Anxiety disorders affect millions of people. They ruin their daily activity, plans, dreams, and hopes. Asking a person with anxiety to "calm down" or "get over it" is a clear example of the lack of information associated with this condition, and as if that were not enough, there are also physical consequences…
The impact of anxiety brings a significant number of symptoms, ranging from loss of productivity and concentration to lack of sleep, drastic mood changes, constant tiredness, and muscle tension. In some cases, anxiety can give way to panic attacks, heart rhythm disturbances, breathing difficulties, and dizziness.
Where Do These Attacks Come From?
Now, where do these attacks come from? Health experts don't know completely, but they have established that anxiety is activated in part by the amygdala and hypothalamus controlling the circulation of adrenaline and cortisol in the body. This hormonal alteration seems to have genetic links, since it is estimated that 40 percent of people suffering from generalized anxiety disorder have a family member in the same situation.
To that we must add the environmental factor, which includes traumatic childhood experiences. Irregular levels of dopamine, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid have also been associated with anxiety attacks. The case of serotonin is particularly interesting: all the serotonin that is not used during signal transmission returns to the original neuron with the help of special transporters, but those who suffer from anxiety disorders such as OCD might experience a greater return of serotonin before reaching its destination, caused by a mutation in the transporters. This affects the functioning of synapses, and by extension, the individual's emotions. That is when selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) intervene, regulating the return of serotonin to the neuron.
How the Body Responds
Other disorders reveal an excess of activity in the amygdala and the central gray matter area, with more advanced negative consequences for the body, among which heart disease stands out, due to an increase in white blood cell production in the bone marrow, which in turn triggers an inflammatory response, and the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries.
Phobias and DNA
Finally, the strongest hypothesis for phobias suggests that they could be programmed in our DNA. This is nothing more than a "basic" review of the effects and possible origins of anxiety, which demonstrates its complexity. If you believe that anxiety ruins your life, do not hesitate: seek the help of a professional.
