Anxiety Disorders are among the most common Mental Health Conditions in the world. Individuals of every gender, race, and socioeconomic background can develop Anxiety Disorders such as General Anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and more.
However, there are some people who are more prone to Anxiety Disorders than others. From childhood experiences to adulthood encounters , there are numerous risk factors that can contribute to the development of an Anxiety Disorder. Knowing who is most at risk of Anxiety Disorders can help you identify symptoms of Anxiety Disorders in your own life, making it easier to get the tailored interventions and customized treatment you deserve. Learn more about who is more susceptible to Anxiety Disorders.
People Who Have Experienced Trauma
Trauma often goes hand in hand with Anxiety Disorders. If you have experienced trauma in your life, then you know that the stress and fear of that experience do not fade easily. For many people, that stress lingers in your body and mind, affecting all aspects of your life. You may feel constantly on guard and unable to relax or feel safe. The persistent feelings of danger, uncertainty, paranoia, and fear can create ongoing worry and enduring stress, leading to other medical conditions and Mental Health Disorders, some of which perfectly align with Anxiety.
If you are unable to process loss and other forms of trauma in a healthy way, you may struggle to manage the negative thought patterns and emotions that come with Anxiety. This challenge causes fear, worry, and other distressful emotions to have a much greater impact on your life, turning ordinary stressors into major issues that affect your overall well-being.
People With Chronic Medical Issues
Having a chronic medical issue is a source of stress and worry in and of itself. Whether you are worried about treatment, experiencing everyday pain, or taking daily precautions because of a health issue, this stress and pressure makes you more susceptible to an Anxiety Disorder.
Some examples of long-term medical problems that can cause or exacerbate Anxiety include:
- Cardiovascular issues
- Diabetes
- Thyroid issues
- Asthma and other respiratory disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Insomnia
Your physical and mental health are intertwined. Addressing and treating your Anxiety Disorder helps your physical health and can make medical treatment easier and more effective in the long run.
People Dealing With Stress and Pressure
Major life changes create stress. Even positive situations—such as moving, getting married, or starting a new job—disrupt your daily routine and put a lot of pressure on you. It is natural to experience worry or uncertainty during these big transitions. When those feelings start to overwhelm you and influence your thoughts and actions, they make you more susceptible to Anxiety.
Ongoing stress can also put people at risk of developing an Anxiety Disorder. Struggling with life circumstances, feeling stuck in your career, or working through relationship issues are all examples of ongoing stress that create tremendous pressure and take a toll on your Mental Health and Psychological well-being. This stress can make it harder to combat negative thoughts and overwhelming emotions, which in turn makes stress and worry more likely to affect you on a deeper physical and psychological level.
Certain Personality Types
Certain personality types also influence who is most at risk of Anxiety Disorders. Whether these traits lead to more rigid thought patterns, excessive worry, vulnerability to distress, or other issues, these traits affect the way you handle stress and worry throughout life.
Rigidity
Attention to detail, hard work, and determination to complete a job to the best of their ability are all great qualities in a person. However, when these traits lead to rigidity, they create strict, unrealistic expectations that inevitably lead to disappointment. Those who exercise rigidity often face extreme stress, and they feel more bitter, angry, hostile, and defeated in the face of failures. This can lead to persistent worry, debilitating pressure, low self-esteem, lack of sense of self, medical issues, and a negative self-image—which can exacerbate or lead to Anxiety Disorders.
Overthinking
One of the biggest challenges of having an Anxiety Disorder is ruminating thoughts, compulsions, and inability to stop thinking about your stressors and fears. People who tend to overthink in the first place are more prone to the negative thought spirals that come with Anxiety. Constantly reviewing negative experiences in your head, reminding yourself of mistakes or flaws, or worrying about things that are out of your control can all lead to Anxiety Disorders.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to truly understand how somebody else feels in a certain situation. This valuable trait can make you a kinder, more sympathetic person. However, empathy often goes hand in hand with heightened emotions and sensitivity to distress. When you can easily understand someone else’s negative experiences, you feel part of their fear, sorrow, and pain for yourself. If you do not have the mental and emotional fortitude to process these negative feelings productively, they can lead to higher levels of stress and worry.
Families With a History of Anxiety
Having a family history of Anxiety Disorders makes you more at risk of developing one yourself. Various genetic factors can pass through blood relatives and increase your chances of experiencing an Anxiety Disorder. However, genetics are not the only factor at play. Social and economic influences also affect your susceptibility to Anxiety. As such, Anxiety Disorders might negatively impact multiple members of families who face stress and pressure due to these factors.
Negative thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors, which many people learn from family members, can also influence your susceptibility to Anxiety Disorders, other Mood Disorders, or Addiction Issues. A child who watches close family members deal with Anxiety might see excessive worrying or maladaptive coping techniques, such as substance abuse, as ways to deal with stress. Without a healthy example of how to process and manage negative thoughts and feelings, that child is much more likely to develop their own unhealthy responses to stress. This makes them more prone to Anxiety.
People With Insecure Attachment Styles
Attachment style develops due to your relationship with caretakers during infancy and early childhood. A secure attachment style stems from the knowledge that you can rely on parents or other guardians to comfort and protect you. Insecure attachment, on the other hand, occurs when you do not experience that level of unconditional love, emotional support, and care as an infant.
Avoidant attachment leads to strict independence and an inability to admit vulnerability, making it difficult to find support and care from others. Ambivalent attachment involves heightened rejection sensitivity and clinginess. These issues can affect your confidence levels, lead to isolation or codependency, and make you more susceptible to maladaptive coping techniques such as substance abuse or self-harm.
Building a secure attachment style as an adult helps you develop skills like emotional regulation, healthy communication, distress tolerance, and more. These traits allow you to address and overcome Anxiety Disorders, other Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Addiction Issues, and other Mental Health illnesses.
Anxiety Disorders can stem from a wide range of influences, but that does not mean they have to affect you permanently. At Blair Wellness Group, our skilled and professional team of experts have vast experience and formal training in treating a variety of Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Addiction Issues, and their symptoms. Find an expert Anxiety Therapist in Irvine, Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, Century City, Bel-Air, West Hollywood, Brentwood, and the surrounding areas when you book your appointment with Blair Wellness Group.
