Childhood And Past Experiences
Anxiety can often be traced back to challenging experiences in childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood.
Experiences that may instigate anxiety issues include:
- Emotional or physical abuse
- Neglect
- Parental loss
- Being bullied or ostracised socially
- Experiencing racism
- Parents who are overprotective or lack warmth can also contribute to anxiety.
Present Circumstances
Your current life circumstances can also lead to anxiety.
Some common triggers include:- Ongoing stress or fatigue
- Significant changes or uncertainties in life
- Academic or work pressures
- Long work hours
- Unemployment
- Financial difficulties
- Housing instability or homelessness
- Environmental or natural disaster-related concerns (sometimes termed as eco-anxiety or climate anxiety)
- Bereavement
- Feeling isolated or lonely
- Being a victim of abuse, bullying, harassment, or racism.
- Major changes in daily life, like those brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, can especially trigger anxiety.
Health Concerns
Other health conditions can either lead to or exacerbate anxiety.
These include:
- Chronic or life-threatening physical health conditions
- Mental health issues, such as depression
- Medication and drugs
- Certain psychiatric medications, physical health medications, recreational drugs, and alcohol can cause anxiety as a side effect.
The Role Of Diet
Certain foods or drinks, like those high in sugar or caffeine, can trigger anxiety or panic symptoms or intensify them. For a deeper understanding of how diet influences your mood, refer to our pages on food and mood.