Freedom from Family Anxiety

If you have an anxious parent, should you be worried that you will also be an anxious person?

The extent and the nature of genetic contributions to developing anxiety are still unclear, but a number of studies support the idea that anxiety can be genetically predisposed. This suggests that if a parent and some of his or her relatives have anxiety, there is a sound basis for you to worry.

However, environment and life experiences also play important roles in the expression of this genetic tendency. This is the area that offers promise for preventing anxiety when the predisposition is present.

What Science Says about Genetic Predisposition to Anxiety

A study entitled “Genetic Predisposition May Play a Role in Anxiety Disorders,” undertaken by Finnish scientists led by Iiris Hovatta, offers an explanation for how certain inherited genes can predispose you to develop anxiety. According to the findings, “different genes showed evidence for association to specific types of anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder, social phobias or generalised anxiety disorder.”

Author of “Are There Anxious Genes?” Deborah J. Morris-Rosendahl, PhD, says, “Anxiety comprises many clinical descriptions and phenotypes.” Morris-Rosendahl confirms that anxiety can be genetically predisposed and identifies the presence of susceptibility genes. For instance, susceptibility genes for panic disorder (PD) are in a “locus on chromosome arm 7p” and those for panic disorder and phobias are in the chromosomal region 15q24-26.

The Role of the Environment

Anxiety itself is not inherited, but the genes that predispose you to it are. One may learn from their parents’ behaviors and attitude to be even more anxious.

According to Iiris Hovatta, “Environmental factors, such as stressful life events, may trigger an anxiety disorder more easily in people who have a genetic predisposition to the illness.” Psychologist Amy Przeworski, PhD, says the variability in the genetic expression ranges from 30 to 40 percent, suggesting that 60-70 percent of the expression is controlled by environmental factors.

Getting Help Early

Some people are more vulnerable to anxiety than others. If anxiety keeps on appearing in your family from generation to generation, you probably have a genetic predisposition for it. Your quest for a life free from family anxiety, however, is not futile, because the environment plays a critical role in how this potential is expressed. Most of all, there IS help – resolving issues, changing perspective, changing certain behaviors can alleviate most anxiety symptoms.

For people with the genetic predisposition, the expression may start as early as age 8-20, says a study published in the Journal of Anxiety Disorders (2013). Thus, to free yourself or your child from family anxiety, seek professional help early from a qualified therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC. Call now for your first appointment so you can put your worries aside.

We can Help! Call NOW!

Related Articles: