Anxiety: Causes, Risk Factors & Symptoms

Causes

Anxiety may result from many factors including:

• Appropriate response under stressful circumstances
• Drugs that affect the nervous system, such as:
  • Caffeine
  • Alcohol
  • Cocaine
  • Nicotine
  • Amphetamines (eg, “crystal meth”)
  • Some herbal medications
• Biological factors:
  • Brain chemistry imbalances (eg, serotonin and norepinephrine)
  • Personality traits
• Faulty perceptions and irrational beliefs (eg, phobias)
• Unresolved emotional conflicts

Risk Factors

A risk factor increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors for anxiety include:

• Sex: female
• Family member with anxiety disorders
• Stressful life events
• Ineffective coping strategies
• History of physical or psychological trauma

Symptoms

Psychological symptoms may include:

• Worry or dread
• Obsessive or intrusive thoughts
• Sense of imminent danger or catastrophe
• Fear or panic
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Impatience
• Ambivalence
• Trouble concentrating

Physical symptoms may include:

• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Sweating, especially the palms
• Dry mouth
• Flushing or blushing
• Muscle tension
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness or faintness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Shaking
• Choking sensation
• Frequent urination
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Feeling of "butterflies" in the stomach
• Sexual difficulties
• Tingling sensations
• Nail biting or other habitual behavior