For many years, it was thought that the causes of anxiety disorders were emotional in nature, but recent studies have found that there may be a physical cause as well. It has been noted that anxiety disorders tend to run in families, with the possibility of this disorder being passed down through generations. This would indicate that anxiety disorders are, at least in part, a genetic condition.
Scientists are studying the brain and its complex chemical makeup to determine whether anxiety disorders originate from the brain. Other scientists are examining the possibility of the brain’s structure being responsible for ‘short circuits’ during information transfer, thereby leading to anxiety attacks. There has been some speculation that certain chemical compounds such as sodium lactate and carbon dioxide may have something to do with triggering anxiety.
It should also be noted that many people who do not suffer from anxiety disorders may still experience a panic attack during stressful periods in their lives. However, those people who do suffer from an anxiety disorder will continue to experience the symptoms even after the stressful situation has passed.
Those who suffer from anxiety disorders are most likely to begin experiencing symptoms in their early twenties. These symptoms can be triggered by highly dramatic events such as a divorce or the loss of a parent or sibling.
When prescribed and monitored by a mental health professional, Xanax is a proven method of controlling the symptoms of anxiety. Xanax is the preferred drug to managing generalized anxiety disorder and may be used to treat panic disorders with or without accompanying agoraphobia.
Xanax works by altering the chemicals in the brain that may trigger the symptoms of anxiety.
There has been speculation that no single source causes anxiety disorder, but that it’s a combination of factors which trigger the illness.
The Psychoanalytic theory suggests that anxiety stems from situations experienced during infancy and early childhood. This may include traumatic events that induced fear or possibly illness. According to this theory, once the unconscious conflict has been identified and resolved, the symptoms of anxiety are alleviated.
Another theory suggests that people are capable of learning to deal with stress in such a negative way as to trigger the symptoms of anxiety. However, the theory goes on to explain that if a person can learn how to react to stressful situations without fear or avoidance, their symptoms can be eliminated.
Recent studies have resulted in a new theory which suggests that anxiety disorder may actually be caused by biochemical imbalances, with certain biochemicals being responsible for panic attacks. In this theory, the cure is simply to use medication which balances the chemicals in the brain, due to the suggestion that a connection exists between emotional and physiological changes and changes in brain chemistry.
It is very likely that the true causes of anxiety disorder may lie in all the theories mentioned. A person may be more inclined to develop an anxiety disorder if this runs in his or her family. When this same person experiences a traumatic childhood event, it can grow into an anxiety disorder, which can intensify the longer that person deals negatively with stress.