Conflict & Anxiety

Anxiety is a complex mental health condition that can be attributed to a variety of causes. Often, it is a combination of factors that are responsible for the onset of increased or persistent anxiety. Experts agree that life experiences--including conflict and the stress that results from it--are common triggers for the symptoms of anxiety.

Types of Anxiety

• Some types of anxiety are simply a normal, healthy response to circumstances. For instance, moderate anxiety about finances, careers or planning for the future can be normal, and actually helpful in that it can spur us to take needed action. But when anxiety rises to high levels or interferes with daily life, it may be a disorder.

  When we are exposed to a dangerous or threatening situation anxiety is a normal response that can motivate us to protect ourselves. However, fear or alarm that is out of proportion to the present danger is probably evidence of an anxiety disorder.

Possible Causes

• Experts believe that anxiety is caused by a combination of heredity, brain chemistry, environment and life events. This complex set of variables makes treating anxiety a highly individualized process, which may include therapy, medication or making adjustments to one's environment and reducing exposure to triggering stressors.

Conflict Increases Stress

• Interpersonal conflict is a major cause of psychological stress. The brain, when under stress, releases higher levels of a chemical called cortisol. Studies have shown that exaggerated levels of cortisol in the brain for an extended period of time can upset the delicate chemical balance necessary for emotional and psychological health. It stands to reason, therefore, that persistent conflict can be one of the causative factors in the onset of anxiety disorders.

Manage Conflict - Manage Stress

• In a 2006 Swiss study, experts tested the ability of subjects to lessen the excessive release of cortisol through training in cognitive-behavioral stress management. The study did show that those who were taught to proactively reduce stress through learned methods had lower levels of cortisol in the brain and reduced risk of associated psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety. The study concluded that these methods could be used to prevent and treat these conditions in a number of patients.

Reducing Conflict

• Employing strategies to reduce the level of conflict in your personal or professional life can have a positive impact on your emotional health. Working toward effective communication that diffuses rather than escalates potentially tense situations can be helpful in this regard. Additionally, it may be necessary to make adjustments to your environment to lessen exposure to conflict-inducing circumstances. A mental health professional may be able to make specific suggestions for reducing your exposure to conflict and the anxiety associated with it.