Some people are born anxious. This is according to numerous studies conducted over the past several decades. For example, did you know that some infants have a stronger startle response than others? That’s just the beginning.
Psychologist Jerome Kagan of Harvard has said that many of these ‘high-reactors’ tend to grow up nervous. They worry a lot, feel insecure, and some even develop anxiety disorders.
There are those that don’t believe in a genetic basis for high anxiety, but you know what? I’m not one of them.
I believe that some folks are wired for anxiety. I sure as hell am. When I was a kid I used to get attacks of diarrhea before social events and hated meeting new people.
So the question isn’t if some people are born anxious, the question of interest is: Is it a life sentence? I’ll say this much, if you have an anxious personality chances are that you will always be more anxious than ‘normal’ people.
That, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t bring your anxiety under control. In other words, you might be a little uneasy from time to time, but you can still live your life without panic attacks, intense worry, and random physical symptoms.
I put together a new podcast to tackle this issue and answer some questions I got by email. To listen just click on the ‘Listen’ icon below.
Another great podcast. Very interesting you mentioned someone being “born with anxiety” as this week, my therapist and I discussed something similar. She asked me if I was hospitalized as an infant for any period of time and I was. Separation anxiety could have formed as early as a week after being born. I can also remember being frequently anxious and nervous as a kid. Very interesting stuff.
In my family, social anxiety and depression seem to go back generations. Prime example is my great aunt, who currently holds the family record for best excuses for not to go out. My older daughter started showing anxious symptoms at an early age. However, unlike my parents, my wife and I were determined to teach her to deal with these emotions and we are very proud of how she manages to channel these emotions today.
Anxiety and related disorders are in my opinion probably polygenic diseases, but genes only play a part in them, as in many others. Just like being predisposed to heart disease, you can be predisposed to anxiety disorders, being wired for anxiety as you put it. However, the environment plays a large role. Just as with heart disease, you can take steps to reduce the risk of panic attacks and learn to live with your predisposition.
Best of luck with your studies. Z
Hey Z,
You make a great point. The environment does play a major role, as does lifestyle, job type, stress level, and so forth.
Still, despite all these challenges, people should know that you don’t have to live anxious, whatever the circumstance.
I agree Paul. I found it very interesting to hear from my Grandmother that she had the same anxieties during her 30’s that I have. Same triggers, same worries, and same fears. I had no idea she struggled like that until recently. My mother was the same. (Seems rather genetic to me!). But like Paul says, inheritance doesn’t mean we cannot overcome and recover. As always, thank you Paul!!
Great post Paul! I myself am a social anxiety sufferer. This indeed makes a great nature vs. nurture debate. While certain factors in the environment can contribute to the develop of anxiety (childhood upbringing, dysfunctional family, etc) I would also say that if anxiety runs in the family, then one can have a genetic predisposition towards developing anxiety, having panic attacks, etc. Although we may never be able to completely eliminate anxiety, we can at least manage it and keep it at bay.
I’ll be listening to your podcast later today. If I was ‘anxious’ as a young child I didn’t know it. I think most kids think their environment is ‘normal’. I had to walk out the first time I took my SAT, horrible diarrhea, which was probably from stress.
I think anxiety has many contributing factors. Environment, familial (is that a word?) and even nutrition. Also the person themselves; how they react to all the above mentioned factors. I am a worrier, if my kids or husband was late and didn’t call, I’d be panicky and after they were home safe, I’d have major GI issues…
Thank you Paul for your site and time, it is greatly appreciated.
Paul, I just wanted to thank you for your e book the big idea . I know its going to take time, but im trying to accept instead of resist. Its very hard to do but im still trying. I still have trouble sleeping. I listen to the e book everyday. Thanks so much. I did join the ymca and im trying to exercise more. I know you said exercise helped you alot i hope it helps me also. Thanks again for your book, you are truely a kind person that is sincere about helping people. If you can give me any tips i surely would appreciate it.
Hey Kevin,
I replied to you by email. Hope you got the message!
I only come here when I have anxiety.
It goes away for long spells and comes back uninvited for a few days or a few weeks.
I also think that anxiety can have a genetic predisposition. My cousin from my mother’s side has also severe anxiety which has gotten better over time but never completly. She had a traumatic childhood though. As she’s older than me enough to be my mother, the treatments available at the time were often harsh and addictive medication, but luckily things have improved in that area and when my anxiety got really strong at age 18, I was diagnosed faster and treated better. Since I have started to ween off my medication tough I have found that anxiety returns. Like, right now. I don’t cry about it though like I used to. I try to let it go trhrough me even if it’s not easy to ignore.
My point is that although I do recognise that anxiety is a disorder, I’m starting to hear that it used to be a great mean of survival. When you are afraid that death is creeping up on you all the time, you are always ready when the lion is about to ponce on you or your family. So in a way, if we went back in time to the prehistoric era, we anxiety “sufferers” would be super heros in a way. Capable to anticipate danger and therefore thrive while other cavemen got eaten by bears.
Today, this hyper-vigilence is not as usefull.
So I’m not sure where I’m getting at. I only wanted to share that anxiety sucks when it happens and I wish I didn’t have it, but I try to look at it as an overactive alarm system that I just need to ignore sometimes because the dangers are not there. Like the smoke detector going off when you make toast. Really anoying but not really dangerous. Just telling this to others really helps me as well. Hope it does the same for you.
Don’t forget to breath! I do that.
Sarah,
I think genetics does play a role in anxiety, though I’m not sure how much of a role. For me, I am leaning towards environmental, as children we learn from our environment and take that with us into adulthood. Siblings can experience the same things and each will react differently. It may be how we as children process experiences that may lead to anxiety. I’ve caught myself giving knee-jerk reactions to things that shouldn’t bother me as an adult.
You are right, our “overactive alarm system” is stuck for some reason in the fight of flight ‘on’ mode. Wish it were as simple as a few squirts of WD-40 and all would be fixed.