What causes stress and anxiety?
There are many situations which can make us feel anxious or stressed out.
Stress is generally a response to an external cause or situation. The NHS states that the four most common causes of stress include work, financial problems, relationships, and health worries, and that once resolved, those feelings of stress usually go away.2
Anxiety, on the other hand, is more difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. It’s thought that anxiety could occur due to a combination of factors like:
- genetics: some research suggests that anxiety disorders can run in families, which highlights a potential genetic predisposition11
- brain chemistry: it’s thought that an imbalance in brain chemicals like serotonin, may play a role in developing anxiety12,13
- life experiences: major life changes and stressful or traumatic events can make developing anxiety more likely14,15
- medical conditions: it’s thought that some medical conditions, like those that cause chronic pain, can contribute to anxiety16
In some cases, frequent and overwhelming feelings of stress and anxiety could be a sign of an underlying condition like generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).17
It’s so important to speak to your GP or a mental health professional if your feelings of stress and anxiety begin to affect your day-to-day life.