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Genetics play a key role in the development of anxiety disorders. Up to half of our disposition is inherited and probably many anxiety disorders fall into that category. It is not uncommon for people who are suffering with anxiety disorders to have family members who suffer with anxiety disorders, maybe a close biological relative. Other causes include “modeling factors” such as the way people behaved around us when we were growing up. If we had parents who were very cautious, always warning us, or expressing their worries out loud, it could lead us to being worrisome as well. (Legg, 2017) There are also conditions in our culture that promote anxiety disorders. Researchers believe that enhanced cultural anxiety developed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They observe that we started feeling more alarmed and more vigilant. This can develop into anxiety when combined with other factors. (Legg, 2015)

There are a number of unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. Rumination is excessive re-hashing of the past. Perfectionism is holding oneself to an impossible standard. In college students, perfectionism often leads to “assignment paralysis,” when we get stuck and procrastinate because of fear of not producing perfect work. Catastrophizing is overemphasizing and expanding a single negative event to the point where we believe nothing will ever work out well for us. (Bhargava, 2020)

Anxiety is a very treatable condition, and both counseling treatment and medication can be used effectively to reduce symptoms and increase self-confidence.