Does anxiety get worse?

Anxiety is a word people couldn’t be more familiar with. Some people suffer with them every day and night; while others might have someone they know who suffer with it. For a person with anxiety disorder, the anxiety doesn’t go away, instead it can get worse overtime.

So, the question is: why does anxiety get worse?

There’re some triggers as follows:

1. Health issues

2. Medications

3. Caffeine

4. Skipping meals

5. Negative thinking

6. Financial concerns

7. Parties or social events

8. Conflict

9. Stress

10.Public events or performances

11.Personal triggers

Anxiety triggers can be different fir each person, however many triggers are common among people. Most of the people could find multiple triggers while some other people might having anxiety attacks for no reason at all. Therefore, it is important to discover your own anxiety triggers. Identifying your triggers is an important step in managing your anxiety.

1.Health issues

A health diagnosis that’s upsetting or difficult, such as cancer or a chronic illness, may trigger anxiety or make it worse. This type of trigger is very powerful because of the immediate and personal feelings it produces. As for myself, I was and am a relatively healthy child ever since I was born, therefore it’s not really a big deal for me. However, I do realize the consequences of health issues as I grew older and older. Although it might not be very convincing coming from me, talking to a therapist as they can help you learn how to manage your emotions, or talking to a trusted friend/family member might also help as well.

2. Medications

Certain medications (birth control pills; cough & congestion medications; weight loss medications) may trigger symptoms of anxiety, this is because the active ingredients in those medications may make you feel uneasy or unwell. These feelings could be build on a series of events in your mind and body that may lead to additional symptoms of anxiety. Talk with your doctor about how those medicines works on you and look for an alternative that doesn’t trigger your anxiety.

3. Caffeine

Many people rely on their morning cup of joe to wake up, but it might actually trigger or worsen anxiety. People with panic disorder and social anxiety disorder are especially sensitive to the anxiety-inducing effects of caffeine. Try to start drink some decaffeinated coffee or tea might help to reduce the chance of having anxiety attacks

4. Skipping meals

Ever since I was little, not only my mom, but all the adults I’ve known told me not to skip meal. Skipping meals doesn’t seem like a problem for me back in the days, however, I realized that when you don’t eat, your blood sugar may drop, this can lead to not having enough energy to work nor exercise. It can also trigger anxiety. People says eating can help you to feel better, and that is true. Having balanced meals can gain important nutrients needed for your own body. Remember, food can affect your mood.

5. Negative thinking

If you tend to use a lot of negative words when thinking about yourself, you need to start learning to see the good side of you, to see how well you’ve done. Your mind controls much of your body, and this is especially true with anxiety. When you’re upset or frustrated, the words you say to yourself can trigger greater feelings of anxiety. Learning to refocus your language and feelings when you start down this path could be helpful. I used to have lots of negative thoughts, including how other people see me; what a useless person I am; how successful other people are while I’m not. I used to cry a lot, usually at night where no one else know. However, I started to feel like no one actually thinks you in the way you thought. And that is when I started to be who I am, who I really wanted to be.

6. Financial concerns

Worries about saving money or having debt can trigger anxiety, including unexpected bills or money fears. You can seek for professional help from for example, a financial advisor. Having a guide in the process may ease your concerns.

7. Parties or social events

If staying in a room full of strangers doesn’t sound like fun, you’re not alone. (Me too) Events that require you to make small talk or interact with people you don’t know may trigger feelings a anxiety. Bring a companion when possible could help you to ease your worries or unease. (Or just stay at home…like me!!)

8. Conflict

Conflicts are not easy to avoid: relationship problems, arguments, disagreements — these can all trigger or worsen anxiety. If these particularly triggers you, you may need to learn conflict resolution strategies or again talking to a therapist, other mental health expert to learn how to manage the feelings these conflicts cause.

9. Stress

This can be seen as the most common trigger for most of the people. Daily stresses like traffic jams, missing train, work can cause anyone anxiety. But long-term or chronic stress can lead to long-term anxiety and worsening symptoms, as well as other health problems. Stress can also lead to behaviors like skipping meals, drinking alcohol or not getting enough sleep. These factors can also trigger or worsen anxiety too

10. Public events or performances

This is like parties however worse. Public speaking, talking in front of your boss, performing in a competition or just even reading aloud is a common trigger of anxiety. Positive reinforcements form colleagues and friends can help you feel more comfortable and confident.

11. Personal triggers

These triggers may be the most difficult to identify, but having a mental health specialist can help you to identify them. Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently experience anxiety triggers from environment triggers.

Identifying triggers may take time, but always remember our friends and family, therapists and mental health specialist are all there to help you. They are and will always be there whenever you need help, the only thing to do for you is to ask!