Understanding Anxiety

Do you feel sometimes feel overwhelmed? Does a sense of worry seem to linger in the background? These intense feelings of discomfort and nervousness can be classified as anxiety. If your anxiety interferes with daily life, it may be a sign of a psychiatric condition. Some of these include: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder (or Social Phobia). If you’re struggling with anxiety, you’re not alone and help is available.

A possible first step is trying to understand what might be causing your anxiety. Once you’ve got that insight, you can take proactive steps towards your healing and well-being.

So are there many causes to anxiety? Are you born with it? Is it internal? Is it external? Is it situational? Can it be treated.?

YES, the truth is that Anxiety generally has an underlying cause that is usually multifactorial. These factors may include internal factors such as your brain chemistry or genetics, or external factors such as life events or environmental pressures. Understanding these causes may guide treatment.

Some internal factors:

1.    Brain Chemistry

The brain’s chemistry plays a role in anxiety. Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are thought to help regulate emotional responses. When these chemicals are out of balance, it can lead to heightened feelings of stress. In addition, a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is thought to be responsible for calming the brain.

2.    Genetics

The way your brain processes emotions or reacts to stress can be influenced by genetic factors, making anxiety harder for some people to manage. Research shows that anxiety may run in families, suggesting a genetic predisposition. If you have a parent suffering from anxiety, you may be more likely to experience it yourself. This does not mean anxiety is guaranteed to be passed down, but there is a higher likelihood.

Some External Factors:

1.    Life Events

Life’s ups and downs can sometimes affect our mental health. Stress from work, finances, or relationships can make us feel on edge or anxious. When stress lasts for a while, it can be harder for the body and mind to relax, leading to ongoing worry.

2.    Environmental Pressure

In today’s busy world, it’s easy to feel pressure from work, social media, and daily demands. Social Anxiety seems to be on the rise. Some of us are comparing ourselves to others leading to self-doubt or worry, and many people feel more self-conscious in social situations than ever before. These pressures can naturally contribute to feeling overwhelmed.

So now that we know some of the causes, how can we help?

Mental Heath providers such as Psychologists/Therapists/Counselors/Social Workers and Psychiatrists/Psychiatric Physician Assistants/Nurse Practitioners can help with anxiety.

There are mainly two types of treatments. Be patient, as the healing process may involve some trial and error.

Medications

o   Certain medications are used to treat anxiety disorders such as antidepressants or anxiolytics. Your psychiatry provider can discuss these options with you.

Therapy

o   Counseling by a therapist may ease your symptoms of anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is possibly the most widely used and effective form of psychotherapy. It teaches us how our thoughts behaviors and actions are connected to help reduce anxiety.

So we can conclude that usually, anxiety is the result of a combination of internal and external factors. While anxiety can sometimes feel overwhelming, it is important to remember that help is here. Identifying the root causes of anxiety may be the first step in finding effective treatment. If you want support, contact us at Brightland Health to get the treatment you deserve.