Common Root Causes of Anxiety
Anxiety is not something that lives purely in the mind.
Yes, stress and life circumstances matter but for many people there are underlying physiological imbalances that are driving or amplifying those anxious feelings.
Here are some of the most common drivers of anxiety we see in practice with our clients:
1. Thyroid Imbalances
Your thyroid plays a huge role in regulating metabolism, energy, and nervous system activity.
When it’s off, anxiety is often one of the first symptoms. Both an over and under functioning thyroid can present with anxiety.
Hyperthyroid patterns can lead to:
racing heart
restlessness
feeling “wired”
difficulty sleeping
Hypothyroid patterns are more commonly associated with:
low mood
fatigue
brain fog
anxiety
2. Blood Sugar Imbalances + High Insulin
One of the most overlooked drivers of anxiety.
When blood sugar is unstable, your body perceives that as a stressor.
Low blood sugar (or big swings) can trigger:
shakiness
irritability
heart palpitations
anxious or panicky feelings
This is because your body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to bring blood sugar back up.
Over time, consistently elevated insulin and blood sugar dysregulation can keep your system in a more reactive, stressed state.
3. Low Adrenal Hormones
Your adrenal glands produce cortisol, which helps regulate your stress response.
When cortisol patterns are off, especially when they’re too low, your body has a harder time adapting to stress.
This can show up as:
feeling overwhelmed easily
low resilience to stress
anxiety paired with fatigue
that “tired but wired” feeling
Your body essentially loses its buffer.
4. Neurotransmitter Imbalances
This is where things get really interesting. On tests like the DUTCH, we often look at markers like:
Low HVA (Homovanillic Acid). This can indicate lower dopamine activity, which can impact:
motivation
focus
mood regulation
overall sense of reward and pleasure
Low dopamine doesn’t always feel like classic “anxiety,” but it can contribute to feeling unsettled, unmotivated, or mentally restless.
High Quinolinate. This is a marker associated with neuroinflammation and excitatory activity in the brain. When elevated, it can contribute to:
anxious or racing thoughts
irritability
feeling overstimulated
This often ties back to inflammation, stress, and gut health.
5. Gut Inflammation + Imbalances
Your gut and brain are in constant communication.
When the gut is inflamed or imbalanced, it directly impacts mood and anxiety levels.
Some common contributors:
dysbiosis
infections or overgrowths
poor digestion
increased intestinal permeability
This can lead to:
altered neurotransmitter production
increased inflammation
heightened immune activation
All of which can influence how you feel mentally.
6. Low Nutrients + Mineral Imbalances
Your nervous system relies on key nutrients to function properly. When these are depleted, your body becomes more sensitive to stress.
Some big ones we see:
Magnesium → calming, supports nervous system regulation
Sodium + potassium → important for adrenal function and stress response
B vitamins → support energy and neurotransmitter production
Calcium → high levels can negatively impact thyroid function and cause symptoms of anxiety
When your body doesn’t have the raw materials it needs, it’s much harder to feel stable and grounded.
The Bigger Picture
Anxiety is rarely caused by just one thing.
More often, it’s a combination of:
blood sugar instability
nutrient depletion
gut dysfunction
hormone imbalances
nervous system dysregulation
Which is why quick fixes or one-size-fits-all approaches often fall short.
If you’re looking for a place to start, our Eat to Achieve™ program is designed to help stabilize blood sugar, one of the most common drivers we see.
For a more personalized root cause approach this is exactly the work we do inside our 1:1 Functional C.A.R.E Method™. We look at labs, patterns, and the full picture to understand what’s driving your symptoms.
