Stress and Anxiety
Alternate Names : Anxiety, Apprehension, Feeling Uptight, Jitters, Stress, Tension
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Stress and Anxiety: Common Causes
Stress can be from fear of an actual danger (an appropriate reaction), an emotional state (like grief or depression), or a physical condition (like an overactive thyroid, low blood sugar, or heart attack).
Certain drugs, both recreational and medicinal, can lead to symptoms of anxiety due to either side effects or withdrawal from the drug. Such drugs include caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cold remedies, decongestants, bronchodilators for asthma, tricyclic antidepressants, cocaine, amphetamines, diet pills, Ritalin (often used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and thyroid medications.
A poor diet can also contribute to stress or anxiety -- for example, low levels of vitamin B12. Performance anxiety is anxiety related to specific situations, like taking a test or making a presentation in public. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress disorder that develops after a traumatic event like war, physical or sexual assault, or a natural disaster.
In very rare cases, a tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma) may be the cause of anxiety. This happens because of an overproduction of hormones responsible for the feelings and symptoms of anxiety.
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