Causes of Anxiety Disorder

The real causes of anxiety is not fully known, but some common factors are known to affect the brain chemistry and environmental stresses.

1. Genetics -  Some research suggests that family history plays a part in increasing the likelihood that a person will develop anxiety disorder. This means that the tendency to develop anxiety disorder has a great chance to passed on in families.

2. Brain Chemistry - Anxiety disorder has been associated with abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are special chemical messengers that help move information from nerve cell to nerve cell. If the neurotransmitters are out of balance, messages cannot get through the brain properly. This can alter the way the brain reacts in certain situations, leading to anxiety.

3. Environmental Factors - Trauma and stressful events, such as abuse, the death of a loved one, divorce, changing jobs or schools, may lead to GAD. GAD also may become worse during periods of stress. The use of and withdrawal from addictive substances, including alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, can also worsen anxiety.

Some of the environment factors:

• Stress at work
• Stress from school
• Stress in a personal relationship such as marriage or friendships
• Financial stress
• Stress from an emotional trauma such as the death of a loved one, a natural disaster, victimization by crime, physical abuse or sexual abuse (for example, acute stress disorder or post traumatic stress disorder)
• Stress from a serious medical illness
• Side effects of medication
• Intoxication (being "high" on) with an illicit drug, such as cocaine or amphetamines
• Withdrawal from an illicit drug, such as opiates (for example, heroin) or from prescription drugs like Vicodin, benzodiazepines, or barbituates
• Symptoms of a medical illness

4. Lack of Oxygen - In circumstances as diverse as high altitude sickness, emphysema, or pulmonary embolism (a blood clot with the vessels of the lung)

5. Personality - Personality play a role in the development of anxiety disorder. Person with low self-esteem and poor coping skills will have greater risk of having anxiety disorder.

6. Life Experiences - The passed experience of abuse, violence or poverty will affect individual's susceptibility to anxiety disorders.

7. Improper Use of Drug - Street drugs like amphetamines, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide(LSD) or Ecstasy, or even the caffeine in coffee or tea can be enough to make some of the people feel very anxious.

** Please note the causes of anxiety listed here are for reference only, please consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

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