Anxiety is often caused by unhealthy thought patterns, worries, and stress. However,

sometimes that uncomfortable, distressful, and at times panic-inducing experience

has little to do with what we're thinking, and more to do our biochemistry or what we

just ate. Sometimes, it doesn't matter how much we "talk it out" because our anxiety

has little to do with what our thoughts and more to do with these other culprits.

If you 're feeling anxious and can't chalk it up to worry, ask yourself these questions:

1. Did you just have caffeine, sugar, or MSG?

All of the above can increase heart rate and cause hyperarousal and feelings of

anxiety in some individuals. Pay attention to labels, and notice if your body reacts to

certain foods or drinks containing such ingredients. I, for example, am not generally

affected by caffeine (although my colleague's anxiety skyrockets if she drinks it), but

if I order Chinese and forget to make sure there's no MSG, I'm up all night with heart

palpitations and catastrophic thoughts. Check out

this link

for hidden sources of

MSG.

2. Could hormones have something to do with it?

After deciding to cease oral contraceptives after a decade, I experienced a serious

hormonal imbalance that mimicked menopause. Hot flashes, night sweats, heart

palpitations, and cognitive and physical anxiety were present a good part of my days.

After seeing my naturopath and working toward balancing my hormones, I noticed a

significant improvement and felt calm (although anxiety still worsens for me at certain

times in my cycle). If you're feeling anxious or depressed and can't pinpoint why,

it

might have to do with fluctuating or unbalanced hormones

.

3. Are you fatigued or getting sick?

Low energy, foggy brain, and a general sense of malaise contributes to anxiety in a

couple of ways: 1) it creates a stress reaction as your body tries to fight illness, and

2) your cognitive functioning is affected, often resulting in feeling anxious, unfocused,

and indecisive. Remember to lower your expectations for yourself in this case,

especially for tasks involving cognitive performance.

4. Did you have a few too many glasses of wine last night?

I met a friend in Nicaragua who described his experience of "The Scaries" after we

imbibed too much the night before. Before that, I thought I was the only one who

experienced feelings of depression and anxiety as byproducts of a hangover (why do

we drink again?). Alcohol messes with our nervous system and neurotransmitter

levels, which

can cause anxiety

(or "The Scaries").

5. What's the state of your gut bacteria?

Growing

evidence is revealing a connection between gut bacteria and anxiety

. This is

thought to be due to the vagus nerve, which connects the gut to the brain. Take your

probiotics and be mindful of food intolerances! Many people have no idea of the

brain-gut connection, or that their diet could be contributing to their experience of

anxiety.

6. Could your blood sugar be low?

We're programmed to go into a state of anxiety in response to low blood sugar. Our

body says "hunger" and sends our brain the message to find food. Some of us

are

more sensitive to this experience than others

, so it might not be a bad idea to pay

attention to your experience of anxiety's relationship to hunger.

7. Could you be deficient in certain nutrients?

B complex vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, potassium, magnesium, GABA,

and zinc all play vital roles in neurotransmitter and nervous system function.

Deficiencies in such nutrients

are related to

increased anxiety. Consider visiting a

naturopath, holistic nutritionist, or dietitian, and supplementing your diet with some of

these nutrients if you believe you aren't getting enough.

So, the next time you're experiencing anxiety and can't seem to talk yourself out of it,

see if any of these factors might be coming into play. I invite others to add to this list

in the comments section.