Daily stressors, such as traffic jams or missing the train, can cause anxiety for anyone. But chronic or prolonged stress can lead to long-term anxiety and worsening symptoms, as well as other health problems.
Stress can also lead to behaviors such as skipping meals, drinking alcohol, or not getting enough sleep
. Everyone becomes anxious, restless, and exhausted, but if you constantly feel worried, tense, or nervous, you may have an anxiety disorder.Anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, anxiety does not go away and may get worse over time. Research shows that a combination of environmental and genetic factors is likely to increase a person's risk of developing an anxiety disorder, notes the National Institute of Mental Health. Like many health conditions, anxiety appears to run in families.
