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The Biology of Anxiety


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             The exact causes of anxiety disorders are unidentified, but anxiety disorders like other types of mental illness have nothing to do with personal flaws, a character imperfection, or deprived childhood. As scientists continue their research on mental illness, it is becoming clear that many of these disorders are caused by several issues, including changes in the brain and environmental stress (WebMD, 2013). Anxiety can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Studies have shown that severe or long-lasting stress can change the balance of chemicals in the brain that control mood (Smith, 2012). Other studies have shown that people with certain anxiety disorders have changes in certain brain structures that control memory or mood (Smith, 2012). In addition, studies have shown that anxiety disorders run in families, which means that they can be inherited from one or both parents, like hair or eye color (Smith, 2012).
             Doctors diagnose the disorders if symptoms of anxiety are current, the specialist will begin an assessment by asking you questions about your medical history and begin a physical exam. Although there are no blood tests to specifically diagnose anxiety disorders, the doctor may use several tests to look for physical illness. If no physical illness is found, the patient may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologists, which are mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and cure mental disorders (WebMD, 2013). Psychiatrists use specifically designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a person for an anxiety disorder (Kimball, 2010). The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on the patient's report of the intensity and extent of symptoms including any problems with daily functioning caused by the symptoms and the doctor's observation of the patient's attitude. The doctor then regulates if the patient's symptoms indicate a specific anxiety disorder.


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