Causes and Effects of Anxiety Disorder
An anxiety disorder is caused by an interplay of biological, social and psychological factors. You can develop mental and physical symptoms such as headaches, difficulty concentrating and irritability.
What are Causes of Anxiety Disorder?
There are several factors that can play a role in the development of an anxiety disorder.
- Genetics and personal life
To a small extent, anxiety disorders are genetic. Some family histories show more incidences of anxiety disorders and symptoms than others. Do your (grand)parents suffer from anxiety symptoms? You may find that certain events are extra stressful for you as a result. In addition, major life events can also cause anxiety disorder. Your temperament and social skills will also play a role in whether or not you develop an anxiety disorder. - Upbringing and support
Having an intense and secure bond with your parents is a wonderful thing. At the same time, childhood is a time when you’re still developing emotionally. This might make you feel anxious and uncertain about strangers and new situations. Having overprotective parents means that children may not learn how to deal with danger. This could cause an anxiety disorder. - Cognitive information processing
Sometimes anxiety disorders arise as a result of the way you process signals from your environment. You interpret perfectly normal events as dangerous and threatening. You overestimate the level of danger. - Major life event(s)
A major life event can cause an anxiety disorder. You might develop a disorder that occurs when you’re in similar situations or when you encounter triggers that remind you of the original event(s).
What Are Effects of Anxiety Disorder?
Depending on the severity of those anxiety symptoms, an anxiety disorder affects your quality of life. Generalized anxiety disorder can cause you to experience insomnia or develop fatigue. Or your fears affect your daily life so much that you can no longer work.
- Avoidant behaviors
Your anxiety disorder may have social consequences. For example, do you find yourself feeling sad and alone because you’re too afraid to take part in social activities? Your desire to avoid uncomfortable situations is a direct result of the fear you’re feeling. - Underestimation
Anxiety can cause you to underestimate yourself. You’ll perceive more danger than is really present. You start thinking negative thoughts, such as deciding you’re not capable of handling the situation you’re in. - Poor health
Do you experience a lot of anxiety? If so, you’re constantly exposing your body to stress hormones, like adrenaline. This could cause physical symptoms like stomach pains and headaches. You could also suffer from trouble concentrating, irritability and insomnia, for example. - Performance
Serious concentration and sleep problems can lead to decreased performance at school and/or work. This may be the result of an anxiety (disorder). - Depression
You may suffer from depression. Did you suffer from anxiety as a child or young adult? Your risk of developing an anxiety disorder or experiencing depression as a fully grown adult will be greater as a result of this.
Psychologists specialized in Causes and Effects of Anxiety Disorder
Related symptoms
Fear of failure
Almost no one likes to fail. To fall short, to not succeed, to make mistakes. Some find it so bad that they avoid challenges. As a result, they fail to achieve their goals, and this increases anxiety. Do you recognize yourself in this? Read about what fear of failure is, how to recognize it and how to overcome fear of failure.
Social Phobia
Giving a presentation in front of your colleagues or when you get to tell your story in a proposal round; it can be quite scary. Sometimes this anxiety is a major hindrance that can control your entire life. Anxiety about social occasions is a common anxiety disorder that can affect the quality of your life a lot.
Coping with my partner’s anxiety disorder
Your partner, a loved one or loved one has an anxiety disorder. This directly affects you and your interactions with each other. For example, a relationship can be overshadowed by feelings of anxiety. Read how an anxiety disorder can affect a relationship and what you can do for the other person as well as yourself!
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
You worry so much that it affects your daily life. With generalized anxiety disorder (brooding disorder), you keep mulling things over in your head. Learn more about symptoms, causes and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and get advice on what you can do yourself.
Panic attack
A panic attack is an intense feeling of fear and tension that is often accompanied by various psychological and physical symptoms. It usually begins with a physical sensation, such as a shooting pain or dizziness, that you interpret as something catastrophic. Learn more about panic attacks.
Agoraphobia
Going to a crowded concert or enjoying an evening at the movies? You’d rather stay home. When you suffer from agoraphobia, you find places with many people or situations where you can’t leave immediately frightening. Learn more about agoraphobia; its symptoms, causes, tips for yourself and treatment.
Treatment Anxiety Disorder
An anxiety disorder can be overcome in many cases with the help of therapy. There are different anxiety therapies, depending on which anxiety disorder is involved. Each anxiety disorder expresses itself differently, but the underlying feelings are the same; a fear you want to get rid of.
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