OVERVIEW OF GENERALISED ANXIETY PT 2

WHAT CAUSES GENERALISED ANXIETY?

So, how does one become a chronic worrier? There's no simple answer, of ocurse, as everyone is different. However, there are some important factors that have been identified. These factors can generally be divided into biological and psychological causes.

BIOLOGICAL FACTORS
No single gene has been associated with generalised anxiety. Based on twin and family studies, it does seem that individuals may inherit a vulnerability to develop an anxiety disorder. These studies have reported a general vulnerability to develop an anxiety disorder, and interestingly, also a mood disorder. Notice that researchers tell us that this is a general vulnerability, rather than a specific vulnerability for a specific type of disorder. In addition, it has been found that people born with a particular 'anxious' type of temperament, may be more likely to develop an anxiety disorder later in life.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS

However, it is important to remember that while our biology may make us vulnerable to developing an anxiety disorder, not all people with this vulnerability go on to develop problematic anxiety. A great deal depends on the lifestyle of that person, the types of life stressors they have encountered, and how they cope with such stressors.

Stressful, traumatic, and often uncontrollable life events may contribute to the development of generalised anxiety. When such events occur, some people may come to believe that life is dangerous and unpredictable, and that worrying about possible future negative events is a way of coping with the uncertainty of life. They may think that worrying helps them achieve a greater sense of certainty and control, beacause they would be better prepared for anything.

Anxiety may also develop when the people around you give you information about what is threatening and how to cope with those threats. For example, a child may have seen a parent constantly worrying about current circumstances and potentially negative future events, and may learn to follow the parent's behaviour. Alternatively, you may have been told that "Worrying is good and shows that you are a conscientious and prepared person". These sorts of indirect and direct messages may increase your chances of developing generalised anxiety.

Finally, anxiety is made worse when one begins avoiding things they have some concern about. Avoidance will quickly make something that is intially a slight concern for a person, become a source of anxiety. If the people in your life (i.e., parents, siblings, peers, spouses/partners) support your avoidance of various things, this may make your anxiety worse in the long run. People usually support a person's avoidance because they don't want the person to feel any distress. However, experiencing a small amount of distress and learning how to solve or cope with the problem is likely to stop more severe anxiey in the long run.

To summarise part one of my blog:

* Anxiety and worrying are common experiences for most human beings
* Anxiety can be helpful to us and only becomes unhelpful when it is out of proportion to the situation.
* There are different types of anxiety, such as intense fear, ad less intense but longer lasting anxiety like worry or nervousness
* This blog focuses on generalised anxiety, addressing the worrying or nervous type of anxiety
* Problematic generalised anxiety is excessive worrying about a variety of things, is experienced as uncontrollable and intrusive, and causes great distress and difficulty for the individual.
* The exact causes of generalised anxiety are unclear, but it is likely to be a combination of biological vulnerability and environmental influences that contribute to its development.