Healthy Living: 7 Anxiety Triggers to Watch Out For

Anxiety is a symptom of a variety of mental illnesses. Patients experience anxiety if they have conditions such as agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, or bipolar disorder. As patients learn about their triggers, they either live their lives through avoidance or learn alternative ways to cope with the illnesses. Individuals who aren’t familiar with these conditions can read about the 7 anxiety triggers to watch out for and help someone they love.

Negative Thought Processes

Individuals suffering with anxiety experience negative thought processes. For example, they take failures too personally and generate negative beliefs about themselves. They internalize criticism and overthink frequently. Anxiety makes it difficult for the individual to see positive sides of life, and it creates chaos for the individual. People with the condition can seek therapy for anxiety and undergo cognitive behavior treatment to teach them how to replace negative thought processes with positivity.

A Diagnosis With Chronic or Terminal Illnesses

Patients diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness will experience anxiety. If the condition is terminal such as cancer, anxiety emerges with the realization of their mortality. With chronic illnesses, the sudden change in their lives triggers anxiety and causes negative responses. Chronic and terminal illnesses take a toll on the individual’s mental health and may require medication to manage their symptoms.

Instances of Hyper-criticism

Hypercriticism occurs in toxic parental relationships and even in the workplace. It is the practice of trying to find fault in an individual when there isn’t a fault to be found and when the individual is subjected to excessive criticism for their work duties. It is a common trigger for anxiety sufferers and could leave them in a debilitative state.

The federal government protects employees with anxiety disorders under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and this includes independent contractors with mental disabilities. The federal laws require employer training to help them identify signs of anxiety disorders among workers, and the training includes effective communication strategies to prevent triggers and negative worker outcomes.

Higher Than Average Volumes of Caffeine

Caffeine is a trigger for anxiety sufferers and leaves them agitated. Doctors recommend drinking fewer cups of coffee or alternating coffee with glasses of water. This flushes the excess caffeine from the body and prevents the individuals from experiencing heightened symptoms.

Impromptu Social Gatherings or Crowds

Impromptu social gatherings and emerging crowds are profound triggers for anxiety sufferers. Social gatherings in crowded spaces are a nightmare for these individuals, and they could generate a panic attack.

Skipping Meals and Not Eating Regularly

Skipping meals and an irregular diet increases anxiety symptoms. The body requires proper nourishment, and starvation creates negative bodily responses. Doctors control some anxiety disorders through diet, and the individual eats smaller meals more frequently.

Environmental Triggers Linked to Trauma

Patients with short-term or chronic post-traumatic stress disorder are triggered by their surroundings. War-time vets are triggered by gunshots, fireworks, and car backfires. Individuals who were sexually assaulted are often triggered by too much attention from the opposite sex or images displayed in movies or television. Any action or event that reminds them of their trauma generates a flashback followed by an anxiety attack.

Anxiety disorders create debilitative states for sufferers. Triggers can cause a negative outcome for the individuals that either require medication or could lead to in-patient care. By learning about triggers, it is possible to help loved ones who suffer from major mental disorders for which anxiety is a symptom.