Anxiety Disorders Causes & Risk Factors

Anxiety disorders are caused by a complex combination of biological, genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. Traumatic events are a key environmental factor known to trigger some anxiety disorders, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder... Full Answer

Deep inside our brains is an almond-shaped structure called the amygdala, which acts as our fear and anxiety center. When we experience a potential worry, the amygdala sends warning messages to the cortex, the rational part of our brain, which... Full Answer

Another psychological feeling hearing loss is anxiety.  After living with poor hearing for months, you may become obsessed with how you feel each day, noticing every new feeling or symptom. Complaints of general nervousness and irritability,... Full Answer

Some veterans are more susceptible to certain types of anxiety disorders than others. Veterans with depression and substance abuse problems are highly likely to develop anxiety disorders alongside these conditions. There are differences between male and... Full Answer

When a veteran experiences anxiety disorder, it could be due to a number of factors. It may be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, social stressors, or genetic predisposition. Some researchers believe that negative life experiences, such as... Full Answer

Smoking and caffeine can promote anxiety. Research suggests that heavy cigarette smoking during adolescence increases the risk for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in early adulthood. The mechanism may have less to do with nicotine's... Full Answer

Anxiety disorders can be caused by a variety of factors -- and certain personality traits certainly can have a role. In this video, psychologist Dr. Tamar Chansky, who specializes in anxiety, discusses how being bashful can play a role in... Full Answer

Both shyness and a characteristic known as anxiety sensitivity increase the risk of developing certain anxiety disorders. Avoidant personality disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder, and Asperger's syndrome, a developmental disorder, also increase the... Full Answer

People with a parent or sibling who has had an anxiety disorder are at greater risk of developing such a disorder themselves. Certain genetic variations may cause changes in levels of chemicals in the brain and perhaps affect nerve cell connections,... Full Answer

At least two-thirds of people with anxiety disorders are women. The reason anxiety disorders affect women more often than men is because women experience hormonal fluctuations throughout their lives, including menstruation, pregnancy and... Full Answer