Does Anxiety Run in the Family?

If several members of your family have anxiety, should you worry that you may be next? Is it possible that your children may develop anxiety if you or your spouse have experienced anxiety episodes? These are questions that are frequently asked regarding anxiety, if you are curious you aren’t alone. Knowledge can be power, the more you know the more you can do to effectively treat symptoms of anxiety. 

Anxiety and Genetics: Are They Connected?

If a number of your family members have experienced symptoms of anxiety, your family may be genetically predisposed to it. According to Katherine Kam of WebMD, this genetic predisposition may span multiple generations, meaning it can be passed on from one generation to another.

The link between genetics and anxiety has been observed in a number of families, and is now a widely held opinion, but the scientific quest to find the specific gene is still in its early stages. The OCD Collaborative Genetics Association Study (OCGAS), described in a paper published in Molecular Psychiatry (May 2014), indicates there is a possibility of a DNA code for OCD, a type of anxiety. Other scientists, however, believe that rather than an on/off switch or specific gene, the genetic predisposition could be a set of mixed genes.

Understanding the Genetic Predisposition

If anxiety is observed in several members of a family, a genetic predisposition is believed to be inherited or passed on from generation to generation. According to Assistant Professor Amy Przeworski, PhD, of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, “about 30 to 40 percent of the variability is related to genetic factors.” Other studies also support that this genetic predisposition may start early in children.

Despite the genetic tendency, there is still an environment to consider. Even when family members have similar genes, their expressions may be different, depending on individual risk factors from their environment or experiences.

Modifying Environmental Risk Factors

We cannot control everything, however, there are some things you can do to decrease the risk of anxiety disorders if they run in the family. By modifying your environment and learning healthy coping skills you may be able to decrease your risk. Your environment plays an important role in the expression of genetic predispositions. This means you decrease anxiety symptoms by creating a less stressful environment. Since it is not possible to eliminate stress from your environment, focusing on distress tolerance and emotion regulation may be the next best things. 

All of these skills can be learned with a licensed therapist. Some find that approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and/or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are particularly useful due to their focus on skills training. Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC contracts with counselors that know how to tackle anxiety. 

Having a genetic predisposition for anxiety disorder can be an unsettling thought, but avoiding symptoms won’t help. While the tendency is there, your environment and experiences are just as influential. You have control over how you react to your environment, start taking back that control with CCS. Call today and schedule your first appointment.

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