Anxiety is an extremely complex phenomenon and cannot be explained in a unilateral, singular or simple way. All factors must be taken into account.
In this sense, Anxiety must be understood from the biopsychosocial model, which highlights the integration of biological, psychological and social approaches. If this is not done, then the conclusion will only be based on a partial observation and not on a complete picture. (Heinze, 2003).
Anxiety has been considered an adaptive mechanism resulting from human evolution., since our ancestors in the Pleistocene who had brains that could quickly detect potential threats and react automatically to them, were more likely to survive and leave offspring. (Bögels, Lehtonen & Restifo, 2010).
Thus, even today, anxiety can be beneficial for the individual because it can allow a greater alertness and encourage actions that increase the chances of our survival and success, which under other circumstances would not be done. (Heinze, 2003).
However, Anxiety is considered pathological when its intensity is so high that it negatively interferes with performance, functioning and both psychological and social adaptation, and leads to a person not being able to deal with their anxious symptoms. (Heinze, 2003).
Now, returning to the idea of the biopsychosocial approach, according to Ines di Bartolo (2016), the factors that intervene in the mental health and psychopathological process are multiple. In this regard, she points out that They include both individual and relationship factors (quality of the attachment bond), family and social factors..
According to this, it then establishes that the Risk factors are defined as those characteristics of the individual, their family, their environment or other circumstances that increase the chances of developing psychopathology compared to other individuals who are not exposed to said factors..
In this sense, it clarifies that the presence of a risk factor for mental health is not necessarily psychopathogenic, they are representations of probability and should not be considered as a determinant, since There are different variables that influence the process, so we cannot speak of directly causal relationships.
Among the main risk factors that increase the probability of suffering from an anxiety disorder (Heinze, 2003; Espinosa, Orozco & Ybarra, 2015), are:
- Genetic predisposition: having blood relatives who suffer from an anxiety disorder.
- Severe trauma, in the early stages of the life cycle, can decisively predispose an individual to suffer from an anxiety disorder in adulthood. Children who suffered abuse or trauma from their caregivers and/or their attachment figures, and also adults who have experienced a traumatic event.
- Social and/or environmental factors when interacting with certain genes of the individual: factors that can exert pressure and produce higher levels of perceived stress such as experiencing unemployment, financial problems, serious illness of a family member, death of a family member or friend, stress at work, having low social support, etc.
- Drugs or alcohol: The misuse of psychoactive substances or their withdrawal can cause or increase anxiety.
- Insecure attachment bonds with primary caregivers and/or attachment figures.
Regarding this last point, as mentioned by di Bartolo (2016), the attachment patterns developed throughout life (secure or insecure), although they are not equivalent to psychopathology or mental health, They do guide the way a person, at all ages, behaves with the significant people in their life, and contain strategies to face stressful or adverse situations, and regulate emotions.
So that, Individuals with secure attachments are significantly less likely to have behavioral problems and emotional problems throughout its development, than those with insecure attachment histories, because they have representations of themselves as valuable, and of others as figures available to them; Furthermore, they trust in their ability to summon the resources they need to cope with stressful situations, and they are capable of seeking and receiving help, since they expect others to respond to their needs and they feel deserving of those responses.
These positive representations allow us to make interpretations of stressful situations that facilitate them. make optimal use of available resources when faced with difficult situations and; besides, organize a positive and regulatory response to stress.
While people with Insecure attachment bonds have difficulty regulating emotions and using effective strategies to cope with stressful or distressing situations.because they do not feel worthy of the responses of others to their needs, they do not trust their own abilities, they do without the help of others and/or they lack the resources to face adverse situations.
Thus, the manifestation and development of anxiety is a product of the particular interaction (in each person), of risk factors and biological, psychological and social variables.
Bibliography
Heinze, G. (2003). Anxiety: how it is currently conceived. Science (April-June), 8-15.
Espinosa, MC, Orozco, LA, & Ybarra, JL (2015). Symptoms of anxiety, depression and psychosocial factors in men who request health care at the first level. Mental Health, 38(3), 201-208.
Bögels, SM, Lehtonen, A., & Restifo, K. (2010). Mindful parenting in mental health care. Mindfulness, 1(2), 107-120.