Topic: AnxietyCauses
A large portion of human anxiety is produced by anticipation of future events. Without a sense of
personal continuity over time, people would not have the "raw materials" of anxiety.
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Anxiety Causes and Symptoms
Anxiety can have a number of different causes. It is a multidimensional response to stimuli in the person's
environment, or a response to an internal stimulus (for example, a hypochondriac's reaction to a stomach
rumbling) resulting from a combination of general biological and individual psychological processes.
In some cases, anxiety is produced by physical responses to stress, or by certain disease processes
or medications.
Anxiety can be a symptom of certain medical conditions. Some of these diseases are disorders of the
endocrine system, such as Cushing's syndrome (overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal cortex), and
include over- or underactivity of the thyroid gland. Other medical conditions that can produce anxiety
include respiratory distress syndrome, mitral valve prolapse, porphyria, and chest pain caused by
inadequate blood supply to the heart (angina pectoris).
Numerous medications may cause anxiety-like symptoms as a side effect. They include birth control pills;
some thyroid or
asthma drugs; some psychotropic agents; occasionally, local anesthetics;
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