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Causes of Anxiety Disorders

There are many theories about the causes of Anxiety Disorders and panic attacks. Sometimes it can be confusing for someone who has an Anxiety Disorder to sift through all the different opinions. Over the years, I have heard some fairly incredible theories and the worse aspect of some of those theories is that it can lead people down the wrong path.

Sometimes the first job we have is to educate people that regardless of the theory as to why this is happening right now, you can recover. Don't get me wrong, it is important to understand everything you can about what is happening to you, why it is happening and why it continues to happen. From this knowledge, we reach a platform that says "OK, from what I know and understand, what is the way out."

The other thing we have to understand is that theories change with the wind as more-and-more research is undertaken. New understandings are reached and old theories are thrown into the rubbish bin. We need to start with the understanding that the current "accepted" theory as to the cause of Anxiety Disorders or panic attacks is just the latest findings in research, and may not be the definitive answer. Maybe it is just partial understanding.

Major Life Stressor

Over the years, we have seen that the seed cause for many people who develop an Anxiety Disorder is a major life stressor. It may be a combination of major life stressors. These can include:

Grief - Death in the family, death of a parent, death of a close friend, spouse
Financial difficulties - loss of a job, overwhelming debt, problems at work, etc.
Major trauma - such as

• such as being held up in a robbery
• being involved in an accident
• encountering a major environmental disaster such as bush fires, earthquakes, cyclones, hurricanes, floods etc
• witnessing a violent crime
• life threatening experience
• major illness
• childhood trauma/ abuse

"Good stressors" - can include planning a wedding, getting married, having a baby, starting a new job

Relationship difficulties - divorce, marital problems, abusive relationships - either family, spouse, friends.

Many people can identify a major life stressor in their life that may have been the emotional root of the Anxiety Disorder. Sometimes the trouble with these events is that they may have occurred many months, even years before the onset of the Anxiety Disorder. It seems to build emotionally until the dam is broken into Anxiety or panic.

Many people will be aware that this event is still effecting them, eg., the grief felt over the loss of a loved one or the trauma of a life-threatening experience. The other problem people encounter with this is the rationalization: "What is past is past;" or "I thought I had dealt with it at the time;" or, "It shouldn't be effecting me now, it happened year (months) ago." If it is effecting you now, then it is a present moment issue. Just because it happened in the past doesn't discount that it still needs to be addressed and healed.

A Build up of Stressors

This is what I commonly call "The Way we Walk through Life". Sometimes we have spent our whole life tensed up against ... life. Sure, we all have "bits and pieces." None of us are perfect, but for some of us, we spend our life trying to be someone that we think other people want us to be. "What will they think of me" is a common thought.

The build up of stressors can also be from the fact that we may be the "strong" one in the family or circle of friends. We are the ones that people come to. We are the ones people unload their problems and concerns onto. We take on their problems, troubles, emotional baggage and may not have the tools or skills within ourselves to deal with that extra load. Some people have the experience of feeling upset after leaving a friend who is emotionally distraught. Some people feel depressed after trying to counsel a friend who is depressed. They have taken on the emotional state.

It is not only that we are taking on other people's problems and emotions, but it is also that we are not looking after our own needs. We put ourselves last and put everyone else first. We give and give and don't put anything back in to replenish our own resources.

The other aspect is that many people simply do not "like" themselves. They treat themselves as second-class citizens. The word "inner critic" does not fully describe the sort of self-statements people throw at themselves. They are hateful phrases we say to ourselves. It is abusive. And we wonder why we aren't getting anywhere. It is because we have locked ourselves up in a prison of self-hate. We chastise everything we do. It is never good enough. And there is always the special taunt of "what will other people think."

Another anxiety and stress builder is having "no boundaries." In everyday lingo, not being able to say no. This is a particularly hard issue because not only do we get the stress/ tension/ anxiety of "having" to do something you don't want to do, but feel you have to, you also get the emotional blockbusters of anger and guilt. Guilt, because we use the inner critic to chastise ourselves by saying "how dare you for not wanting to do X. How selfish of you." Anger, because we have turned our back on ourselves once again.

The other way we walk through life that causes a build up of stressors is trying to be "perfect," or as "perfect" as we think other people want us to be.

Other factors are not having skills to deal with emotional feelings such as anger (within self or others), grief, feelings of abandonment, helplessness, hopelessness. Our self-connectedness (esteem) may be not at a healthy level and we may feel less than other people. We look out at the world and see people who "seem" to be doing OK. We wish we were more like them. We say to ourselves "why can't I be more like them?"

Overall, the way we walk through life can be a big factor. If we are tensed up against life it will take a toll on our cognitive/ emotional/ physical life. If we resist and tense up, can't let go it is going to take an effect one way or the other.

A Hereditary Predisposition

Once again, this is a very valid "theory". It is not uncommon for someone to develop an Anxiety Disorder and then look at other members of their family tree and see that they also have an Anxiety Disorder.

Philip was attending the first Anxiety Management session. The facilitator was mentioning the hereditary predisposition theory to the group. "The mechanism of having a panic attack may have a hereditary predisposition. That is, if you experience a panic attack, then maybe you may see somewhere in the family tree that others experience panic attacks. Now that doesn't mean they will all go on to develop Panic Disorder. It is the way we react to the panic attack that is the problem. Some people experience a panic attack and then just let it go; never getting into the fear cycle. So, it is the panic attack that has the hereditary predisposition, not the Panic Disorder."

Philip thought about this. His mother certainly had never gone out much, always under the cover of child-rearing and sometimes she locked herself in the bathroom for hours. He knew she had taken "Mother's little helpers" (Valium). Could it be? Certainly he felt isolated in this Disorder. If his mother also had the Disorder, imagine how she must be feeling?

Much has been made of learned behaviors. If my father or mother had an Anxiety Disorder, then perhaps I learned certain behavioral traits that also led me to have an Anxiety Disorder? Certainly, we learn how to deal with emotional states from our parents. How to deal with anger, grief, problem solving, relationship skills. All of these and more. They are a major influence in our life. But we also have other influences in our life too. It is not that black and white.

The answer to the question is: I don't know. It is for each and every one of us to look into our own "secret past" and see perhaps if this was a factor. Regardless of this, we can still recover, learn new techniques and skills that we can use within our own life. After all, this is YOUR life, not someone else's. If you find a behavior or quirk that may need modification, then do it.

Thomas had never disclosed to anyone about his Anxiety Disorder. As far as he was concerned, no one had the slightest idea. Thomas found his way onto the road to recovery, a tough and jagged road. But still he saw the freedom at the end of the path. The more he recovered, the more he recognized the insidious Anxiety Disorder in those around him. He was astounded to see that his mother and both of his sisters were sitting on their secret. He decided to open up and confide about his experience. His mother and one of his sisters were shocked at the discovery - they both admitted that they experienced panic attacks too. His other sister however denied categorically that she had an Anxiety Disorder. Thomas assisted his mother and sister to get the appropriate help. Unfortunately, his other sister sank deeper into avoidance and denial.

A Chemical Imbalance

This is the theory that I hear most commonly from clients. Their doctors or specialists had explained the theory to them as to the cause of their Anxiety or Depression or panic attacks. Once again, it is this theory that makes it very difficult, in a sense, for us to get the person into the "attitude" of "I can recover."

It is unfortunate because there is obviously much research and study made into this particular theory. The people doing the research are genuinely interested in finding a solution to people's dreadful suffering. Unfortunately, it is also the theory that can stop some people from doing anything. If I have a chemical imbalance of the brain then it is outside of my control. I need to take a chemical to fix the balance, ie., medication. I have nothing against medication, but only short-term. As Chris Edwards says in his interview (See Newsletter Section), anything from playing tennis to anger can change the chemical balance within our brain. You can change the chemical balance by taking medication or you can have the same effect by changing thinking. Long-term, it is more beneficial for us to take Control of our own lives. But that is just my "opinion". You must make up you own mind as to what is most beneficial for you.

Something to consider, The chicken or the egg came first? The chemical imbalance or the Anxiety Disorder came first? It doesn't matter, if there are techniques available for you to recover now, that is all that matters. Take the Power back. Seize it with your own hands.

Other Causes/ factors

Taking of un-prescribed drugs - marijuana, LSD etc. Many people I have seen had their first panic attack after using marijuana (see more in Newsletter: Marijuana) which led to full on Panic Disorder.

Allergies - allergies can create a quagmire of symptoms within our system and can lead to an Anxiety Disorder.

Mercury teeth fillings - this is another theory that I have heard by many people but have not seen personally the analysis of this theory.

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