Learning what triggers your anxiety is one of the best long-term coping strategies. If you’re one of the 6.8 million adults in the United States who are impacted by a generalized anxiety disorder, you know what it’s like to live in a constant state of worry. 

It can be difficult to get through a day when you have this kind of anxiety, because you don’t know how to break the worry cycle. And it can be even more confusing when you’re unable to understand what’s causing your stress. 

How to identify your triggers

Many people have specific triggers that they are able to identify after paying attention to their behavioral patterns.

While it’s not possible to always avoid your triggers, knowing what they are can help you learn ways to manage your anxiety:

1. Write down whenever you feel anxious and describe your surroundings or recent events to keep track of it. 
2. You can choose to discuss this at length with a therapist in case you need an external perspective. 
3. Sometimes it’s hard to differentiate between reality and the voices in your head. Which one is your anxious self, and which one is the real you? Listen to both, but don’t invest in the former. 

Having established this, let’s take a look at some common anxiety triggers.

Stressful environments

Whether it’s a high-pressure job, being stuck in traffic, or even facing micro-aggressions from the people in your everyday life, a stressful environment is one of the major contributors to chronic stress.

Figure out which aspect of your everyday life is causing you stress, and ask yourself if it’s possible to eliminate it. For example, while many of us would love to pretend deadlines don’t exist, that’s not always possible.

Are there ways you can tweak your routine or limit your distractions so you can meet these infamous deadlines? 

Getting caught in or witnessing conflict 

Watching two people argue or engage in a heated debate can make some people anxious, especially If they grew up in a conflict-ridden home. Even unrelated disagreements or arguments can remind them of their negative experiences in the past. 

It’s best to discuss conflict resolution strategies with a mental health professional to learn how to manage your feelings in personal and professional conflicts. 

Irregular diet or skipping out on meals 

Struggling to find a work-life balance or working overtime can lead to you forgetting to eat. This can disrupt blood sugar levels and lead to trembling. 

Similarly, in high-pressure environments, we tend to consume foods with high sugar content because they make us feel better temporarily. We also increase our caffeine intake to “fuel” the body; however, this can cause a sugar crash, followed by extreme irritability and nervousness. 

Social situations 

Making small talk, attending events with large crowds, or interacting with strangers can cause social anxiety. It’s not possible to avoid all social events for the rest of your life, and you may not always have a friend to accompany you. Work with a professional on making yourself comfortable with the idea of being in a social situation. 

Performances 

Performance anxiety, commonly known as stage fright, is pervasive, and speaking at a public event or putting on a one-woman show are both reasonable anxiety-inducing triggers.

Sometimes, preparing excessively beforehand doesn’t help either. However, with enough positive reinforcement and the right professional help, you can learn to face these situations with ease. 

There are many ways you can treat your anxiety, but you won’t know what works unless you try it. Hypnotherapy is becoming an increasingly popular treatment method for anxiety and ADHD.

Our expert hypnotist, Rekha Shrivastava, works on building self-esteem and connecting with your inner self. Book your free consultations today at our office in Pittsford or avail our online sessions via Skype.

Not ready to book an appointment? Learn how self-hypnosis can help you recover from PTSD and depression.