{"id":17585,"date":"2020-12-28T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2020-12-28T14:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=17585"},"modified":"2026-02-06T12:53:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T17:53:20","slug":"sudden-onset-of-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/sudden-onset-of-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get a sudden spike in anxiety under control"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019ve lived with an <\/span>anxiety disorder<\/span><\/a> for years or just started experiencing one due to inflation, job insecurity, or a major life event, managing your mental health is more important than ever. Experiencing a sudden spike in anxiety is a common issue\u2014one that\u2019s being experienced by more and more people.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a 2024 poll released by the <\/span>American Psychiatric Association<\/span> (APA), 43% of American adults feel more anxious than they did the previous year, a steady increase from 2023 (37%) and 2022 (32%). Key concerns included the economy (77%), the U.S. election (73%), current events (70%), and gun violence (69%).<\/span><\/p>\n

“When you consider the significant stressors brought on by economic uncertainty, social unrest, and bitter political divisions\u2014it is completely understandable why so many more people are feeling more anxious than ever before,” says <\/span>Tonya Crombie<\/span>, Ph.D., author of <\/span>Stop Worrying About Your Anxious Child.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Here, learn what causes a sudden onset of anxiety, and how it can be managed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What causes sudden onset of anxiety?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A sudden onset of anxiety can be triggered by a plethora of things\u2014from a major event, like a death in the family, to everyday stressors, such as work or budget worries\u2014but sometimes it can be caused by seemingly nothing at all\u2014or even issues you\u2019re not consciously aware of.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Our brains are designed to monitor for danger and let us know when these signs appear,” says Karin Kassab, MA, psychologist and CEO of <\/span>Clarity Counseling Center<\/span><\/a>. “Although it can feel like it at times, anxiety is not your enemy. It\u2019s your brain trying to keep you safe. Think about your anxiety as a security system that\u2019s just a little too sensitive.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Abrupt feelings of nervousness and apprehension are often caused by a specific anxiety trigger. “It could be a conversation or a place or a smell that triggers anxiety,\u201d says Silvi Saxena, MSW, LSW, a licensed therapist at <\/span>Choosing Therapy<\/span><\/a>. \u201cIt can be a result of focusing thoughts on something that is stressful and worrisome, something that doesn’t have a solution, or worrying about worst-case scenarios. Major life events can trigger a series of anxiety attacks, and it can become easy to get into a pattern of negative thinking, which worsens anxiety.” As a result, it’s crucial to try to understand your anxiety triggers in order to find ways to manage it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can someone suddenly develop anxiety?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, anxiety can affect anyone at any time, and the often sudden onset can be disconcerting. “Anxiety disorders are one of the <\/span>most commonly reported mental health concerns<\/span><\/a>,\u201d Kassab explains. In fact, <\/span>31% of people<\/span><\/a> will experience an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s worth noting that anxiety can come and go suddenly, especially if it’s linked to a difficult event or situation. “A sudden onset of anxiety can occur when something extremely stressful is happening unexpectedly, or when there is physical pain in the body, physical stress, or other kinds of severe mental stress,” Saxena says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, psychiatrist <\/span>Jared Heathman<\/span><\/a>, MD, explains that “while anxiety can be triggered by certain stressful stimuli, it can also be random and equally debilitating.” Either way, there are things you can do to manage an anxiety or panic attack when it starts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Licensed clinical psychologist <\/span>Aaron Weiner<\/span><\/a>, Ph.D., says, “Anxiety spikes are an activation of the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ system, a hardwired physiological reaction to when we think we’re in danger in some way.\u201d Because of that, we can anticipate some of the following <\/span>symptoms of a panic attack<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n