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class="css-11egx89"><button class="icon-hl-close-thick css-1ik4tkj"></button><div data-empty="true" class="css-1fteite"><div class="css-1hjaa0k"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div id="mlb1__slot" data-adbridg-ad-class="mlb1" data-ad="true" class="css-bcus5s"></div></div></div></aside><div data-placement="subheader"></div><div><div class="css-m260rd"><div data-article-body="0" class="css-blwnmv"><div class="css-z468a2"><h1>What Causes Anxiety?</h1><div data-preamp="social-proof-lessons"></div><div data-testid="byline"><section data-testid="byline" class="css-eoj89x"><div class="css-1q67gt9"><div class="css-xc63cd"><img src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/New-Matthew-Boland-500x500-Bio.png?w=105&h=105" alt=""/></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/reviewers/matthew-boland-phd">Matthew Boland, PhD</a></span></span> — <span><span><span><span>Written by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/authors/courtney-telloian">Courtney Telloian</a></span></span></span></span> — <span> Updated on July 8, 2022</span></div></section></div><div><nav id="tab-bar-0" data-testid="tab-bar" class="css-7u7i0a"><ul class="css-17ztj4b"><li class="css-t753mo"><a href="#causes" class="css-yn6ido">Causes</a></li><li class="css-t753mo"><a href="#contributing-factors" class="css-yn6ido">Contributing factors</a></li><li class="css-t753mo"><a href="#can-you-prevent-anxiety" class="css-yn6ido">Can you prevent anxiety?</a></li><li class="css-t753mo"><a href="#anxiety-treatment" class="css-yn6ido">Anxiety treatment</a></li><li class="css-t753mo"><a href="#recap" class="css-yn6ido">Recap</a></li></ul></nav><article class="article-body css-d2znx6 undefined"><div class="css-12va8w7"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><div><p class="css-w2pt6r">Traumatic events, personality traits, genetics, chronic stress, and medical conditions could all cause anxiety symptoms. Here’s why.</p></div></div><div><p></p></div><div><div data-preamp="serena-chatbot"></div></div><div><p>Anxiety can make you feel tense, stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted. What causes anxiety symptoms and these effects may vary from person to person. </p></div><div><p>Everyone experiences anxiety as an emotional response every now and then. But, what takes you from an episode of anxiety to having an <a href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxiety-disorders" class="content-link css-150s69f">anxiety disorder</a>?</p></div><div><p>It turns out there are a lot of factors that go into what causes anxiety — your family history, genetics, environment, and the ways you learn to cope, for instance. If you live with anxiety, it’s likely caused by a unique blend of these.</p></div><div><p></p></div><div><p></p></div><div><div id="widget_call_out_963b88b4-c358-4d8c-914a-c8fc6d5dabad" class="css-ubcbi5"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div class="css-14hk5xp"><div class="css-xqvouu"><h3 class="css-9zytxy"><div><span class="css-14sy2z4">Symptoms of anxiety</span></div></h3><div class="css-slwzda"><p>While each subtype of anxiety has its own set of causes and symptoms, anxiety disorders can also affect people in similar ways.</p><p>Some common signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders may include:</p><ul><li>persistent feelings of worry</li><li>a strong sense of overwhelm</li><li>intense fear in certain situations</li><li>muscle tension</li><li>increased heart rate</li><li>shortness of breath</li><li>restlessness</li><li>fatigue</li><li>dizziness or lightheadedness</li></ul><p>If you have an anxiety disorder, you may not experience every symptom on the list. Your symptoms can depend on the type of anxiety you experience and its severity.</p></div></div></div><div class="css-1uwjw6e"><div></div><div></div></div></div></div><div class="css-20w1gi"><aside class="css-0 css-0" data-testid="sticky-inline-ad" data-sticky="false"><div><div data-empty="true" class="css-1sq15os"><div class="css-1hjaa0k"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div id="inline2__slot" data-adbridg-ad-class="inline2__slot" data-ad="true" class="css-1t05dkn"></div></div></div></aside></div></div><div class="css-1avyp1d"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><h2><div><a class="chartbeat-section" name="causes">Causes of anxiety</a></div></h2></div><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><p>Anxiety doesn’t have just one cause. If you have an anxiety disorder, it’s probably due to a combination of factors including:</p></div><div><ul><li>learned coping patterns</li><li>genetics</li><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/health/temperament-and-personality/" data-type="post" data-id="244844" class="content-link css-150s69f">temperament</a></li><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-personality/" data-type="post" data-id="349632" class="content-link css-150s69f">personality traits</a></li><li>childhood and family history</li><li>chronic stress</li><li>traumatic events</li><li>medical conditions</li><li>substance or medication use</li></ul></div><div><p>While it’s not necessary to know the causes of your anxiety disorder in order to manage it, this info may provide some context if you’re looking to gain a deeper understanding of the <a href="https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/getting-to-the-root-of-your-anxiety/" data-type="post" data-id="143696" class="content-link css-150s69f">root of your anxiety</a>.</p></div><div><h3>Learned coping patterns</h3></div><div><p>What causes anxiety may be linked to how you’ve coped with emotional challenges in the past.</p></div><div><p>Everyone reacts to anxiety in one way or another. While some styles of reacting help you deal with the source of anxiety, others can actually increase your symptoms and make them more likely to return.</p></div><div><p>When a coping style makes it <em>more</em> difficult rather than easier to adapt, it’s called a maladaptive response or behavior.</p></div><div><p><hl-trusted-source source="PubMed Central" rationale="Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29553003/" target="_blank" class="content-link css-150s69f">Recent research</a></hl-trusted-source> has identified several maladaptive behaviors that could contribute to generalized anxiety disorder, for example. These behaviors include:</p></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/pro/the-five-types-of-avoidance" class="content-link css-150s69f">avoidant behaviors</a></li><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/health/hypervigilance/" data-type="post" data-id="155840" class="content-link css-150s69f">hypervigilance</a></li><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/blog/denial-of-trauma-signs/" data-type="post" data-id="151202" class="content-link css-150s69f">trauma denial</a></li></ul></div><div><p>For instance, if you use avoidance to cope with anxiety, you might procrastinate or avoid tasks or situations that make you feel anxious. This avoidance can increase your anxiety when you encounter these things in the future.</p></div><div><h3>Genetics and family history</h3></div><div><p>It’s fairly common for anxiety disorders (and other mental health conditions for that matter) to run in families.</p></div><div><p>Research suggests you have about a <hl-trusted-source source="PubMed Central" rationale="Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573560/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="content-link css-150s69f">30% chance</a></hl-trusted-source> of developing an anxiety disorder if a parent has one.</p></div><div><p>Certain genes may also affect <a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-big-five-personality-traits" class="content-link css-150s69f">personality traits</a> that have been linked to anxiety disorders.</p></div><div><p>For example, people with higher levels of <a href="https://psychcentral.com/health/all-about-neuroticism/" data-type="post" data-id="268301" class="content-link css-150s69f">neuroticism</a> tend to have more anxiety and depressed mood. There may be at least some genetic aspect that means you may be more likely to have this trait.</p></div><div><h3>Stress</h3></div><div><p><a href="https://psychcentral.com/stress/stress-overview/" data-type="post" data-id="66079" class="content-link css-150s69f">Stress</a>, especially early in life, could play a role in what causes anxiety disorders. Exposure to the stress hormone cortisol may be why.</p></div><div><p>In a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/bne-0000094.pdf" target="_blank" class="content-link css-150s69f">2015 animal study</a>, researchers found that when pregnant voles were subjected to stress, their offspring showed more signs of anxiety than the offspring of voles that weren’t stressed. These findings support the idea that exposure to stress hormones is connected to anxiety.</p></div><div><p>While it’s still not clear how big of a role stress plays in the development of anxiety disorders, growing evidence suggests it could be a contributing factor.</p></div><div><h3>Traumatic events</h3></div><div><p>If you’ve been through a <a href="https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-trauma/" data-type="post" data-id="211569" class="content-link css-150s69f">traumatic event</a> or experienced abuse, it’s possible that you may have a higher chance of developing an anxiety disorder. Even <a href="https://psychcentral.com/health/vicarious-trauma/" data-type="post" data-id="233694" class="content-link css-150s69f">vicarious trauma</a> can cause anxiety.</p></div><div><p>Some research supports the theory that living through trauma as a child could contribute to anxiety in adulthood.</p></div><div><p>In one <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032716313271" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="content-link css-150s69f">2017 study</a>, participants who reported anxiety symptoms also reported that they’d had a hard time coping with <a class="content-link css-150s69f sl" href="https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/the-connection-between-childhood-trauma-and-generalized-anxiety-disorder">childhood trauma</a>.</p></div><div><p><a href="https://psychcentral.com/ptsd" class="content-link css-150s69f">Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)</a> also has some links to anxiety disorders. </p></div><div><p>According to the <a href="https://psychcentral.com/dsm-5#1" class="content-link css-150s69f">Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)</a>, people with PTSD are about 80% more likely to have another mental health condition, including an anxiety disorder.</p></div><div><h3>Medical conditions</h3></div><div><p>Some medical conditions cause anxiety. The DSM-5 lists the following medical issues that include anxiety as a potential symptom:</p></div><div><ul><li>hyper- and hypothyroidism </li><li>heart problems</li><li>lung conditions including asthma and pneumonia</li><li>metabolism issues</li><li>seizure disorders</li></ul></div><div><p>In this case, anxiety caused by a medical condition refers to anxiety as a symptom of an illness. <a href="https://psychcentral.com/disorders/somatic-symptom-disorder/" data-type="post" data-id="6531" class="content-link css-150s69f">Health anxiety</a>, on the other hand, involves worry about a medical condition.</p></div><div><p>If you have anxiety caused by an underlying medical condition, you might not even know you have a medical condition. Your doctor can help you find out where your anxiety comes from.</p></div><div><h3>Medications and substance use</h3></div><div><p>Many medications and other substances interact with your body chemistry in a way that can cause anxiety.</p></div><div><p>While anxiety is often a side effect of these substances, it may feel no different from any other kind of anxiety.</p></div><div><p>Substances that may cause anxiety include:</p></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/blog/caffeines-effects-on-your-thinking#1" class="content-link css-150s69f">caffeine</a></li><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/blog/alcohol-may-not-help-alcohols-impact-on-your-mental-health#1" class="content-link css-150s69f">alcohol</a></li><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/disorders/cannabis-marijuana-withdrawal/" data-type="post" data-id="6522" class="content-link css-150s69f">cannabis</a></li><li>opioids</li><li>cocaine</li><li>hallucinogens</li><li>amphetamine and other stimulants </li><li>some sedatives </li></ul></div><div><p>Some of these substances, such as sedatives, tend to cause anxiety only after you’ve stopped taking them as part of the discontinuation process or potentially, withdrawal. </p></div><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div class="css-1avyp1d"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><h2><div><a class="chartbeat-section" name="contributing-factors">Common contributing factors for anxiety</a></div></h2></div><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><p>When it comes to anxiety, knowing your contributing factors can help in a couple of ways. </p></div><div><p>First, this knowledge can give you some background on what may be adding to or worsening your anxiety symptoms. It can also help you learn more about anxiety by showing when and where it tends to occur. </p></div><div><p>For instance, women are <hl-trusted-source source="Department of Health and Human Services" rationale="Governmental authority"><a href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/anxiety-disorders" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="content-link css-150s69f">twice as likely</a></hl-trusted-source> as men to have an anxiety disorder.</p></div><div><h3>Age</h3></div><div><p>Age may play a role in when you start experiencing anxiety. While anxiety can affect anyone of any age, being a young adult appears to be a risk factor.</p></div><div><p>According to the <hl-trusted-source source="National Institute of Mental Health" rationale="Governmental authority"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml" target="_blank" class="content-link css-150s69f">National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)</a></hl-trusted-source>, about 1 in 5 adults may develop an anxiety disorder, compared to about 1 in 3 teens. These statistics suggest that teens are more likely than adults to have an anxiety-related diagnosis.</p></div><div><p>It’s not uncommon for people with anxiety to wait to seek help or support. Diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder peaks in middle age. This could mean that many people live with anxiety for years before getting a diagnosis.</p></div><div><h3>Ethnicity</h3></div><div><p>There’s been some evidence to suggest that ethnicity is a factor in developing anxiety.</p></div><div><p>According to data from a <a href="https://mhanational.org/mental-health-data-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="content-link css-150s69f">2020 Mental Health America survey</a>, people of American Indian/Native American descent reported the highest levels of anxiety, followed by people who identified as white.</p></div><div><p>Hispanic participants reported higher levels of anxiety than Asian and Black participants.</p></div><div><p>These trends tend to line up with other reports on anxiety and ethnicity, but future studies can help provide more accurate data by reducing gaps in reporting. Health inequities may also play a factor in some data.</p></div><div><h3>Personality</h3></div><div><p>Certain personality traits have been connected to anxiety disorders. You may be more likely to have an anxiety disorder if:</p></div><div><ul><li><strong>You’re “inhibited.”</strong> Psychologists use the term “behavioral inhibition” to refer to a cautious attitude toward new people or situations.</li><li><strong>You’re high in neuroticism.</strong> According to the <a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-big-five-personality-traits" class="content-link css-150s69f">Big Five</a> personality scale, neuroticism is a tendency to experience more uncomfortable emotions or moodiness.</li><li><strong>You were a shy kid.</strong> <a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/facts-about-shyness#1" class="content-link css-150s69f">Shyness</a> in childhood is connected to higher chances of experiencing an anxiety disorder, especially social anxiety, as an adult.</li><li><strong>You tend to be a perfectionist.</strong> According to a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.pnas.org/content/117/18/9800" target="_blank" class="content-link css-150s69f">2020 study</a>, you may be more likely to experience anxiety as an adult if you were sensitive to making mistakes during your teen years.</li></ul></div><div><p>These personality traits are thought to stem from the way your temperament — how you’re genetically predisposed to act — interacts with your environment.</p></div><div><h3>Environment</h3></div><div><p>When it comes to the environment as a contributing factor to anxiety, research is mixed. Your environment can include your life circumstances, your physical surroundings, and your relationships.</p></div><div><p>Overprotective parenting styles and adversity in childhood have been connected to anxiety later in life. <a href="https://psychcentral.com/blog/heal-pain-of-dismissive-mother/" data-type="post" data-id="207500" class="content-link css-150s69f">Growing up with a dismissive parent</a> may increase your chances of having anxiety.</p></div><div><p><a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/types-of-abuse/" data-type="post" data-id="2370" class="content-link css-150s69f">Abuse</a>, trauma, and <a href="https://psychcentral.com/blog/childhood-neglect/2019/10/5-unhealthy-relationship-patterns-set-up-by-childhood-emotional-neglect#1" class="content-link css-150s69f">emotional neglect in childhood</a> could double or quadruple your chances of having an anxiety disorder later in life, according to a <hl-trusted-source source="Wiley" rationale="Peer reviewed journal"><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbb.12423" target="_blank" class="content-link css-150s69f">2017 review</a></hl-trusted-source>.</p></div><div><p>In addition to your past environment, your present circumstances can also increase your risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Traumatic events and situations that put you under constant stress can heighten your risk of anxiety.</p></div><div><div id="widget_call_out_6c8ec2de-f69e-468b-ada5-991db9e8e604" class="css-ubcbi5"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div class="css-14hk5xp"><div class="css-xqvouu"><h3 class="css-9zytxy"><div><span class="css-14sy2z4">Fear vs. anxiety</span></div></h3><div class="css-slwzda"><p>Anxiety and fear are usually thought of as nearly the same thing — but they’re different in a few key ways.</p><p>Differences between fear and anxiety depend on what causes them:</p><ul><li><strong>Fear</strong> is an emotional and physical response to a present, known threat.</li><li><strong>Anxiety</strong> is the emotional and physical anticipation of a threat in the future.</li></ul><p>Both fear and anxiety involve your awareness of danger and risk. But while fear is linked more closely to the <a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/fight-or-flight" class="content-link css-150s69f">fight, flight, or freeze response</a> of your sympathetic nervous system, anxiety also involves preparation for future danger.</p><p>Sometimes this future danger is a real threat, but other times it may be perceived or unlikely to actually happen.</p><p>If you’re always anticipating danger, you’ll likely feel tense and stressed. Meanwhile, your mind could be whirling round, replaying possibilities and scenarios.</p><p>Anxiety is distinct from fear in that it tends to cause people to overestimate danger.</p><p>To sum it up: Fear tends to be caused by the presence of danger — what causes anxiety can be a bit more complicated.</p></div></div></div><div class="css-1uwjw6e"><div></div><div></div></div></div></div><div><p></p></div><div class="css-20w1gi"><aside class="css-0 css-0" data-testid="sticky-inline-ad" data-sticky="false"><div><div data-empty="true" class="css-1sq15os"><div class="css-1hjaa0k"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div id="inline7__slot" data-adbridg-ad-class="inline7__slot" data-ad="true" class="css-1t05dkn"></div></div></div></aside></div></div><div class="css-1avyp1d"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><h2><div><a class="chartbeat-section" name="can-you-prevent-anxiety">Is anxiety preventable?</a></div></h2></div><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><p>You may be wondering: If I can find out what causes my anxiety, can I prevent it from developing in the first place?</p></div><div><p>While prevention isn’t always possible, anxiety disorders are highly treatable — especially when treatment addresses the ways you react to anxiety.</p></div><div><p>It’s also important to remember that everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. But if you have an anxiety disorder, strategies like medication, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and other coping techniques can help.</p></div><div><p>If you believe your <a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-parents-can-do-when-their-child-is-anxious#1" class="content-link css-150s69f">child may have anxiety</a>, helping them learn to manage it and cope can help reduce the severity of anxiety they experience as an adult.</p></div><div><p>Children who experience anxiety may also have a higher chance of the following in adulthood:</p></div><div><ul><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/depression/depression" class="content-link css-150s69f">depression</a></li><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/disorders/alcohol-substance-abuse-symptoms" class="content-link css-150s69f">substance use</a></li><li><a href="https://psychcentral.com/depression/what-is-suicidal-ideation/" data-type="post" data-id="105583" class="content-link css-150s69f">suicidal thoughts</a></li><li>difficulty in school or work</li></ul></div><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div class="css-1avyp1d"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><h2><div><a class="chartbeat-section" name="anxiety-treatment">Getting help for anxiety</a></div></h2></div><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><p>Managing anxiety often involves learning more about what’s causing it.</p></div><div><p>While addressing anxiety early can make treatment easier, strategies exist to help you cope with anxiety however long you’ve had it. </p></div><div><p>Therapy is highly effective for learning to manage anxiety. A therapist can help you by taking a closer look at your beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors.</p></div><div><p><a href="http://psychcentral.com/lib/in-depth-cognitive-behavioral-therapy#1(opens%20in%20a%20new%20tab)" class="content-link css-150s69f">Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)</a> and <a href="https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-exposure-therapy/" data-type="post" data-id="2643" class="content-link css-150s69f">exposure therapy</a> are two common types of therapy for anxiety.</p></div><div><p>No matter what causes anxiety, there’s a coping strategy out there that fits your needs and goals. </p></div><div class="css-20w1gi"><aside class="css-0 css-0" data-testid="sticky-inline-ad" data-sticky="false"><div><div data-empty="true" class="css-1sq15os"><div class="css-1hjaa0k"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div id="inline12__slot" data-adbridg-ad-class="inline12__slot" data-ad="true" class="css-1t05dkn"></div></div></div></aside></div></div><div class="css-1avyp1d"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><h2><div><a class="chartbeat-section" name="recap">Let’s recap</a></div></h2></div><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><div><p>A variety of elements, including genetics, environment, coping patterns, and life events can cause anxiety.</p></div><div><p>Certain contributing factors — like age and personality traits — may also help you understand if you’re more likely to develop an anxiety disorder.</p></div><div><p>It’s not always necessary to know the exact cause of your anxiety in order to manage your symptoms — after all, it’s often a combo of several things. But learning the contributing causes of anxiety may help with your approach to treatment.</p></div></div></article><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div><div class="css-w9ag5x"><div class="css-1xn3edc"><div aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="article-resources" class="css-1l48sh1" role="button"><p class="css-1dxissy"><span class="css-1p6d3md icon-hlvideo-minus"></span><span class="css-1p6d3md icon-hlvideo-plus"></span> <span class="css-1xdhyk6">13 sources</span><span class="sro">collapsed</span></p></div><div id="article-resources" role="region" class="css-1ugaz02"><ul class="css-1vedeqe"><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC.</span><br/></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Anxiety disorders. (2017).</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/anxiety-disorders">https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/anxiety-disorders</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Any anxiety disorder. (2017).</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml">https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Cameron HA, et al. (2018). Behavioral and structural adaptations to stress.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091302218300104">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091302218300104</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Goldstein C. (n.d.). What to do (and not do) when children are anxious.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/">https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Gottschalk MG, et al. (2017). Genetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traits.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573560/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573560/</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>He FQ, et al. (2015). Perinatal stress effects on later anxiety and hormone secretion in male mandarin voles.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/bne-0000094.pdf">https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/bne-0000094.pdf</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>How race matters: What we can learn from Mental Health America's screening in 2020. (n.d.).</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mhanational.org/mental-health-data-2020">https://mhanational.org/mental-health-data-2020</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Huh HJ, et al. (2017). The relationship between childhood trauma and the severity of adulthood depression and anxiety symptoms in a clinical sample: The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032716313271">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032716313271</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Mahoney AEJ, et al. (2018). Maladaptive behaviors associated with generalized anxiety disorder: An item response theory analysis.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29553003/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29553003/</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Narmandakh A, et al. (2020). Psychosocial and biological risk factors of anxiety disorders in adolescents: A TRAILS report.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00787-020-01669-3">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00787-020-01669-3</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Schiele MA, et al. (2017). Epigenetics at the crossroads between genes, environment and resilience in anxiety disorders.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbb.12423">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbb.12423</a></cite></li><li class="css-f6pdvi"><cite><span>Tang A, et al. (2020). Infant behavioral inhibition predicts personality and social outcomes three decades later.</span><br/><a class="css-150s69f css-138ocmy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.pnas.org/content/117/18/9800">https://www.pnas.org/content/117/18/9800</a></cite></li></ul></div></div><div class="css-1wkzy2"><div class="css-1ytasfq"><div class="button-wrapper print"><a class="css-1uhtj6l print button icon icon-hl-print" target="_blank" title="Print this page"></a></div><div class="button-wrapper facebook"><a class="css-1uhtj6l facebook button icon icon-hl-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fanxiety%2Fcauses-of-anxiety-disorders%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_campaign%3Dsocial-sharebar-referred-desktop" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank" title="Share on Facebook"></a></div><div class="button-wrapper twitter"><a class="css-1uhtj6l twitter button icon icon-hl-twitter" 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aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="What Are Anxiety Disorders?" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Female_Car_Calm_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Female_Car_Calm_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/anxiety-disorders;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|1" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are Anxiety Disorders?|rn0" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxiety-disorders?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">What Are Anxiety Disorders?</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/TimothyLegg.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/anxiety-disorders;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|1" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are Anxiety Disorders?|rn0" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxiety-disorders?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Anxiety disorders are common types of mental health conditions. We explain the type of anxiety disorders, including phobias and generalized anxiety…</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/anxiety-disorders;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|1" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are Anxiety Disorders?|rn0" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxiety-disorders?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"><div data-empty="true" class="css-vhteyv"><div class="css-1hjaa0k"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div id="DCMR1__slot" data-adbridg-ad-class="DCMR1" data-ad="true" class="css-prb4v6"></div></div></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"><div data-empty="true" class="css-vhteyv"><div class="css-1hjaa0k"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div id="DCMR1__slot" data-adbridg-ad-class="DCMR1" data-ad="true" class="css-prb4v6"></div></div></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|2" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Living with an Anxiety Disorder: Home Remedies for Relief|rn1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Living with an Anxiety Disorder: Home Remedies for Relief" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/Male_Floor_Meditation_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/Male_Floor_Meditation_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|2" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Living with an Anxiety Disorder: Home Remedies for Relief|rn1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">Living with an Anxiety Disorder: Home Remedies for Relief</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Marney-White-500x500-Bio.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Marney A. White, PhD, MS</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|2" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Living with an Anxiety Disorder: Home Remedies for Relief|rn1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Learning that you have an anxiety disorder may bring relief, more questions, and more worry. The good news? Anxiety disorders are among the most…</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|2" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Living with an Anxiety Disorder: Home Remedies for Relief|rn1" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|3" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|How to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)|rn2" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="How to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/therapy-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/therapy-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|3" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|How to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)|rn2" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">How to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/200x200_Alex_Klein_mug.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Alex Klein, PsyD</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|3" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|How to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)|rn2" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">There are many ways to treat generalized anxiety disorder. Typically, the most effective treatment incorporates both talk therapy and medication, but…</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|3" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|How to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)|rn2" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"><div data-empty="true" class="css-vhteyv"><div class="css-1hjaa0k"><span class="css-zya54r"></span></div><div id="DCMR2__slot" data-adbridg-ad-class="DCMR2" data-ad="true" class="css-prb4v6"></div></div></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|4" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work|rn3" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/therapy-732x549-thumbnail-1.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/therapy-732x549-thumbnail-1.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|4" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work|rn3" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Joslyn-Jelinek-500x500-Bio.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW, ACSW, RDDP</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|4" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work|rn3" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">If you're looking for therapy to help you manage anxiety, you'll find there are many options to choose from. Here are some top picks and what they're…</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|4" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work|rn3" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|5" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?|rn4" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Friends_Talking_Roof_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Friends_Talking_Roof_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|5" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?|rn4" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Taft_Headshot_2023.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Tiffany Taft, PsyD</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|5" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?|rn4" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that involves intense fear in public spaces. In this article, we look at the physical, mental, and behavioral…</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|5" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?|rn4" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|6" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?|rn5" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/eyes-closed-anxiety-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/eyes-closed-anxiety-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|6" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?|rn5" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Marney-White-500x500-Bio.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Marney A. White, PhD, MS</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|6" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?|rn5" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Generalized anxiety disorder often comes on gradually and involves both physical and mental anxiety symptoms. We outline symptoms of GAD and provide…</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|6" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?|rn5" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|7" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Panic Disorder Symptoms|rn6" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Panic Disorder Symptoms" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/Female_Looking_Up_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/Female_Looking_Up_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|7" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Panic Disorder Symptoms|rn6" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">Panic Disorder Symptoms</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Akilah-Reynolds-500x500-Bio.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Akilah Reynolds, PhD</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|7" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Panic Disorder Symptoms|rn6" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">People with panic disorder have feelings of intense fear that strike suddenly and repeatedly without warning. The frequency and severity of panic…</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|7" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Panic Disorder Symptoms|rn6" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|8" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms|rn7" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/panic-attack-stress-anxiety-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/panic-attack-stress-anxiety-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|8" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms|rn7" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Nathan-Greene-500x500-Bio.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Nathan Greene, PsyD</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|8" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms|rn7" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Panic attack symptoms can be emotional, cognitive, and physical. Here's the formal list and the long-term effect they have on you.</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|8" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms|rn7" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-disorder-treatment;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|9" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|How Is Panic Disorder Treated?|rn8" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="How Is Panic Disorder Treated?" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/journal-writing-notebook-alone-home-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/journal-writing-notebook-alone-home-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-disorder-treatment;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|9" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|How Is Panic Disorder Treated?|rn8" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">How Is Panic Disorder Treated?</a><section data-testid="byline" class="css-ymf4ha"><div class="css-1pz7193"><div class="css-xc63cd"><lazy-image alt="" src="//i0.wp.com/post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Nathan-Greene-500x500-Bio.png?w=73&h=73"></lazy-image></div></div><div><span><span>Medically reviewed by <a class="css-150s69f css-130mbve" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team">Nathan Greene, PsyD</a></span></span></div></section><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-disorder-treatment;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|9" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|How Is Panic Disorder Treated?|rn8" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">Living with panic disorder can be challenging. Read about treatment options for panic disorder, including psychotherapy, medications, and other…</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/panic-disorder-treatment;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|9" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|How Is Panic Disorder Treated?|rn8" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-treatment?utm_source=ReadNext" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">READ MORE<span class="icon-hl-arrow-right-bold selector css-2kgwd5"></span></a></div></div></div><section class="css-82r5pg css-1ub4i5m"></section></div></div></li><li class="css-12weawj"><div class="css-m260rd"><div class="css-1h1rean"><div class="css-1r7frvz"><div class="css-lm0pdr"><span style="font-size:0;line-height:0"></span><figure class="css-1e4ja14 css-f0t0lw"><a class="css-1uhtj6l" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/social-anxiety-overview;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|10" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Social Anxiety Overview|rn9" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/social-anxiety-overview?utm_source=ReadNext" aria-label="image-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" data-testid="image-link" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1"><div class="css-79elbk"><span class="css-rwmw5v css-1pf0x3y"><span class="css-1767n2d"><lazy-image alt="Social Anxiety Overview" src="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/HL_Generic-Thumb.jpeg" srcSet="https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/HL_Generic-Thumb.jpeg 200w" className="css-1lyqwde"></lazy-image></span></span><span class="css-1fb1nmp"><span class="css-a10gts"></span></span></div></a></figure><div class="css-h0zs0i"><a class="css-11ivwxm" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/social-anxiety-overview;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|10" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Social Anxiety Overview|rn9" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/social-anxiety-overview?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="title-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks">Social Anxiety Overview</a><p class=""><a class="css-onvglr" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo click|/anxiety/social-anxiety-overview;engagement|bottom page content promo click index|10" data-element-event="INTERNAL LINK|FOOTER|Any Page|Read This Next|LINK|Social Anxiety Overview|rn9" href="https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/social-anxiety-overview?utm_source=ReadNext" data-testid="text-link" data-ga4="Read Next button clicks" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">People with social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, suffer from an intense fear of becoming humiliated in social situations.</a></p><a class="css-1culwpr css-2dy712" data-event="engagement|bottom page content promo 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She has a passion for connecting to people by writing about mental health. She previously reached thousands of readers as an editor for GoodTherapy, an online therapist directory. She is a proponent of the idea that mental health is a topic for everyone, and she seeks to spread this message by creating educational and empathetic content.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":400,"height":400,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/Professional-Portrait-Courtney.png"},"bioBlurb":{"nodes":["Courtney Telloian is a former editor, now a writer, for Psych Central. She has a passion for connecting to people by writing about mental health. She previously…"]}}],"medicalReviewers":[{"id":4024,"name":{"display":"Matthew Boland, PhD","first":"Matthew","last":"Boland, PhD"},"userLogin":"mboland","links":{"website":"https://mattbphd.com/","facebook":"https://www.facebook.com/dr.mattb/","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-boland-ph-d-9b527113/","twitter":"","instagram":"https://www.instagram.com/dr.mattb/","tiktok":""},"link":"/reviewers/matthew-boland-phd","type":{"value":"medical_reviewer","label":"Medical Advisor"},"nid":"164593","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eDr. Matt Boland is a licensed clinical psychologist who conducts structured assessment and psychotherapy with medical patients and mental health consumers in Reno, Nevada. He also conducts original research on posttraumatic stress and emotional regulation in clinical disorders, teaches university courses on related topics, and he helps train psychiatry residents in a medical school setting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEducation\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSanta Clara University, BA\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUniversity of Colorado Denver, MA\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUniversity of Nevada, Reno, PhD\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertifications\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eLicensed Clinical Psychologist\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProfessional Accomplishments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCompleted clinical research fellowship at the University of California, San Diego\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCompleted clinical internship at New Mexico VA/Southwest Consortium\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFeatured in informational videos on topics in mental health as \u0026#8220;Dr. Matt B\u0026#8221;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAffiliations\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.psychologicalscience.org/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAssociation for Psychological Science (APS)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.apa.org/about/division/div56\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmerican Psychological Association (APA), Division 56 Trauma Psychology\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.isre.org/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInternational Society for Research in Emotion (ISRE)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":500,"height":500,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/New-Matthew-Boland-500x500-Bio.png"},"bioBlurb":{"nodes":["Dr. Matt Boland is a licensed clinical psychologist who conducts structured assessment and psychotherapy with medical patients and mental health consumers in…"]}}],"editors":[{"role":"Editor","name":{"display":"Courtney Telloian"}}],"pinterestImage":{"path":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Pool_Overhead_732x549-thumbnail.jpg"},"hideFeedback":false,"isMedicare":false,"isBlog":false,"publishSource":"wordpress","isAmpSupported":false,"categories":[{"name":"Uncategorized","slug":"uncategorized","link":"/uncategorized","children":[]}],"language":{"en":"https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/causes-of-anxiety-disorders/","x-default":"https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/causes-of-anxiety-disorders/","current":"en"},"lang":"en","links":[],"colorScheme":"default","isContentSeries":false,"brandCTAs":[],"clusterNavLinks":[],"clusterUrls":[],"clusterLinks":{},"pathingTilesData":{},"pathingCardsData":{},"inArticlePathingCardsData":[],"quantitativeTrustData":{},"isPrependRecipeH2":false,"recipes":[],"hideTabs":false,"tabs":[{"id":"_noHeaderPrefixedContent","title":null,"header":null,"body":[{"tagName":"div","source":"\u003cp class=\"css-w2pt6r\"\u003eTraumatic events, personality traits, genetics, chronic stress, and medical conditions could all cause anxiety symptoms. Here’s why.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"tagName":"p"},{"tagName":"div","attributes":{"data-preamp":"serena-chatbot"},"source":""},{"tagName":"p","source":"Anxiety can make you feel tense, stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted. What causes anxiety symptoms and these effects may vary from person to person. "},{"tagName":"p","source":"Everyone experiences anxiety as an emotional response every now and then. But, what takes you from an episode of anxiety to having an \u003ca href=\"https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxiety-disorders\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eanxiety disorder\u003c/a\u003e?"},{"tagName":"p","source":"It turns out there are a lot of factors that go into what causes anxiety — your family history, genetics, environment, and the ways you learn to cope, for instance. If you live with anxiety, it’s likely caused by a unique blend of these."},{"tagName":"p"},{"tagName":"p"},{"widget":{"widgetFormat":"widget-call-out","items":[{"isBullets":true,"list":true,"headerTitle":["Symptoms of anxiety"],"content":[{"tagName":"p","source":"While each subtype of anxiety has its own set of causes and symptoms, anxiety disorders can also affect people in similar ways."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Some common signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders may include:"},{"tagName":"ul","source":"\u003cli\u003epersistent feelings of worry\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003ea strong sense of overwhelm\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eintense fear in certain situations\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003emuscle tension\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eincreased heart rate\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eshortness of breath\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003erestlessness\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003efatigue\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003edizziness or lightheadedness\u003c/li\u003e"},{"tagName":"p","source":"If you have an anxiety disorder, you may not experience every symptom on the list. Your symptoms can depend on the type of anxiety you experience and its severity."}]}]},"brandPage":{}}]},{"id":"causes","title":"Causes","isCollapsable":false,"header":["Causes of anxiety"],"body":[{"tagName":"p","source":"Anxiety doesn’t have just one cause. If you have an anxiety disorder, it’s probably due to a combination of factors including:"},{"tagName":"ul","source":"\u003cli\u003elearned coping patterns\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003egenetics\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/health/temperament-and-personality/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"244844\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003etemperament\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-personality/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"349632\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003epersonality traits\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003echildhood and family history\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003echronic stress\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003etraumatic events\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003emedical conditions\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003esubstance or medication use\u003c/li\u003e"},{"tagName":"p","source":"While it’s not necessary to know the causes of your anxiety disorder in order to manage it, this info may provide some context if you’re looking to gain a deeper understanding of the \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/getting-to-the-root-of-your-anxiety/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"143696\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eroot of your anxiety\u003c/a\u003e."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Learned coping patterns"},{"tagName":"p","source":"What causes anxiety may be linked to how you’ve coped with emotional challenges in the past."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Everyone reacts to anxiety in one way or another. While some styles of reacting help you deal with the source of anxiety, others can actually increase your symptoms and make them more likely to return."},{"tagName":"p","source":"When a coping style makes it \u003cem\u003emore\u003c/em\u003e difficult rather than easier to adapt, it’s called a maladaptive response or behavior."},{"tagName":"p","source":"\u003chl-trusted-source source=\"PubMed Central\" rationale=\"Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29553003/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eRecent research\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/hl-trusted-source\u003e has identified several maladaptive behaviors that could contribute to generalized anxiety disorder, for example. These behaviors include:"},{"tagName":"ul","source":"\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/pro/the-five-types-of-avoidance\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eavoidant behaviors\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/health/hypervigilance/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"155840\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003ehypervigilance\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/blog/denial-of-trauma-signs/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"151202\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003etrauma denial\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e"},{"tagName":"p","source":"For instance, if you use avoidance to cope with anxiety, you might procrastinate or avoid tasks or situations that make you feel anxious. This avoidance can increase your anxiety when you encounter these things in the future."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Genetics and family history"},{"tagName":"p","source":"It’s fairly common for anxiety disorders (and other mental health conditions for that matter) to run in families."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Research suggests you have about a \u003chl-trusted-source source=\"PubMed Central\" rationale=\"Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573560/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003e30% chance\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/hl-trusted-source\u003e of developing an anxiety disorder if a parent has one."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Certain genes may also affect \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-big-five-personality-traits\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003epersonality traits\u003c/a\u003e that have been linked to anxiety disorders."},{"tagName":"p","source":"For example, people with higher levels of \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/health/all-about-neuroticism/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"268301\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eneuroticism\u003c/a\u003e tend to have more anxiety and depressed mood. There may be at least some genetic aspect that means you may be more likely to have this trait."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Stress"},{"tagName":"p","source":"\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/stress/stress-overview/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"66079\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eStress\u003c/a\u003e, especially early in life, could play a role in what causes anxiety disorders. Exposure to the stress hormone cortisol may be why."},{"tagName":"p","source":"In a \u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/bne-0000094.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003e2015 animal study\u003c/a\u003e, researchers found that when pregnant voles were subjected to stress, their offspring showed more signs of anxiety than the offspring of voles that weren’t stressed. These findings support the idea that exposure to stress hormones is connected to anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"While it’s still not clear how big of a role stress plays in the development of anxiety disorders, growing evidence suggests it could be a contributing factor."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Traumatic events"},{"tagName":"p","source":"If you’ve been through a \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-trauma/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"211569\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003etraumatic event\u003c/a\u003e or experienced abuse, it’s possible that you may have a higher chance of developing an anxiety disorder. Even \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/health/vicarious-trauma/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"233694\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003evicarious trauma\u003c/a\u003e can cause anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Some research supports the theory that living through trauma as a child could contribute to anxiety in adulthood."},{"tagName":"p","source":"In one \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032716313271\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003e2017 study\u003c/a\u003e, participants who reported anxiety symptoms also reported that they’d had a hard time coping with \u003ca class=\"content-link css-150s69f sl\" href=\"https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/the-connection-between-childhood-trauma-and-generalized-anxiety-disorder\"\u003echildhood trauma\u003c/a\u003e."},{"tagName":"p","source":"\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/ptsd\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003ePost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)\u003c/a\u003e also has some links to anxiety disorders. "},{"tagName":"p","source":"According to the \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/dsm-5#1\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)\u003c/a\u003e, people with PTSD are about 80% more likely to have another mental health condition, including an anxiety disorder."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Medical conditions"},{"tagName":"p","source":"Some medical conditions cause anxiety. The DSM-5 lists the following medical issues that include anxiety as a potential symptom:"},{"tagName":"ul","source":"\u003cli\u003ehyper- and hypothyroidism \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eheart problems\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003elung conditions including asthma and pneumonia\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003emetabolism issues\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eseizure disorders\u003c/li\u003e"},{"tagName":"p","source":"In this case, anxiety caused by a medical condition refers to anxiety as a symptom of an illness. \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/disorders/somatic-symptom-disorder/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"6531\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eHealth anxiety\u003c/a\u003e, on the other hand, involves worry about a medical condition."},{"tagName":"p","source":"If you have anxiety caused by an underlying medical condition, you might not even know you have a medical condition. Your doctor can help you find out where your anxiety comes from."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Medications and substance use"},{"tagName":"p","source":"Many medications and other substances interact with your body chemistry in a way that can cause anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"While anxiety is often a side effect of these substances, it may feel no different from any other kind of anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Substances that may cause anxiety include:"},{"tagName":"ul","source":"\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/blog/caffeines-effects-on-your-thinking#1\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003ecaffeine\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/blog/alcohol-may-not-help-alcohols-impact-on-your-mental-health#1\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003ealcohol\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/disorders/cannabis-marijuana-withdrawal/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"6522\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003ecannabis\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eopioids\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003ecocaine\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003ehallucinogens\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eamphetamine and other stimulants \u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003esome sedatives \u003c/li\u003e"},{"tagName":"p","source":"Some of these substances, such as sedatives, tend to cause anxiety only after you’ve stopped taking them as part of the discontinuation process or potentially, withdrawal. "}]},{"id":"contributing-factors","title":"Contributing factors","isCollapsable":false,"header":["Common contributing factors for anxiety"],"body":[{"tagName":"p","source":"When it comes to anxiety, knowing your contributing factors can help in a couple of ways. "},{"tagName":"p","source":"First, this knowledge can give you some background on what may be adding to or worsening your anxiety symptoms. It can also help you learn more about anxiety by showing when and where it tends to occur. "},{"tagName":"p","source":"For instance, women are \u003chl-trusted-source source=\"Department of Health and Human Services\" rationale=\"Governmental authority\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/anxiety-disorders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003etwice as likely\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/hl-trusted-source\u003e as men to have an anxiety disorder."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Age"},{"tagName":"p","source":"Age may play a role in when you start experiencing anxiety. While anxiety can affect anyone of any age, being a young adult appears to be a risk factor."},{"tagName":"p","source":"According to the \u003chl-trusted-source source=\"National Institute of Mental Health\" rationale=\"Governmental authority\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eNational Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/hl-trusted-source\u003e, about 1 in 5 adults may develop an anxiety disorder, compared to about 1 in 3 teens. These statistics suggest that teens are more likely than adults to have an anxiety-related diagnosis."},{"tagName":"p","source":"It’s not uncommon for people with anxiety to wait to seek help or support. Diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder peaks in middle age. This could mean that many people live with anxiety for years before getting a diagnosis."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Ethnicity"},{"tagName":"p","source":"There’s been some evidence to suggest that ethnicity is a factor in developing anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"According to data from a \u003ca href=\"https://mhanational.org/mental-health-data-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003e2020 Mental Health America survey\u003c/a\u003e, people of American Indian/Native American descent reported the highest levels of anxiety, followed by people who identified as white."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Hispanic participants reported higher levels of anxiety than Asian and Black participants."},{"tagName":"p","source":"These trends tend to line up with other reports on anxiety and ethnicity, but future studies can help provide more accurate data by reducing gaps in reporting. Health inequities may also play a factor in some data."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Personality"},{"tagName":"p","source":"Certain personality traits have been connected to anxiety disorders. You may be more likely to have an anxiety disorder if:"},{"tagName":"ul","source":"\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou’re “inhibited.”\u003c/strong\u003e Psychologists use the term “behavioral inhibition” to refer to a cautious attitude toward new people or situations.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou’re high in neuroticism.\u003c/strong\u003e According to the \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-big-five-personality-traits\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eBig Five\u003c/a\u003e personality scale, neuroticism is a tendency to experience more uncomfortable emotions or moodiness.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou were a shy kid.\u003c/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/lib/facts-about-shyness#1\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eShyness\u003c/a\u003e in childhood is connected to higher chances of experiencing an anxiety disorder, especially social anxiety, as an adult.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYou tend to be a perfectionist.\u003c/strong\u003e According to a \u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://www.pnas.org/content/117/18/9800\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003e2020 study\u003c/a\u003e, you may be more likely to experience anxiety as an adult if you were sensitive to making mistakes during your teen years.\u003c/li\u003e"},{"tagName":"p","source":"These personality traits are thought to stem from the way your temperament — how you’re genetically predisposed to act — interacts with your environment."},{"tagName":"h3","source":"Environment"},{"tagName":"p","source":"When it comes to the environment as a contributing factor to anxiety, research is mixed. Your environment can include your life circumstances, your physical surroundings, and your relationships."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Overprotective parenting styles and adversity in childhood have been connected to anxiety later in life. \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/blog/heal-pain-of-dismissive-mother/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"207500\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eGrowing up with a dismissive parent\u003c/a\u003e may increase your chances of having anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/lib/types-of-abuse/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2370\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eAbuse\u003c/a\u003e, trauma, and \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/blog/childhood-neglect/2019/10/5-unhealthy-relationship-patterns-set-up-by-childhood-emotional-neglect#1\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eemotional neglect in childhood\u003c/a\u003e could double or quadruple your chances of having an anxiety disorder later in life, according to a \u003chl-trusted-source source=\"Wiley\" rationale=\"Peer reviewed journal\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbb.12423\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003e2017 review\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/hl-trusted-source\u003e."},{"tagName":"p","source":"In addition to your past environment, your present circumstances can also increase your risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Traumatic events and situations that put you under constant stress can heighten your risk of anxiety."},{"widget":{"widgetFormat":"widget-call-out","items":[{"isBullets":true,"list":true,"headerTitle":["Fear vs. anxiety"],"content":[{"tagName":"p","source":"Anxiety and fear are usually thought of as nearly the same thing — but they’re different in a few key ways."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Differences between fear and anxiety depend on what causes them:"},{"tagName":"ul","source":"\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFear\u003c/strong\u003e is an emotional and physical response to a present, known threat.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnxiety\u003c/strong\u003e is the emotional and physical anticipation of a threat in the future.\u003c/li\u003e"},{"tagName":"p","source":"Both fear and anxiety involve your awareness of danger and risk. But while fear is linked more closely to the \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/lib/fight-or-flight\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003efight, flight, or freeze response\u003c/a\u003e of your sympathetic nervous system, anxiety also involves preparation for future danger."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Sometimes this future danger is a real threat, but other times it may be perceived or unlikely to actually happen."},{"tagName":"p","source":"If you’re always anticipating danger, you’ll likely feel tense and stressed. Meanwhile, your mind could be whirling round, replaying possibilities and scenarios."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Anxiety is distinct from fear in that it tends to cause people to overestimate danger."},{"tagName":"p","source":"To sum it up: Fear tends to be caused by the presence of danger — what causes anxiety can be a bit more complicated."}]}]},"brandPage":{}},{"tagName":"p"}]},{"id":"can-you-prevent-anxiety","title":"Can you prevent anxiety?","isCollapsable":false,"header":["Is anxiety preventable?"],"body":[{"tagName":"p","source":"You may be wondering: If I can find out what causes my anxiety, can I prevent it from developing in the first place?"},{"tagName":"p","source":"While prevention isn’t always possible, anxiety disorders are highly treatable — especially when treatment addresses the ways you react to anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"It’s also important to remember that everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. But if you have an anxiety disorder, strategies like medication, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and other coping techniques can help."},{"tagName":"p","source":"If you believe your \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-parents-can-do-when-their-child-is-anxious#1\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003echild may have anxiety\u003c/a\u003e, helping them learn to manage it and cope can help reduce the severity of anxiety they experience as an adult."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Children who experience anxiety may also have a higher chance of the following in adulthood:"},{"tagName":"ul","source":"\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/depression/depression\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003edepression\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/disorders/alcohol-substance-abuse-symptoms\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003esubstance use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/depression/what-is-suicidal-ideation/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"105583\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003esuicidal thoughts\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003edifficulty in school or work\u003c/li\u003e"}]},{"id":"anxiety-treatment","title":"Anxiety treatment","isCollapsable":false,"header":["Getting help for anxiety"],"body":[{"tagName":"p","source":"Managing anxiety often involves learning more about what’s causing it."},{"tagName":"p","source":"While addressing anxiety early can make treatment easier, strategies exist to help you cope with anxiety however long you’ve had it. "},{"tagName":"p","source":"Therapy is highly effective for learning to manage anxiety. A therapist can help you by taking a closer look at your beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors."},{"tagName":"p","source":"\u003ca href=\"http://psychcentral.com/lib/in-depth-cognitive-behavioral-therapy#1(opens%20in%20a%20new%20tab)\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eCognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-exposure-therapy/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2643\" class=\"content-link css-150s69f\"\u003eexposure therapy\u003c/a\u003e are two common types of therapy for anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"No matter what causes anxiety, there’s a coping strategy out there that fits your needs and goals. "}]},{"id":"recap","title":"Recap","isCollapsable":false,"header":["Let’s recap"],"body":[{"tagName":"p","source":"A variety of elements, including genetics, environment, coping patterns, and life events can cause anxiety."},{"tagName":"p","source":"Certain contributing factors — like age and personality traits — may also help you understand if you’re more likely to develop an anxiety disorder."},{"tagName":"p","source":"It’s not always necessary to know the exact cause of your anxiety in order to manage your symptoms — after all, it’s often a combo of several things. But learning the contributing causes of anxiety may help with your approach to treatment."}]}],"hasAffiliateLinks":false,"affiliates":[],"propsFor":{"articleResources":[{"title":{"tagName":"span","source":"American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC."}},{"displayLink":"womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/anxiety-disorders","link":"https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/anxiety-disorders","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Anxiety disorders. (2017)."}},{"displayLink":"nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml","link":"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder.shtml","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Any anxiety disorder. (2017)."}},{"displayLink":"sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091302218300104","link":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091302218300104","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Cameron HA, et al. (2018). Behavioral and structural adaptations to stress."}},{"displayLink":"childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/","link":"https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Goldstein C. (n.d.). What to do (and not do) when children are anxious."}},{"displayLink":"ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573560/","link":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573560/","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Gottschalk MG, et al. (2017). Genetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traits."}},{"displayLink":"apa.org/pubs/journals/features/bne-0000094.pdf","link":"https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/bne-0000094.pdf","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"He FQ, et al. (2015). Perinatal stress effects on later anxiety and hormone secretion in male mandarin voles."}},{"displayLink":"mhanational.org/mental-health-data-2020","link":"https://mhanational.org/mental-health-data-2020","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"How race matters: What we can learn from Mental Health America\u0026apos;s screening in 2020. (n.d.)."}},{"displayLink":"sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032716313271","link":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032716313271","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Huh HJ, et al. (2017). The relationship between childhood trauma and the severity of adulthood depression and anxiety symptoms in a clinical sample: The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies."}},{"displayLink":"pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29553003/","link":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29553003/","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Mahoney AEJ, et al. (2018). Maladaptive behaviors associated with generalized anxiety disorder: An item response theory analysis."}},{"displayLink":"link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00787-020-01669-3","link":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00787-020-01669-3","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Narmandakh A, et al. (2020). Psychosocial and biological risk factors of anxiety disorders in adolescents: A TRAILS report."}},{"displayLink":"onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbb.12423","link":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/gbb.12423","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Schiele MA, et al. (2017). Epigenetics at the crossroads between genes, environment and resilience in anxiety disorders."}},{"displayLink":"pnas.org/content/117/18/9800","link":"https://www.pnas.org/content/117/18/9800","title":{"tagName":"span","source":"Tang A, et al. (2020). Infant behavioral inhibition predicts personality and social outcomes three decades later."}}],"byline":{"authors":[{"id":4947,"name":{"display":"Courtney Telloian","first":"Courtney","last":"Telloian"},"link":"/authors/courtney-telloian","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eCourtney Telloian is a former editor, now a writer, for Psych Central. She has a passion for connecting to people by writing about mental health. She previously reached thousands of readers as an editor for GoodTherapy, an online therapist directory. She is a proponent of the idea that mental health is a topic for everyone, and she seeks to spread this message by creating educational and empathetic content.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":400,"height":400,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/Professional-Portrait-Courtney.png"}}],"medicalReviewers":[{"id":4024,"name":{"display":"Matthew Boland, PhD","first":"Matthew","last":"Boland, PhD"},"userLogin":"mboland","links":{"website":"https://mattbphd.com/","facebook":"https://www.facebook.com/dr.mattb/","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-boland-ph-d-9b527113/","twitter":"","instagram":"https://www.instagram.com/dr.mattb/","tiktok":""},"link":"/reviewers/matthew-boland-phd","type":{"value":"medical_reviewer","label":"Medical Advisor"},"nid":"164593","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eDr. Matt Boland is a licensed clinical psychologist who conducts structured assessment and psychotherapy with medical patients and mental health consumers in Reno, Nevada. He also conducts original research on posttraumatic stress and emotional regulation in clinical disorders, teaches university courses on related topics, and he helps train psychiatry residents in a medical school setting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEducation\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSanta Clara University, BA\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUniversity of Colorado Denver, MA\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eUniversity of Nevada, Reno, PhD\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertifications\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eLicensed Clinical Psychologist\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProfessional Accomplishments\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCompleted clinical research fellowship at the University of California, San Diego\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCompleted clinical internship at New Mexico VA/Southwest Consortium\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFeatured in informational videos on topics in mental health as \u0026#8220;Dr. Matt B\u0026#8221;\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAffiliations\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.psychologicalscience.org/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAssociation for Psychological Science (APS)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.apa.org/about/division/div56\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAmerican Psychological Association (APA), Division 56 Trauma Psychology\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.isre.org/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eInternational Society for Research in Emotion (ISRE)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":500,"height":500,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/New-Matthew-Boland-500x500-Bio.png"}}],"id":"psy-10330","updateReason":[],"editor":"Courtney Telloian","factCheckedBy":"","factCheckers":[],"articleHistory":{"2017-03-03":{"updateReason":[],"authors":"Darlene Lancer","medicallyReviewedBy":"Scientific Advisory Board"},"2022-07-08":{"updateReason":[],"authors":"Courtney Telloian","editor":"Courtney Telloian","copyEditor":"Jamie Elmer"},"2021-02-12":{"medicallyReviewedBy":"Matthew Boland, PhD"}},"articleDates":{"factChecked":{"date":null,"display":""},"medicallyReviewed":{"date":1613088000,"display":"February 12, 2021"},"published":{"date":1488531900,"display":"March 3, 2017"},"lastUpdates":{"date":1657238400,"display":"July 8, 2022"},"modified":{"date":1675361449,"display":"February 2, 2023"}},"type":"healthfeature","language":"en"},"isCorp":false,"isReference":false,"isPremiumVideo":false,"isStandaloneVideo":false,"isStandaloneRecipe":false,"schemaObj":{"@context":"https://schema.org","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Psych Central","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://images-prod.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/frontend-static/psychcentral-logo@2x.png"}},"@type":"MedicalWebPage","headline":"What Causes Anxiety?","description":"Anxiety disorders are caused by a unique combination of genetics, your environment, important life events, and learned coping patterns.","keywords":"anxiety disorders causes","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Courtney Telloian"},"lastReviewed":"2021-02-12T00:00:00Z","url":"https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/causes-of-anxiety-disorders","datePublished":"2017-03-03T09:05:00Z","dateModified":"2022-07-08T00:00:00Z","articleSection":"Uncategorized","correction":{"@type":"CorrectionComment","text":"","datePublished":"2022-07-08"},"reviewedBy":"Matthew Boland, PhD","thumbnail":["https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Pool_Overhead_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg"]},"hero":{}}},"ampLibs":{},"scrollArticles":[{"title":["What Are Anxiety Disorders?"],"text":["Anxiety disorders are common types of mental health conditions. 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Jamie believes in the healing power of breaking down stigma and the importance of validating people’s lived experiences.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":500,"height":500,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/MNT-Bio1-500x500-1.png"}}],"reviewedByHeader":"Medically reviewed by"},{"title":["Living with an Anxiety Disorder: Home Remedies for Relief"],"text":["Learning that you have an anxiety disorder may bring relief, more questions, and more worry. The good news? Anxiety disorders are among the most…"],"link":"/anxiety/living-with-an-anxiety-disorder","imageAlt":"Living with an Anxiety Disorder: Home Remedies for Relief","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/Male_Floor_Meditation_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Marney A. 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Typically, the most effective treatment incorporates both talk therapy and medication, but…"],"link":"/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment","imageAlt":"How to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/therapy-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Alex Klein, PsyD","reviewerImage":{"path":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/200x200_Alex_Klein_mug.png","width":200,"height":200,"altText":""}},"isNutrition":false,"authors":[{"id":1459,"name":{"display":"Margarita Tartakovsky, MS","first":"Margarita","last":"Tartakovsky, MS"},"userLogin":"mtartakovsky","links":{"website":"","facebook":"","linkedin":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/authors/margarita-tartakovsky-ms","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eMargarita Tartakovsky, MS, has been writing for Psych Central for more than a decade on a wide range of topics. She\u0026#8217;s the author of the mental health journal \u0026#8220;Vibe Check: Be Your Best You\u0026#8221; (Sterling Teen). She’s especially passionate about helping readers feel less alone and overwhelmed and more empowered. You can connect with Margarita on \u003ca href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/margarita-tartakovsky/\"\u003eLinkedIn\u003c/a\u003e, or check out her writing at her \u003ca href=\"https://www.margaritatartakovsky.com/\"\u003ewebsite\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":400,"height":400,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/04/Margarita-Tartakovsky-photo.jpg"}},{"id":279,"name":{"display":"Susanne Arthur","first":"Susanne","last":"Arthur"},"userLogin":"sarthur","links":{"website":"","facebook":"","linkedin":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/authors/susanne-arthur","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"158120","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eSusanne Arthur is a Psych Central editor committed to bringing empathetic, empowering, and evidence-based mental health content to readers worldwide. Having lived with generalized anxiety disorder since childhood, she’s particularly interested in anxiety disorders, depression, suicide prevention, and mental health in children and young adults.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":400,"height":400,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/IMG_7236.png"}}],"reviewedByHeader":"Medically reviewed by"},{"title":["10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work"],"text":["If you're looking for therapy to help you manage anxiety, you'll find there are many options to choose from. Here are some top picks and what they're…"],"link":"/anxiety/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders","imageAlt":"10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/therapy-732x549-thumbnail-1.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW, ACSW, RDDP","reviewerImage":{"path":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Joslyn-Jelinek-500x500-Bio.png","width":200,"height":200,"altText":""}},"isNutrition":false,"authors":[{"id":56,"name":{"display":"Leah Campbell","first":"Leah","last":"Campbell"},"userLogin":"leahcampbell","links":{"website":"http://www.leahcampbellwrites.com/","facebook":"https://www.facebook.com/LeahCampbellWrites/","linkedin":"","twitter":"LeahWritesStuff","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/authors/leah-campbell","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eLeah Campbell is a writer and editor living in Anchorage, Alaska. A single mother by choice, Leah is an adoptive and foster mom to four biological siblings who spent way too much of their life apart. She\u0026#8217;s the author of the books “\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17780419\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSingle Infertile Female\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e” and \u0026#8220;\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53928321\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Story of My Open Adoption\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u0026#8221; and has written extensively on the topics of mental health, adoption, and parenting. You can connect with Leah via \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/LeahCampbellWrites\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFacebook\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, her \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.leahcampbellwrites.com/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ewebsite\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, and \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LeahWritesStuff\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTwitter\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":400,"height":400,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/04/Campbell16_0052-PNG.png"}}],"reviewedByHeader":"Medically reviewed by"},{"title":["What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?"],"text":["Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that involves intense fear in public spaces. In this article, we look at the physical, mental, and behavioral…"],"link":"/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms","imageAlt":"What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Friends_Talking_Roof_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Tiffany Taft, PsyD","reviewerImage":{"path":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Taft_Headshot_2023.png","width":200,"height":200,"altText":""}},"isNutrition":false,"authors":[{"id":899,"name":{"display":"Jamie Smith","first":"Jamie","last":"Smith"},"userLogin":"asmith","links":{"website":"","facebook":"","linkedin":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/authors/jamie-smith","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eJamie is a writer, editor, and researcher with a PhD in psychology, with main interests including mental health advocacy, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and trauma-informed practice. Jamie believes in the healing power of breaking down stigma and the importance of validating people’s lived experiences.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":500,"height":500,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/MNT-Bio1-500x500-1.png"}}],"reviewedByHeader":"Medically reviewed by"},{"title":["What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?"],"text":["Generalized anxiety disorder often comes on gradually and involves both physical and mental anxiety symptoms. We outline symptoms of GAD and provide…"],"link":"/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms","imageAlt":"What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/eyes-closed-anxiety-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Marney A. 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A single mother by choice, Leah is an adoptive and foster mom to four biological siblings who spent way too much of their life apart. She\u0026#8217;s the author of the books “\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17780419\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eSingle Infertile Female\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e” and \u0026#8220;\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53928321\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Story of My Open Adoption\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u0026#8221; and has written extensively on the topics of mental health, adoption, and parenting. You can connect with Leah via \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/LeahCampbellWrites\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eFacebook\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, her \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://www.leahcampbellwrites.com/\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ewebsite\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e, and \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/LeahWritesStuff\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTwitter\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":400,"height":400,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/04/Campbell16_0052-PNG.png"}}],"reviewedByHeader":"Medically reviewed by"},{"title":["What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?"],"text":["Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that involves intense fear in public spaces. In this article, we look at the physical, mental, and behavioral…"],"link":"/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms","imageAlt":"What Are the Symptoms of Agoraphobia?","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/Friends_Talking_Roof_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Tiffany Taft, PsyD","reviewerImage":{"path":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Taft_Headshot_2023.png","width":200,"height":200,"altText":""}},"isNutrition":false,"authors":[{"id":899,"name":{"display":"Jamie Smith","first":"Jamie","last":"Smith"},"userLogin":"asmith","links":{"website":"","facebook":"","linkedin":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/authors/jamie-smith","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eJamie is a writer, editor, and researcher with a PhD in psychology, with main interests including mental health advocacy, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and trauma-informed practice. Jamie believes in the healing power of breaking down stigma and the importance of validating people’s lived experiences.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":500,"height":500,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/MNT-Bio1-500x500-1.png"}}],"reviewedByHeader":"Medically reviewed by"},{"title":["What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?"],"text":["Generalized anxiety disorder often comes on gradually and involves both physical and mental anxiety symptoms. We outline symptoms of GAD and provide…"],"link":"/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms","imageAlt":"What Are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/01/eyes-closed-anxiety-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Marney A. 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Dr. Grohol was the founder of Psych Central and continues publishing the trade publication \u003ca href=\"https://www.nepsy.com/\"\u003eNew England Psychologist\u003c/a\u003e. He also sits on the scientific board of the journal Computers in Human Behavior.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","src":""}},{"id":279,"name":{"display":"Susanne Arthur","first":"Susanne","last":"Arthur"},"userLogin":"sarthur","links":{"website":"","facebook":"","linkedin":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/authors/susanne-arthur","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"158120","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eSusanne Arthur is a Psych Central editor committed to bringing empathetic, empowering, and evidence-based mental health content to readers worldwide. Having lived with generalized anxiety disorder since childhood, she’s particularly interested in anxiety disorders, depression, suicide prevention, and mental health in children and young adults.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":400,"height":400,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/IMG_7236.png"}}],"reviewedByHeader":"Medically reviewed by"},{"title":["Panic Disorder Symptoms"],"text":["People with panic disorder have feelings of intense fear that strike suddenly and repeatedly without warning. The frequency and severity of panic…"],"link":"/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms","imageAlt":"Panic Disorder Symptoms","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/Female_Looking_Up_732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Akilah Reynolds, PhD","reviewerImage":{"path":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Akilah-Reynolds-500x500-Bio.png","width":200,"height":200,"altText":""}},"isNutrition":false,"authors":[{"id":4945,"name":{"display":"Christina Ward","first":"Christina","last":"Ward"},"userLogin":"cward","links":{"website":"","facebook":"","linkedin":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/authors/christina-ward","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eChristina Ward is an award-winning multimedia professional and passionate health and wellness advocate. Her content has reached millions and has been instrumental in helping users make informed healthcare decisions that positively impact their lives and their health.\u003c/p\u003e\n"},"avatar":{"title":"","width":400,"height":400,"src":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/CWard-Profile-Pic-3.png"}}],"reviewedByHeader":"Medically reviewed by"},{"title":["What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms"],"text":["Panic attack symptoms can be emotional, cognitive, and physical. Here's the formal list and the long-term effect they have on you."],"link":"/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms","imageAlt":"What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms","thumbnail":"https://media.post.rvohealth.io/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/panic-attack-stress-anxiety-732x549-thumbnail-732x549.jpg","medicallyReviewedBy":{"reviewerName":"Nathan Greene, PsyD","reviewerImage":{"path":"https://post.psychcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Nathan-Greene-500x500-Bio.png","width":200,"height":200,"altText":""}},"isNutrition":false,"authors":[{"id":4946,"name":{"display":"Sandra Silva","first":"Sandra","last":"Silva"},"userLogin":"ssilva","links":{"website":"","facebook":"","linkedin":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","tiktok":""},"link":"/authors/sandra-silva","type":{"value":"author","label":"Author"},"nid":"","specialties":[],"guestTitle":"","bio":{"text":"\u003cp\u003eSandra Silva is an editor who is highly committed to developing content that helps bridge the gap in healthcare access and information. 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