelings or
opinions.
You may have grown up in an environment that was not physically or
emotionally safe. You may have been frequently judged or criticized. Or
you may have grown up watching and modeling adults around you that
reacted to life in an anxious way.
Can I change it?: Yes. No matter what your childhood environment was,
you can change the anxiety-producing thought patterns and habits you
learned then through knowledge and practice.
Thought Patterns
How you think affects how you view the world and how you react to
stress. Negative thought patterns like "what-if" thinking,
perfectionism, all or nothing thinking, and victim talk can contribute
to an anxiety disorder. In fact, negative thoughts can actually create
physical symptoms in your body.
Can I change it?: Yes. Research shows that you have the power to change
your thoughts, which can in turn affect how you physically and mentally
feel. Through healthier thoughts, you can learn to view the world in a
less anxious way and feel better.
How do you change your thoughts? By using the three "R"s we discussed
in the last newsletter: Recognize, Replace, and Reinforce.
Genetic Factors
Research shows that panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder
tend to run in families. Although there is some debate, it appears that
part of this family tendency is due to how you're brought up
(environment) and part is due to genetics. There is some indication
that genetic factors are also involved in social anxiety.
Can I change it?: No. We cannot change our genes. That's the bad news.
Now here's the good news. You can positively change all of the other
factors we discussed that contribute to anxiety.
And like we mentioned earlier, usually one factor alone does not result
in an anxiety disorder. This is exciting news! It means that if you
learn to successfully address the other factors that contribute to
anxiety, you can conquer your anxiety in spite of genetic factors.
---
© Copyright by
Deanne Repich and the National Institute of Anxiety
and Stress, Inc.
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Deanne
Repich is the Founder of the National Institute of Anxiety and
Stress, Inc. An anxiety educator, teacher, and former anxiety
sufferer, she created the Conquer Your Anxiety Success Program, a
simple, action-oriented "how-to" course that has helped thousands
across the globe conquer their anxiety.
ConquerAnxiety.com
"Tools
for Creating a Healthy, Anxiety-Free Life"
See the Wellness Store for
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Conquer Anxiety Success Program
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