Anxiety has many "mothers,” and one of them seems to be stored in the genes you inherited and that rise to stalk you.

Anxiety is not solely caused by our current situation, environment, stress, illness, or medication, but also by genetics.

A genetic propensity to cause anxiety disorders requires an activating factor. There might be ways for us to control this genetically–derived anxiety disorder. For this reason, cognitive-behavioral therapy has always pointed to how we can appropriately manage anxiety. The question that remains, however, is whether there might be more genes than we originally thought that could come into play in any anxiety disorder.

Across five continents, researchers looked into the genetics of anxiety disorders using data from over 1.2 million people. Researchers conducted genome-wide association studies and discovered a total of 115 genes linked to anxiety during the analyses. The analyses also found global and local genetic associations between anxiety and bipolar illness, depression, schizophrenia, and many physical health categories. The complexity of the genes involved in anxiety disorders and other health issues exceeds our initial proposal.

Beyond mental diseases, there is high genetic homology between ANX and other health-related characteristics. Among the top 100 genetic associations, there were several non-psychiatric symptoms, including pain-related phenotypes affecting various body parts (17%) and gastrointestinal abnormalities (43%).

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) shares a hereditary basis of anxiety, mood disorders, and gastrointestinal problems; anxiety and gastrointestinal diseases are highly comorbid. A brain-wide study that included genetic and imaging data shed light on the involvement of pain sensitivity in the development of anxiety disorders.

Additional research further supports the genetic connection with anxiety disorders and other difficulties. Researchers conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the Million Veteran Program, one of the biggest biobanks in the world, which includes genetic, environmental, and medical data.

The study’s main analysis was a trait for anxiety, and a secondary analysis was based on self-report of physician diagnosis of anxiety disorder. This established clinical comorbidity is likely attributable, in part, to a shared genetic origin, since researchers discovered substantial genetic overlap between PTSD and major depressive illness.

Stress and Anxiety

The role of stress-related exposures in mitigating the impact of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) on depressive and anxious symptoms remains unknown. A total of 41,810 people took part in the Lifelines Cohort Study and had their genetic makeup analyzed, as well as their anxiety and depression levels measured. Loneliness, reduced social support, and increased exposure to long-term problems, stressful life events, and despair exacerbated the genetic impacts of anxiety and depression. The impact of early trauma exposure on depression showed a significant interaction with the PRS, according to the findings.

There is sufficient evidence for an impact on the above-related factors that collude with genetic inheritance in mental health disorders, and how learning to deal with some of these issues can forestall the activation of the genetic material. Does this mean that we have true power over it?

Researchers have only shown that there is a relationship and a pre-existing genetic propensity. Should the appropriate forces be present, we do not know if current therapies can be 100% effective.

We do know, however, that there are a number of things in addition to therapy that can be brought to bear, and that will have an effect on emotional stability in terms of anxiety and depression. Certainly, lifestyle, exercise, diet, and social involvement plus a sense of purpose are all potent forces over which we do have control.

The research is encouraging, but it should not be perceived as a comprehensive genetic exploration into anxiety and depression. There are more things present here than what we currently know, and the interaction of genes is something only artificial intelligence will be able to parse out for us. However, it means that some people may have a bit more difficulty attempting to cope in situations where anxiety and depression may arise.

This doesn't mean that they are weak, but they will have to have additional encouragement and support when these two specific mental disorders are evident or may be on the horizon. Anticipation and preparation would seem to be the two things that can best serve us in ironing out issues that may be dark clouds in our lives.