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Generalized anxiety disorder can create significant disruptions in a person’s life, but what exactly causes it? There is no single cause ofgeneralized anxiety disorder, and evidence has shown that multiple factors influence the development of GAD.Some common factors include genetic predisposition, brain chemistry, family background, social influence, life experiences, and lifestyle behaviors.
At a GlanceThe causes of generalized anxiety disorder are complex, and many factors likely contribute and interact in the development and maintenance of the condition. Researchers do know that genetics can play a big part and that you are more likely to develop GAD if you have family members who also have an anxiety disorder. But genetics aren’t the sole cause. Brain structure, life experiences, and lifestyle factors can also trigger symptoms of GAD. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of generalized anxiety disorder and what you may be able to do to lower your risk.
At a Glance
The causes of generalized anxiety disorder are complex, and many factors likely contribute and interact in the development and maintenance of the condition. Researchers do know that genetics can play a big part and that you are more likely to develop GAD if you have family members who also have an anxiety disorder. But genetics aren’t the sole cause. Brain structure, life experiences, and lifestyle factors can also trigger symptoms of GAD. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of generalized anxiety disorder and what you may be able to do to lower your risk.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Genetic Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Your genetics may play a role in determining whether or not you will develop GAD. As with many other mental and medical health conditions, a person can be genetically predisposed to developing certain symptoms. This is the same with generalized anxiety disorder.
Technological and methodological advances have allowed researchers to examine the role genes play in the development of GAD in more detail, but the research is still in preliminary stages. Despite this, it has significant implications for anyone who faces anxiety disorders.
We know, for example, that a person can have a genetic vulnerability to developing GAD if certain genetic markers have been passed onto them. Vulnerability, in combination with certain environmental factors, can trigger the development ofsymptoms.
Studies have shown that first degree relatives of someone with GAD are more likely to develop mood and anxiety disorders in general, with a specific increased risk for developing GAD.Researchers suggest that about 30% of the risk of developing GAD can be attributed to genetic inheritance.
Studies have shown that first degree relatives of someone with GAD are more likely to develop mood and anxiety disorders in general, with a specific increased risk for developing GAD.
Researchers suggest that about 30% of the risk of developing GAD can be attributed to genetic inheritance.
First degree relatives would include family members most closely related to you, such as a parent, sibling, or child.
Although the condition typically begins around 30 years old, many of those who are diagnosed are found to have been struggling with symptoms for years before seeing a professional and being properly diagnosed. GAD comes on gradually, with the greatest risk betweenchildhoodand middle age.
Brain Structure Differences in People with GAD
The limbic system is a collection of brain structures that, among other functions, is involved in the regulation of many of our basic emotional reactions. Although it can be under the control of the “thinking” part of the brain, it can respond to stimuli on its own as well.
The Amygdala
The amygdala, in particular, is the part of the limbic system involved in the automatic fear response, as well as in the integration ofmemoryand emotion.
Although a lot of research on amygdala function has been focused on anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there are some patterns of brain structure and function that have presented in research as consistent for patients with GAD.
Understanding that the amygdala is an important player in people’s ability to discern and feel fear, it may not be a surprise that imaging studies of people diagnosed with GAD show elevated amygdala activity during the processing of negative emotions.
It is this heightened activity within the amygdala that researchers believe might influence the inaccurate interpretations of social behavior for patients with GAD.
People with GAD may inaccurately perceive a social cue or interaction as threatening when it is not actually threatening.
Gray Matter
The volume ofgray matteris another factor that has been researched in relation to GAD and other anxiety and mood disorders. An increased volume of gray matter at certain locations in the brain has been repeatedly found in people with GAD compared to controls.
One area of the brain that consistently shows an increased volume of gray matter in patients with GAD is called the right putamen.
Researchers found that a larger volume of gray matter in certain brain regions was positively correlated with childhood maltreatment.
In other words, the greater the report of childhood maltreatment, the greater the likelihood of increased volume of gray matter in that area of their brain.
This Is What Happens in Your Brain When You’re Anxious, According to Experts
How Life Experiences Contribute to GAD
Although genetic and biologic factors clearly contribute to the development of GAD, a greater percentage of the risk for GAD lies in complex psychological, environmental, and social factors.
Experiencing Trauma
Mental health researchers have found thattrauma in childhoodcan increase a person’s risk of developing GAD.Difficult experiences such as physical and mental abuse, neglect, the death of a loved one, abandonment, divorce, or isolation can all be contributing factors.
When a person has gone through particularly hard experiences that leave them feeling uncertain, humiliated, or apprehensive about trusting others, it is understandable that they may become anxious in various situations in the future.
People with GAD have difficulty accurately interpreting threats. Experiences or interactions that may seem harmless to most could feel emotionally threatening, dangerous, and anxiety-producing for someone with GAD.
Interestingly, research has shown that life events that result in specific feelings of loss, humiliation, entrapment, and danger are reliable predictors of the development and onset of generalized anxiety disorder.
It is important for medical and mental health practitioners to gather family and social history as this is information that can help lead to an accurate diagnosis.
Learned Behavior
Some behavioral scientists believe that anxiety is a learned behavior, suggesting that if a person has a parent or caregiver who demonstrates anxious behavior, they may tend to mirror that same anxious behavior.
Children learn how to handle challenging, stressful situations from caregivers and other important people close to them. When they model less effective methods of stressful management, children tend to do the same. These early social learning experiences can influence the development of long-lasting anxiety.
Societal Factors That Contribute to GAD
Evidence also suggests that social media exposure contributes to increased feelings of anxiety. Researchers are finding that the use of social media, particularly in excess, can greatly impact mental health, sometimes resulting in anxiety and depression.
Interacting with others through social media can also present us with the same challenges as when we are interacting in people, such as feelings of loneliness, rejection, abandonment, or humiliation.
People with GAD may be less effective in accurately interpreting social cues and interactions, leaving them to potentially feel a heightened sense of danger or rejection, even when there is no observable threat present.
Interactions through social media can be interpreted in these same inaccurate ways, possibly even more so when we are, at times, missing essentialnonverbal cuesin communication, such as facial expressions,body language, and tone, potentially exacerbating GAD.
Lifestyle Factors That May Cause Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Additionally, lifestyle factors like the substances we use and our relationships can increase the risk of experiencing anxiety.
Caffeine
Using everydayaddictive substances like caffeinecan heighten feelings of worry or nervousness, contributing to the development of anxiety. Our culture tends to ask more and more of us, pushing us to perform, and leaving us to fear feeling left behind, socially, financially, physically, or otherwise.
Relying on caffeine sources such as coffee, tea, soda, and energy drinks can cause some people to feel restless and anxious, especially when used in large quantities.
Relationships
Relationships can be a source of great comfort, but also pain. Relationships can be a significant source of anxiety for women, in particular.
Women are twice as likely as men to develop GAD. Because women are more likely to experience anxiety disorders, experts recommend that women and girls aged 13 and older should be screened for anxiety during routine health exams.
Job Stress
Work can be a great source of stress and become a trigger in the development of anxiety. Some employers expect extraordinarily high levels of performance and productivity that can threaten a person’s sense of employment security.
When looking for work, you may find yourself competing with many others who are highly qualified and experienced, causing stress related to the ability to provide for ourselves and your family. Career and work-related stress, particularly the loss of a job, can be a significant source of heightened anxiety.
In general, the potential for developing anxiety-related conditions is increased during periods of severe and prolonged stress—regardless of source.
For example, some people discover they have GAD while going through a challenging life transition such as divorce or loss of a loved one.
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Risk Factors for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Certain risk factors can increase the likelihood that a person may develop generalized anxiety disorder. These include:
Can You Prevent Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
There is no surefire way to prevent generalized anxiety disorder. You cannot control all of the factors that cause the condition, including genetics, brain structure, and exposure to trauma.
While it is not preventable, there are things you can do to lessen its impact.
Recognize the Symptoms
Because GAD doesn’t cause intense episodes of anxiety or panic attacks, people sometimes dismiss the symptoms. It’s important to know the signs and when to reach out for help. Common symptoms of the condition include:
Get Treatment
Seek treatment as soon as possible. This can reduce the impact that symptoms have on your life and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Treatment for GAD may include:
Care for Yourself
Use effective self-care practices to help reduce stress and anxiety. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in regular exercise.
Research has found that exercise can be effective in the treatment of anxiety.
Use Relaxation Techniques
Different relaxation techniques can also help combat anxiety symptoms. Particularly effective strategies includedeep breathing,yoga, andprogressive muscle relaxation.
Keep in Mind
Not all GAD risk factors are in your control, but many are modifiable and manageable. There are effective strategies for coping with trauma and stress. If you think you are at risk or think you have GAD, take a step forward, and reach out for assistance.
If you or a loved one are struggling with generalized anxiety disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with generalized anxiety disorder, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
How Generalized Anxiety Disorder Is Treated
12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Newman MG, Shin KE, Zuellig AR.Developmental risk factors in generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.J Affect Disord. 2016;206:94-102. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.008Gottschalk MG, Domschke K.Genetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traits.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):159-168. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/kdomschkeLim L, Khor CC.Examining the common and specific grey matter abnormalities in childhood maltreatment and peer victimisation.BJPsych Open. 2022;8(4):e132. doi:10.1192/bjo.2022.531Kascakova N, Furstova J, Hasto J, Madarasova Geckova A, Tavel P.The unholy trinity: Childhood trauma, adulthood anxiety, and long-term pain.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(2):414. doi:10.3390/ijerph17020414Elfström S, Ahlen J.Development and validation of the Modeling of Parental Anxiety Questionnaire.J Anxiety Disord. 2022;85:102515. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102515Karim F, Oyewande AA, Abdalla LF, Chaudhry Ehsanullah R, Khan S.Social media use and its connection to mental health: A systematic review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8627. doi:10.7759/cureus.8627Alvi T, Kumar D, Tabak BA.Social anxiety and behavioral assessments of social cognition: A systematic review.J Affect Disord. 2022;311:17-30. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.130Richards G, Smith A.Caffeine consumption and self-assessed stress, anxiety, and depression in secondary school children.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(12):1236-1247. doi:10.1177/0269881115612404Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K.The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;155(37):611-620. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611National Institute of Mental Health.Any anxiety disorder.Aylett E, Small N, Bower P.Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5
12 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Newman MG, Shin KE, Zuellig AR.Developmental risk factors in generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.J Affect Disord. 2016;206:94-102. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.008Gottschalk MG, Domschke K.Genetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traits.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):159-168. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/kdomschkeLim L, Khor CC.Examining the common and specific grey matter abnormalities in childhood maltreatment and peer victimisation.BJPsych Open. 2022;8(4):e132. doi:10.1192/bjo.2022.531Kascakova N, Furstova J, Hasto J, Madarasova Geckova A, Tavel P.The unholy trinity: Childhood trauma, adulthood anxiety, and long-term pain.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(2):414. doi:10.3390/ijerph17020414Elfström S, Ahlen J.Development and validation of the Modeling of Parental Anxiety Questionnaire.J Anxiety Disord. 2022;85:102515. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102515Karim F, Oyewande AA, Abdalla LF, Chaudhry Ehsanullah R, Khan S.Social media use and its connection to mental health: A systematic review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8627. doi:10.7759/cureus.8627Alvi T, Kumar D, Tabak BA.Social anxiety and behavioral assessments of social cognition: A systematic review.J Affect Disord. 2022;311:17-30. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.130Richards G, Smith A.Caffeine consumption and self-assessed stress, anxiety, and depression in secondary school children.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(12):1236-1247. doi:10.1177/0269881115612404Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K.The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;155(37):611-620. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611National Institute of Mental Health.Any anxiety disorder.Aylett E, Small N, Bower P.Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Newman MG, Shin KE, Zuellig AR.Developmental risk factors in generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.J Affect Disord. 2016;206:94-102. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.008Gottschalk MG, Domschke K.Genetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traits.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):159-168. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/kdomschkeLim L, Khor CC.Examining the common and specific grey matter abnormalities in childhood maltreatment and peer victimisation.BJPsych Open. 2022;8(4):e132. doi:10.1192/bjo.2022.531Kascakova N, Furstova J, Hasto J, Madarasova Geckova A, Tavel P.The unholy trinity: Childhood trauma, adulthood anxiety, and long-term pain.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(2):414. doi:10.3390/ijerph17020414Elfström S, Ahlen J.Development and validation of the Modeling of Parental Anxiety Questionnaire.J Anxiety Disord. 2022;85:102515. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102515Karim F, Oyewande AA, Abdalla LF, Chaudhry Ehsanullah R, Khan S.Social media use and its connection to mental health: A systematic review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8627. doi:10.7759/cureus.8627Alvi T, Kumar D, Tabak BA.Social anxiety and behavioral assessments of social cognition: A systematic review.J Affect Disord. 2022;311:17-30. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.130Richards G, Smith A.Caffeine consumption and self-assessed stress, anxiety, and depression in secondary school children.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(12):1236-1247. doi:10.1177/0269881115612404Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020. doi:10.7326/M20-0580Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K.The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;155(37):611-620. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611National Institute of Mental Health.Any anxiety disorder.Aylett E, Small N, Bower P.Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5
Newman MG, Shin KE, Zuellig AR.Developmental risk factors in generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.J Affect Disord. 2016;206:94-102. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.008
Gottschalk MG, Domschke K.Genetics of generalized anxiety disorder and related traits.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):159-168. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/kdomschke
Lim L, Khor CC.Examining the common and specific grey matter abnormalities in childhood maltreatment and peer victimisation.BJPsych Open. 2022;8(4):e132. doi:10.1192/bjo.2022.531
Kascakova N, Furstova J, Hasto J, Madarasova Geckova A, Tavel P.The unholy trinity: Childhood trauma, adulthood anxiety, and long-term pain.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(2):414. doi:10.3390/ijerph17020414
Elfström S, Ahlen J.Development and validation of the Modeling of Parental Anxiety Questionnaire.J Anxiety Disord. 2022;85:102515. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102515
Karim F, Oyewande AA, Abdalla LF, Chaudhry Ehsanullah R, Khan S.Social media use and its connection to mental health: A systematic review.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8627. doi:10.7759/cureus.8627
Alvi T, Kumar D, Tabak BA.Social anxiety and behavioral assessments of social cognition: A systematic review.J Affect Disord. 2022;311:17-30. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.04.130
Richards G, Smith A.Caffeine consumption and self-assessed stress, anxiety, and depression in secondary school children.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(12):1236-1247. doi:10.1177/0269881115612404
Gregory KD, Chelmow D, Nelson HD, et al.Screening for anxiety in adolescent and adult women: A recommendation from the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative.Ann Intern Med. 2020. doi:10.7326/M20-0580
Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K.The diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;155(37):611-620. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611
National Institute of Mental Health.Any anxiety disorder.
Aylett E, Small N, Bower P.Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5
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