Common Triggers for Chronic Anxiety

Chronic anxiety can make you physically ill, emotionally drained, and mentally tired. Do you suspect that you have chronic anxiety, but you are unsure of what is triggering your symptoms? Since chronic anxiety seems to run in the background of our bodies’ processes, what could trigger us to have panic attacks and experience rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, lightheadedness, trembling, and stomach issues?

Triggers for chronic anxiety.

The good news is that once you have identified the trigger(s), chronic anxiety is treatable. You can learn techniques to gain control of a panic attack and work through the issues that contribute to the trigger.

The following is a list of common triggers for chronic anxiety. A counselor can help you work through your trigger(s) and suggest methods and treatments for managing anxiety.

Traumatic childhood.

Traumatic childhood and adolescent experiences can create a situation where chronic anxiety can breed. Physical, emotional, and verbal abuse or neglect as a child can leave the adult feeling insecure with low self-esteem and low self-confidence. They may worry that people will leave them, or they may settle for a toxic relationship.

Traumatic adulthood.

Children are not the only ones who can develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and chronic anxiety because of a traumatic experience. An adult in an abusive relationship or who has undergone a traumatic event may develop anxiety. For example, if an adult had a bad experience with a vaccination, they may develop anxiety and fear about going to see a doctor or being admitted to the hospital.

Health problems.

Chronic health problems and conditions play a part in chronic anxiety. If you deal with a chronic illness (or several) your quality of life may decrease. Depression and anxiety can develop when you can no longer do the things you once did. Many doctors realize that chronic conditions of the body also affect mental health.

Financial crisis.

Being in debt, losing a job or a second income, and finding yourself in a financial crisis can trigger anxiety. Unstable job markets and housing markets can make security hard to find. Financial stress surrounds you when that is the trigger as you face mounting bills, mortgage or rent, and family responsibilities.

Social events.

Social events can create anxiety in many people. The pandemic worsened social anxiety, and some people are still struggling. Do you dread going out in public? Is it just social events like a concert, or is it on a smaller scale, such as the grocery store?

Chronic anxiety about social settings can leave you physically ill and trigger panic attacks. Consult with a counselor about ways to reduce social anxiety.

Environmental and personal triggers.

Sometimes, environmental triggers can lead to severe anxiety. For example, a soldier who fought in a war or a person who was in a tragic accident can become triggered by the environment, such as loud noises, too much traffic, or the sound of a helicopter. These environmental triggers transport the person back to the traumatic event.

Personal triggers could be a song that makes you feel anxious or depressed. You may not know why specific things trigger your anxiety. A counselor can help you identify the trigger, understand why you think that way, and provide methods to overcome it.

Finding help.

Contact our office today to schedule a session with a counselor who can help you identify your trigger(s). Your counselor will create a customized treatment plan to get you back on track. Give us a call today at McKinney Christian Counseling in Texas.