Anyone who has experienced the symptoms will wonder what causes anxiety.
Some possible options include a chemical imbalance and stress.
While these can be contributing factors, they are not always the cause.
Anxiety is often caused by a lack of confidence, even in people who have always been confident.
This might surprise you especially if you are one of the confident people.
They will often say, "...
but I have always been confident" but they do not understand how it can be gone.
People change over time depending on their circumstances and life experiences.
If you were a shy child, you might notice that as an adult, the shyness has gone.
This is because you have become more world wise.
The same goes for confidence.
Some people will develop more confidence as they grow, but the reverse could also be true.
How can that happen? Throughout life, you are faced with many obstacles and challenges.
If you handle them well, your confidence will remain intact.
If you repeatedly have difficulty handling those experiences, your confidence will weaken.
Fortunately, those who have a high level of confidence at the beginning are likely to find it easier to regain that lost confidence.
For those who started with little confidence, battle will be much tougher.
What does this have to do with anxiety? Imagine jumping out of an airplane with a parachute or going bungee jumping for the first time.
Many people will experience great fear while others will take the challenge with enthusiasm and exhilaration.
The fear is similar to what you might feel when you face any new challenge, especially if self preservation is at stake.
Many instances can give you the same sense of urgency.
If you have a huge workload, for example, you might feel pressured to complete it or lose your job.
At the very least, your inability to meet this demand can threaten your pride.
Either outcome might be interpreted by your brain as a threat to your existence.
It boils down to the ancient brain that sees everything as a life or death situation.
Ancient man lived on fear; fear from his enemies and fear of not being able to provide for himself and his family.
What he felt was anxiety which was quickly dispelled when his enemies were gone and he had everything he needed to survive.
Today, we interpret life much differently although the same natural responses still exist, mostly based on fear.
If you do not complete the job you will lose income which can cost you your home and other comforts.
If your pride is threatened, you will feel more vulnerable to your enemies.
In turn, these can destroy your confidence as you come to doubt your abilities.
This lack of confidence is what causes anxiety.