Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. If other people in your family experience anxiety or have an anxiety disorder, you might wonder: Is anxiety genetic?
While the exact causes of anxiety are not fully understood, research has shown that anxiety does have a genetic component. If you have an immediate family member with an anxiety disorder, you are about two to six times more likely to develop an anxiety condition.1
As with many mental health diagnoses, anxiety has a genetic component. However, a genetic predisposition does not guarantee that someone will develop an anxiety disorder. In addition, some people with anxiety disorders do not report a family history of anxiety. Genes play a role, but so do other factors, including personal experiences, stress, parenting styles, and family dynamics.
At a Glance
Anxiety is influenced by genetics, but these inherited factors also interact with environmental influences as well. If you have a family history of anxiety, then you will have a higher risk of developing it yourself. However, your anxiety may not be the same as other members of your family, and you can reduce your risk by managing stress, living a healthy lifestyle, and getting treatment.
What Does It Mean for Anxiety to Be Genetic?
Humans have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes that make up our DNA.2 Our DNA determines many things about us, from our eye color to how tall we will be. Genes can interact with the environment as well.
For example, if someone experiences a traumatic event, their genetic expression might shift to adapt to the trauma, and this shift is passed down genetically through a process called epigenetics.3
Even without trauma, though, people can be genetically predisposed to mental health issues. Although research is still emerging surrounding the genetic influences on mental health, evidence shows that there are genetic predispositions to developing mental illness, including anxiety.4
Can Anxiety Be Genetic?
In recent years, researchers have come to understand more about how genetics contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Much of this research comes from twin studies that look at anxiety in identical or fraternal twins who have either been raised together or raised apart.
Research on identical twins has provided some evidence that anxiety disorders have a genetic component.5 Additionally, genome studies have shown that some genes are common in individuals with anxiety disorders. However, the current literature focuses on limited sample sizes.
Is anxiety genetic?
The existing studies indicate that there is likely a genetic component to anxiety. However, more information is needed to understand which genes cause anxiety and how this interacts with environmental factors such as stress and trauma to cause someone to develop an anxiety disorder.6
Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety refers to feelings of fear, worry, dread, nervousness, or foreboding. Everyone experiences these feelings from time to time, and it can be adaptive and helpful to experience anxiety. For example, if you might be in danger, your brain may cue you to seek safety by causing feelings of anxiety.
Some people may experience clinically significant anxiety symptoms. This can manifest as anxiety in specific, non-threatening situations, panic symptoms, or generalized feelings of worry that occur most or all of the time.
Types of anxiety disorders include:
- Agoraphobia
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Selective mutism
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias
When anxiety symptoms cause distress or impairment, they are considered clinically significant and may result in a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder.
Will My Children Have Anxiety Too?
If you have anxiety, your biological children are at higher risk for developing an anxiety disorder than the general population. This is not a guarantee, as some people do not develop genetic conditions even if these conditions run in their family.6
If your child exhibits anxiety symptoms, your experience can help you support them and understand their symptoms. Your child might benefit from therapy services to help them manage their symptoms, develop coping skills, and learn to communicate effectively and appropriately.
How Can I Know Who Will Inherit Anxiety?
Unfortunately, we do not know for certain who will develop anxiety based on their genetic predisposition, who will develop anxiety despite not having a family history, or who will not develop anxiety despite having a family history.
As research evolves and we learn more about the human genome, we might be better able to predict who will and will not inherit a predisposition to an anxiety disorder.
Adverse childhood experiences and other types of childhood trauma can increase someone’s risk for developing an anxiety disorder.7 Hormone levels can also contribute to anxiety.
If you have a family history of anxiety, be aware of the various types of anxiety and their symptoms. Be aware of your stress level and that of your family members.
If you have children, let them know that they can come to you with stress or other concerns. Since early intervention can help prevent symptoms from worsening, this open communication can be very beneficial.
Will My Anxiety Be the Same as Other Family Members?
Anxiety can manifest in many ways. Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobias, and panic attacks can all occur as a result of anxiety.8 A small amount of anxiety is adaptive and can help keep a person safe and motivate them.
Although anxiety has a genetic component, each person experiences emotions differently.6 If one person experiences social anxiety, someone with similar genetics might develop generalized anxiety disorder or agoraphobia instead.
Anxiety can also vary in severity depending on stress, lifestyle, and other factors.4
Genes Influence Anxiety, But Treatment Can Help
If you or a family member experiences anxiety symptoms that interfere with your life, help is available. Your genetics may put you at greater risk, but getting treatment and taking proactive steps to address anxiety can reduce its negative impact on your life.
Therapy
Many people with anxiety disorders can benefit from therapy services, and cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment intervention for anxiety as well as panic disorder.9
Other types of therapy that can be effective for anxiety include:
- Exposure therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
- Psychodynamic therapy
Medications
Some people who experience clinically significant anxiety symptoms benefit from medication for their symptoms. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are sometimes be used to treat anxiety.
Some providers prescribe benzodiazepine medications for as-needed relief from intense anxiety symptoms.10
All medication has the potential for risks or side effects. If you feel like medication would be appropriate for your anxiety symptoms, talk to your primary physician. They can answer questions you have about your diagnosis and various treatment options.
Although the genetics surrounding anxiety are still an emerging area of research, there are genetic tests that can help you determine which medication might be the best fit for you.11
Lifestyle Changes
Making certain lifestyle changes can also help manage your symptoms of anxiety. Things you can do on your own to reduce anxiety include:
- Exercising: Research has shown that exercise can help treat and prevent anxiety.12
- Limit your caffeine intake: Excessive caffeine use can make anxiety worse.
- Get enough rest: Lack of sleep can worsen symptoms of anxiety.
- Manage your stress: Stress can have a variety of adverse health effects and makes it harder to control symptoms of anxiety.
- Get social support: Having supportive people who understand your needs can help you feel better.
- Use relaxation techniques: Strategies like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and yoga can also help reduce feelings of anxiety.
Takeaway
Anxiety disorders can be debilitating and can interfere with many areas of life. Although anxiety can be adaptive and protective, it can be difficult to let go of anxious feelings when they are not helpful or needed.
Know that it is OK to seek help for anxiety, and many evidence-based treatment options exist for anxiety disorders. A professional can help you or your family members struggling with anxiety receive the treatment and support that will best meet their needs.