II. How do people become stressed or develop anxiety disorders?

Stress and fear are in themselves normal feelings. Some fears are genetic and exist in all of us. They are there to help protect us from danger, such as a fear of darkness, of being alone, or of meeting strangers. Your body has a natural stress response, called the “Fight-or-Flight” that alerts you to danger and prepares you to reach and protect yourself. But when these fear or stress responses get out of control and start to affect your ability to live your life to the full, it may be time for a change.

There are some biological reasons why the body may not readily be able to control and deal with stress. It is all to do with your brain and how hormones, neurotransmitters and other brain chemicals are released and stored. It is unclear how the brain is able to distort the stress response in anxiety disorders but research on brain responses is still very much on-going. There are also genetic factors that can cause anxiety as you grow older. There may be a family history of anxiety or related emotional problems which increase the risk of developing certain disorders. For example, a family history of depression can increase the risk of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Likewise a history of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in the family can increase the risk of developing the same disorder. However,being born with a genetic tendency does not necessarily mean that you will end up with an anxiety disorder as an adult.

Being a victim of past abuse can also increase the risk of PTSD.However, experiencing a traumatic event does not always lead to PTSD. It may also lead to Acute Stress Disorder or OCD, or nothing at all. Traumatic events experienced in childhood increase the chance for phobias to develop, as in Mandy’s case with her fear of dogs. Even with troubling experiences, anxiety does not always have to take hold of your life or become a full-blown disorder.

One interesting fact is that stress can be learnt - by observing how our parents and peers reach to stress and how they cope under difficult, fearful, and stressful situations. But stress is very complex: everyone experiences different forms of attachment to loved ones, parents, and other people. These forms of attachment can affect our fears, our defences, and sometimes our ability to look after ourselves properly. Due to various social factors and personal experiences, each of us has our own set of fears and events that cause feelings of stress. These experiences that set off feelings of stress are known as triggers. If you choose to ignore these triggers, and you neglect your health and are constantly in stressful situations, then tension will accumulate over time and can lead to the development of severe anxiety disorders. If, however, you choose to deal with your triggers, take better care of yourself and remove stressful relationships from your life, you can then stop the cycle.

Finally, stress can be induced and brought on suddenly and unintentionally, by repeated behaviour start are known to be the cause of stress. Certain medications or illicit drugs can also induce stressful responses, as cana poor diet lacking in essential nutrients increase feelings of panic, anxiety and irritability. Furthermore, substances like nicotine, caffeine and other stimulants can induce panic. In all of these cases, you may really only be experiencing substance-induced anxiety disorder, which can easily be corrected by choosing a healthier diet and a better lifestyle.

In some cases, what appear to be symptoms of an anxiety disorder may actually be a physical condition, a chronic disease, or a serious illness. This is why it is important to work with health professionals to clearly identify the problem and to find out the cause of the anxiety.

Anxiety disorders need to be taken seriously. If they are left untreated, they can lead to negative short-term and long-term emotional disruptions, long-lasting conditions and diseases.

The short-term effects can include:

• Anxiety causing panic attack symptoms
• Fatigue
• Social withdrawal
• Poor diet and gradual loss of energy

The long-term consequences of stress are more severe, and can include:

• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Strained romantic relationships
• Cardiovascular problems
• Substance abuse
• Insomnia
• Depression

Looking at what all of the above can do to your mind, body, and relationships, it is absolutely vital that you deal with your anxiety now for your future long-term health and wellbeing.