Anxiety is a prevalent mental health disorder that has a significant impact on a global scale, affecting a multitude of individuals. Although experiencing sporadic episodes of anxiety is a typical aspect of human existence, persistently experiencing anxiety can impede daily activities, resulting in substantial distress and functional impairment. Effective strategies for treatment and prevention can be informed by comprehension of the factors that contribute to the persistent nature of anxiety.

There exist numerous explanations as to why anxiety often endures over a prolonged period of time. The experience of anxiety elicits the activation of stress hormones, namely cortisol and adrenaline, which manifest in physical manifestations such as heightened heart rate, accelerated respiration, and muscular tightness. The physical manifestations that ensue may, in turn, serve as a catalyst for the reinforcement of anxiety, thereby establishing a cyclic pattern of anxiety and somatic symptoms.

One additional contributing factor to the enduring nature of anxiety pertains to unfavorable cognitions and cognitive biases. Individuals experiencing anxiety feature a cognitive bias characterized by overestimation of the likelihood of adverse consequences and a tendency to catastrophize situations. This may result in heightened anxiety and adoption of avoidance behaviors. The entrenched nature of negative thought patterns poses a formidable challenge to their discontinuation and reinforces the enduring presence of symptoms of anxiety.

Furthermore, the perpetuation of anxiety can be influenced by environmental and situational factors. Individuals who are exposed to chronic stressors, including but not limited to work or relationship difficulties, may be predisposed to the onset of persistent anxiety symptoms. Individuals who have previously encountered trauma or abuse are prone to enduring anxiety due to the unfavorable impacts of their past ordeals.

Ultimately, there is compelling evidence to suggest that the ongoing manifestation of anxiety can be attributed, at least in part, to genetic and biological underpinnings. There is a body of empirical evidence that suggests that specific genetic and neurobiological factors can elevate the vulnerability for the onset of anxiety disorders and, furthermore, exert an influence on the protraction and severity of symptoms across time.

Conclusively, anxiety presents itself as a multifaceted and complex condition that can endure over prolonged periods of time, due to an array of underlying factors. Comprehending the determinants that contribute to enduring anxiety can aid in guiding efficacious treatment and prevention strategies, while potentially diminishing the stigmatization and misconception encompassing this prevalent psychological state.


Why is anxiety so persistent?


Scientific bibliography:

  1. Barlow, D. H. (2002). Anxiety and its disorders: The nature and treatment of anxiety and panic. Guilford Press.
  2. Etkin, A., & Wager, T. D. (2007). Functional neuroimaging of anxiety: a meta-analysis of emotional processing in PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(10), 1476-1488.
  3. McEvoy, P. M., & Mahoney, A. E. (2011). Achieving certainty about the structure of intolerance of uncertainty in a treatment-seeking sample with anxiety and depression. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 25(1), 112-122.
  4. Stein, M. B. (2018). Neurobiological perspectives on anxiety disorders. In Handbook of anxiety and fear (pp. 25-36). Elsevier.


Important words to remember: 

anxiety, stress hormones, negative thought patterns, cognitive biases, chronic stressors, genetic and biological factors.