The answer to this question is not as clear cut as it would seem. Is anxiety genetically caused or environmentally caused? The answer to this is both. A person's upbringing, environment, and individual experiences can all be factors. However, for some people, it is genuinely a chemical imbalance in their brain that they have no control over. Everyone gets anxious and has anxiety over certain things. How severe it is varies from person to person. Some people are more genetically prone to worse anxiety. Similarly, some people's upbringing makes them more prone to anxiety. Or their environment, or their job, or anything really.
Your genes produce proteins which overall decide how your body functions. Tiny differences in your genes, single nucleotide polymorphisms
(SNPs) affect the hormones and enzymes responsible for your psychological responses. Certain genes show an elevated response to stressful events which is what makes some people more sensitive than others. There are many ways to manage stress and anxiety however. Some people can overcome it by themselves, while others may need medication or therapy. https://www.dnafit.com/advice/stress-management/are-you-genetically-prone-to-stress-and-anxiety.asp
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/is-anxiety-genetic
I believe that this topic is very important, considering the fact that mental illness seems to be on the rise in America, especially in teens and young adults. Understanding the mechanisms of mental illnesses, like anxiety, is a good start in finding the best solution when it comes to treatment and preventative measures. Anxiety having both a genetic component as well as an environmental component make it a bit more difficult to study, but without studying both aspect, the whole picture would not be created, so I think understand and studying both causes are equally as important.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good post in my opinion because I feel like now more than ever a lot of people are dealing with anxiety. I would never have though anxiety could be genetic because my parents don't ever show signs of anxiousness or any kind of "problems" or situations people in our generation mainly deal with. I thought anxiety started mainly within the person or started from there at least.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, touching on such an important topic. I thought stress and anxiety was mainly an environmental thing but its good to know that it also has to do with our genetics. And that it depends on our genetic response how we deal with hard times.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome topic because it is so relatable. Anxiety to some degree is so common, and I'm glad that awareness about it is being spread, it makes people feel less alone in their struggles. Information is an important part of that, and knowing that there are some genetic factors involved is a huge step forward in research for the disorder.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this topic is very important in society with many people having it. It can be genetic due to the impact it has on the person or common due to the environment they are in. This article showed me that anxiety is more than something due to an experience someone has.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this is a great article as well as an important. To know that genetics could be part of it is always one piece closer to figuring it out. Anxiety is a very common thing among people in which could be cause genetically or by toxic environments that we may find ourselves in. I really enjoyed this article.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this is a great article as well as an important. To know that genetics could be part of it is always one piece closer to figuring it out. Anxiety is a very common thing among people in which could be cause genetically or by toxic environments that we may find ourselves in. I really enjoyed this article.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really interesting article, as mental health should be discussed more often. While anxiety can be caused by genetics, I definitely think that environmental factors make it worse. For example, the pressure of media, family members, friends, peers can definitely take a huge toll on anxiety.
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