{"id":65,"date":"2020-07-09T16:38:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T21:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dontpanicdothis.com\/?page_id=65"},"modified":"2023-10-13T17:02:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T22:02:20","slug":"what-is-the-root-cause-of-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dontpanicdothis.com\/what-is-the-root-cause-of-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Anxiety 101: What is the Root Cause of Anxiety?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first time I had a panic attack, I had no idea what anxiety was \u2013 I assumed there was something seriously wrong with me. I spent years<\/em> learning as much as I could about anxiety, so I could really understand and prevent it. So, what is the root cause of anxiety?<\/p>\n

The root cause of anxiety is a combination of biological and environmental factors (nature vs nurture). Anxiety varies greatly from person to person, ranging from occasional stress to full-blown anxiety attacks, with many different possible triggers. It is possible to decrease anxiety naturally through lifestyle changes and therapy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When it comes to mental health issues, there is rarely a once-size-fits-all solution that works for everyone. This is why it is so important<\/em> to really take the time to understand what the root cause of your<\/em> anxiety in particular may be. In this article, we\u2019ll be covering the nature of anxiety in detail, to help you truly understand how it works and what can be done to prevent it.<\/p>\n

If you only ever read one article on this site in its entirety, this is the one I\u2019d recommend.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n

What Does \u201cAnxiety\u201d Mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 18-30% of adults experience anxiety or panic disorders. This makes it the number one health issue in America today! (source)<\/a><\/p>\n

Anxiety is defined by the dictionary as \u201ca feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

While this common definition is indeed true, it doesn\u2019t exactly capture the full breadth of what \u201canxiety\u201d really means. Anxiety can <\/em>occur due to the anticipation of an event or outcome, but it can also occur for seemingly no obvious reason at all! The word \u201canxiety\u201d could be used to refer to a temporary emotion, or it could be used to refer to a recurrent psychological disorder.<\/p>\n

Regardless of the form, frequency, or severity of your anxiety, one thing is almost always certain \u2013 anxiety is extremely uncomfortable. Let\u2019s quickly discuss what anxiety feels like, as identifying it is often the best first step towards conquering it.<\/p>\n

What Does Anxiety Feel Like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First things first \u2013 what does anxiety feel like? For the young people reading this, maybe you\u2019re experiencing anxiety for the first time; for others, maybe you\u2019re just feeling something new and aren\u2019t sure whether it\u2019s anxiety or not. No problem.<\/p>\n

But before we really get into this, it\u2019s important to note: If you\u2019re ever feeling something new (mentally or physically) that concerns you, you should talk to your doctor about it. My goal with this website is to help pass on the knowledge and experience I\u2019ve gained while fighting anxiety over the years, but it should not substitute for professional medical advice. A quick check-up with the doctor can help tremendously, even if it\u2019s just for some peace of mind.  <\/p>\n

With that said, anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways. In my own personal life, for example, I\u2019ve felt a huge array of symptoms. I have felt jitters, nausea, discomfort, shaking hands, racing thoughts, and the inability to focus on days where I just felt generally anxious. I\u2019ve also felt symptoms like heart palpitations, numb fingers, racing heart, hyperventilation, and a sense of impending doom during occasions where I entered full-blown panic attack mode. Even within just one person like myself, symptoms can range considerably; from person-to-person the differences can be massive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick list of some of the most common symptoms of anxiety: <\/strong><\/p>\n

What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?<\/h3>\n