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Does anxiety run in families?

65 Answers
Last Updated: 12/27/2021 at 11:06am
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Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
October 5th, 2014 5:07pm
From observations in my own life, I think anxiety certainly can run in families. I have a diagnosed anxiety/panic disorder, and I also see anxiety and depression affecting aunts, uncles, cousins, my grandma, mother, and sister. We don't necessarily talk about it much, but I see how anxiety is a shared struggle that many of my family members deal with.
Anonymous
November 4th, 2014 3:12am
Anxiety does happen to have a biological basis, sorta like allergies and whatnot. It can be inherited, but that's not always the cause of it.
Dovah
July 14th, 2015 3:27pm
Research shows (just like with depression) anxiety can be a genetic thing, meaning it certainly can run through the family! This doesn't mean though everyone in a family will have an anxiety disorder, a gene can lay dormant (inactive) until there are the right environmental triggers for it to kick in (I.E bullying/Traumatic event).
Poppies
October 23rd, 2014 2:01pm
Not necessarily, but anxiety can be learned and picked up on from family members. Living in a tense environment can be a factor to being more anxious.
ThePoet
November 20th, 2014 11:17am
I honestly believe it does. Its something Ive noticed in high stress familys. If parents are Anxious, their children are more likely to pick up on that and feel it, even if they dont know what the anxiety is about.
Alecia
November 18th, 2014 7:38am
Genetics and biology play a role in the creation of anxiety disorders. Not only does anxiety appear to run in families – if you take two people with similar experiences, one may have an anxiety disorder, one may not, and the only difference between them may be genetic, or at least influenced by the body more than the mind.
ItWillBeOkaySarah
August 4th, 2015 11:52pm
It certainly can run in families, but it doesn't have to. It's more like if a parent or family members are anxious, children pick it up. Personally, my grandmother and I both have anxiety. I know this is late but hope it helps!!
remnantshadow
October 24th, 2014 3:00am
Anxiety can run in families because certain types of genetics can make us more susceptible to stressors in our lives.
Megan45
November 11th, 2014 10:48am
If a family member has anxiety, there is a higher chance (but not a 100% guarantee) that you may also experience it.
Anonymous
June 7th, 2016 11:28pm
Yes, because there are different types of anxiety. They aren't contagious but they run in your genes. It differs between each family member because no ones genes are exactly alike, some are more immune, some are not.
heavenlyDreamer57
November 5th, 2014 11:01pm
Yes, you can be genetically predisposed to anxiety and depression. If you are experiencing either of thee and know someone in your family has dealt with it, try to talk to them about it.
Anonymous
February 8th, 2016 3:51am
In most cases yes. but I have seen many that haven't it is a factor, bu happens none the less
Anonymous
September 16th, 2015 11:52am
It can. I got anxiety from my dad, and he got anxiety from his dad. My brother also has anxiety. So I think it's possible that anxiety can run in a family, but that doesn't necessarily mean it has to for an individual to be diagnosed with anxiety
Anonymous
February 10th, 2016 12:37pm
Yes anxiety runs in my famiy,my husband suffers from anxiety and depression and I use to suffer from anxiety too.
Anonymous
February 11th, 2016 1:11am
Yes, anxiety can run in families. If your family has a history of having anxiety it is possible to inherit it. It is also possible to have anxiety even if no one else in your family has it.
elliejade
February 10th, 2016 7:42pm
Yes, researchers have found that anxiety runs in the family. And they also found that they have a biological basis like allergies.
Fyn
March 7th, 2016 5:34am
Not really but in some cases yes as your family is where you get a lot of your personality traits from and in cases anxiety can be passed over this way. The reality of it however is everyone experiences anxiety differently, some people can deal with it very easy where as others can not
Anonymous
April 24th, 2018 6:26pm
Anxiety can run in families. You can also be the first to have it and pass it on to your kids/ grandkids, etc. It just all depends.
CalmingSurvivor28
February 6th, 2016 4:55am
I believe anxiety runs in families. Home environment can change a lot about someones personality. I mean homes where the heart is right??
Anonymous
June 1st, 2020 4:27pm
It is possible that anxiety runs in the family. Anxiety is partially genetic, so if someone in your family has anxiety, it is possible to have anxiety too. Life experiences, the way how we were raised and stressul events can also be a factor in whether we develop anxiety or not. We all process situations and express them differently. For many of us, anxiety is the result. Which is totally normal. To combat anxiety there are many different techniques we can use to help reduce it. These things include relaxtion techniques, meditating and journaling can be used to reduce our anxiety.
Anonymous
February 6th, 2016 4:16am
Yes. Anxiety is very often passed through genetics. There is no guarantee that parents will pass anxiety to their kids, but it's likely
TayPrianggono
September 22nd, 2014 2:58pm
No. I have Anxiety problems. But my mom and dad has a very calm personality. They never panic or anxious about anything. So I don't think it runs in families.
blanket7
February 4th, 2016 8:51pm
Yes, it is very possible that if someone in your family has suffered from anxiety that you could also have it.
Mike8448
January 31st, 2016 2:55pm
Maybe it does, but being around anxious people all the time might make one feel anxious too. More research will answer this question in the future.
Anonymous
January 29th, 2016 3:51pm
Anxiety can have a slight genetic component depending on the cause but it can be prevented with the right lifestyle choices.
Annaxelia
January 29th, 2016 7:37am
Studies suggest that amity could be a genetic thing however from my experience it's not like that. In my family I am the only person who ever encountered anxiety to such an extent
CepheiStar
January 27th, 2016 7:53pm
It can. I'm not actually positive if this is a biological process or a environmental one, but if you grow up with a parent who has anxiety, as a child you likely pick up on that and learn that system of reacting to problems.
SilentSerenityy
January 24th, 2016 8:45pm
Generally, yes. It's either through genetics or from learned behaviour. It doesn't always mean family members will definitely develop anxiety though, it can just increase the likelihood.
Anonymous
January 21st, 2016 7:42pm
Yes! Anxiety can indeed be genetic. You may want to check with a doctor or psychiatrist to see if you may have anxiety.
supportiveSunshine57
February 6th, 2016 8:24pm
Though this is not always the case, I do believe that it is possible that anxiety runs in families. I personally have family members that do or have suffered from anxiety.