It is pretty difficult to determine exactly what causes anxiety, although basically doctors include brain chemistry, genetics and environmental stress as major contributors to the development of such psychological disorders. Not even the therapeutic mechanism of the medication prescribed for the alleviation of symptoms is not fully known or explained. We could say that nervous ailments are a vicious circle with lots of unknown factors, and that symptoms are easier to treat than the causes. Nevertheless, recovery doesn’t have to be out of the reach, on the contrary, a full recovery of the health condition can result from the adequate combination of therapy and medication.
Brain chemistry seems to be one of the causes of anxiety since the abnormal levels of the neurotransmitters are responsible for the panic episodes. Neurotransmitters represent the chemicals via which the information travels from nerve to nerve. If there is an imbalance in the secretion of chemicals, incorrect messages reach the brain, and anxiety is often the immediate consequence. Besides brain chemistry, genetics play an important part among the causes of anxiety, since the frequency of the disorder is higher in families with mental illness history. Thus, the brain sensitivity is inherited and passed on to the next generation.
Traumatic life events are other causes of anxiety, but the individuality of the person in question has an important influence. Thus, the death of a dear person, frequent job and school changes, divorce and emotional problems could lead to anxiety and depression. Anxiety disorders also tend to get more serious during periods of intense stress, with the mention that the withdrawal from addictive substances can also aggravate the condition. Thus, it will be a lot more difficult to quit smoking or eliminate alcohol and caffeine from your life if you suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.
Pregnancy for instance is another great life change that may cause temporary anxiety, but subjective factors and personal sensitivities have their share in the game as well. Then, drug consumers or drug addicts who take LSD, amphetamines, cannabis and ecstasy are also more likely to suffer from anxiety. Some causes of anxiety are part of daily life; in fact, stress is often a motivating factor for lots of people, and many owe their success to it. Therefore, the causes of anxiety may not be pathological; fortunately for many patients they can be identified without too many difficulties, and once you are able to stop anxiety attacks and a relaxed health condition is regained, things will get back to normal psychologically as well.