If you struggle with an anxiety disorder, you’ve likely developed a set of symptoms that inhibit your daily life. However, most people struggle with some form of anxiety and aren’t inhibited. So, what exactly causes anxiety in the brain and how can we better control it?

By identifying the causes of anxiety, we can prevent it from leading to worse conditions. Throughout this article, we’re going to look into how anxiety forms in the brain and what this causes us to experience.

Symptoms and Effects of Anxiety

Anxiety symptoms come in all shapes and sizes, with the most common being: ¹

• Changes in mood (i.e. mood swings)
• Depression (and related symptoms)
• Difficulty breathing / hyperventilation
• Fatigue
• Feelings worried
• Headaches
• Increase heart rate
• Irritability
• Loss of libido
• Panic attacks
• Restlessness
• Sleep problems
• Trouble concentrating

Many of these symptoms are common among the general population. To diagnose you with an anxiety disorder, you must experience these symptoms emerge throughout a long period.

Anxiety and the Brain

Two main areas of the brain play a significant role in how anxiety is produced: the amygdala and the hippocampus. ²

The amygdala is an almond-shaped structure deep within the brain. Its main responsibility is to act as a communications center for incoming sensory signals. Through these signals, the amygdala can alert other areas of the brain when fear should be triggered (i.e. when a threat is present).

In turn, this creates emotional memories that are deposited into the central part of the amygdala. It’s believed these memories play a significant role in anxiety disorders. For example, if you had a moment in your childhood when a dog chased you, your brain can automatically correlate dogs with fear.

Once your brain has come into contact with a threat (whether actual or perceived) a ton of chemicals are released. These chemicals change the way we feel in several ways, from getting our hearts pumping to causing more oxygen to circulate in the body. This release of chemicals causes many of the symptoms associated with anxiety.

Long-Term Effects of Anxiety on the Brain

The brain’s creation of anxiety is for survival. If we’re met with a bear in the woods, our fear would cause us to act through one of the five trauma responses.

However, an abundance of fear can cause long-term damage to our brains and bodies. The most notable is chronic stress which can lead to: ³

• Heart disease
• Weakened immune system
• Weight gain

Beyond what happens to our bodies, new research found that prolonged stress and anxiety can also damage the hippocampus. This damage can lead to several consequences, such as an increased risk of depression and dementia. ⁴

Luckily, research shows that many of these negative effects can be reversed. Our brains are capable of regrowth and regeneration.

Other Impacts on the Brain and Body

Anxiety can have other profound effects that last from minutes to a lifetime. For example, anxiety can affect your self-esteem. As a result, this will alter your view of the world and how you tackle problems. Beyond anxiety attacks, low self-esteem can lead to other problems, such as in interpersonal relationships. ⁵

With a lack of confidence, the world around you feels more dangerous. Day-to-day functions suddenly become a nightmare and you may find it easier to isolate yourself.

Sheltering from difficulties may be a short-term solution. However, in the long term, it could lead to further mental health complications, such as depression and suicidal ideation. ¹⁰

Final Word

Anxiety is a problematic disorder that can have negative long-term effects on the brain and body. For this reason, treatment is vital to help promote better health. While an anxiety disorder can be life-altering, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone in your battle. There are millions of others out there who also struggle with this condition.

References

¹ Szuhany KL, Simon NM. Anxiety Disorders: A Review. JAMA. 2022 Dec 27;328(24):2431-2445. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.22744. PMID: 36573969.

² Martin EI, Ressler KJ, Binder E, Nemeroff CB. The neurobiology of anxiety disorders: brain imaging, genetics, and psychoneuroendocrinology. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2009 Sep;32(3):549-75. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2009.05.004. PMID: 19716990; PMCID: PMC3684250.

³ Mariotti A. The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain-body communication. Future Sci OA. 2015 Nov 1;1(3):FSO23. doi: 10.4155/fso.15.21. PMID: 28031896; PMCID: PMC5137920.

⁴ Mah L, Szabuniewicz C, Fiocco AJ. Can anxiety damage the brain? Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2016 Jan;29(1):56-63. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000223. PMID: 26651008.

⁵ Harris MA, Orth U. The link between self-esteem and social relationships: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2020 Dec;119(6):1459-1477. doi: 10.1037/pspp0000265. Epub 2019 Sep 26. PMID: 31556680.

⁶ Calati R, Ferrari C, Brittner M, Oasi O, Olié E, Carvalho AF, Courtet P. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors and social isolation: A narrative review of the literature. J Affect Disord. 2019 Feb 15;245:653-667. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.022. Epub 2018 Nov 7. PMID: 30445391.