Anxiety disorders are characterised by excessive fear and worry, which can seriously reduce a young person’s ability to function in their day-to-day lives. Anxiety disorders are common – around 15% of Australians aged 16–24 experience an anxiety disorder each year. There’s no single cause for anxiety, but a number of factors can contribute, such as family history, genetic factors, personality traits, coping styles and the experience of stressful and traumatic life events (for example, bullying or the death of someone close).