Roots of Anxiety
Many people suffer from anxiety, in order to treat it effectively, it’s important to understand its orgins. Where does anxiety come from—nature or nurture? Some experts believe we are primarily a product of our environment and the way we were raised; others believe genes and biology predict our behaviors and any subsequent problems our physical bodies may encounter. I believe it’s a mixture. Many of my clients have found the root cause of their anxiety in their childhood. Other clients have noticed that their own symptoms seem to have been passed down genetically because their parents and grandparents have all had similar struggles.
The way we were raised has a profound impact– not only on our personality, but also on our thinking and behavioral patterns. For example, children with supportive parents who encourage and empower them, typically have higher self esteem and positive thought patterns; whereas, children whose parents were the opposite tend to doubt their own abilities, have excess feelings of guilt and view the world with suspicion.
Exploring one’s family background is a common place to begin when identifying conditions that may have contributed to a current problem with anxiety.
In counseling, it’s helpful to look into the following:
· Is there a family history of known anxiety disorders?
· Were the caregivers around you excessively prone to worry? Were they overly concerned about potential dangers that could befall you or your loved ones?
· Did your parents encourage exploration, or did they cultivate an attitude of distrust of others?
· Were your caregivers overly critical of you?
· Were you able to express your feelings and impulses in a natural way? How were feelings dealt with in your family of origin?
· Was it OK to cry?
· Did you grow up feeling insecure? Was there excessive punishment or shaming?
· Was there any form of abuse?
Once we can identify some root causes, it helps to move forward by creating treatment goals. Identifying healthier core beliefs about yourself and the world around you can help eliminate the worry and stress you may feel each day. Looking at treatment options like CBT, relaxation techniques, medications, and lifestyle changes can have an immense impact on your wellbeing.
A benefit of talking to a counselor is having a safe place to explore your family background and learning better ways to cope with anxious thinking patterns.
Here is a nice resource including tips on managing anxiety: