How Effective Is Hypnotherapy For Anxiety?

There is no ‘one size fits all’ for anxiety, and the cause or triggers will vary from person to person.

There are usually a number of factors as to why someone may suffer with anxiety, such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) or a traumatic event such as a life altering illness or death.

However, genetics and environmental reasons can also play a part in why someone suffers with anxiety, along with other factors.

Below are a few of the most common causes for anxiety:

Difficult Childhood Or Adolescence

Experiencing difficult situations in your childhood can manifest itself as anxiety in your adult life. Struggling with stress or trauma at a young age, while our brains are still developing, can be especially impactful. This may follow us through to adulthood, developing into an anxiety disorder, according to medical studies.

Losing Someone Close To You

Anxiety can be an unexpected, but common, part of grieving. It isn’t unusual to worry about what might happen to yourself or others when losing someone close to you, especially if the death was sudden.

The period before someone’s passing can also be particularly stressful. This can lead to feeling a heightened sense of anxiety, even after they pass.

It is common to feel anxious when grieving, but if your anxiety persists for longer than 6 months, you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder or complicated grief.

Environmental Reasons

A 2018 review noted how environmental factors can play a part in experiencing anxiety. This can include an individual’s upbringing within a cultural or religious setting, family composition, or fears around their identity or sexuality.

Genetics

According to Web MD, you have a higher chance of inheriting anxiety if you have a close family member who suffers, such as a parent or sibling.

There is less scientific backing around the link between genetics and anxiety. Often, a combination of genes from your parents can influence whether you’re likely to experience anxiety. But doctors are unable to prove which exact groups of genes determine this.

While genetics can play a part in our mental health, it’s worth noting that most conditions aren’t driven solely by genetics. There is usually a combination of factors that can bring on anxiety, such as environment, lifestyle, or life events. These experiences, mixed with genetics, can increase the chance of developing an anxiety disorder.

Low Self Esteem and Social Anxiety

Having low self esteem can cause an individual to develop anxiety. It’s not uncommon for low self esteem to be damaging to our mental health, and can also cause us to turn to other habits, such as smoking and drinking, as a way to cope with the condition.

Low self esteem can also result in social anxiety disorder (SAD). There can often be a direct correlation between low self esteem and social anxiety, with those suffering more likely to worry about facing failure in front of others, says a 2020 study.