Is Depression/Anxiety Inherited?

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone

I have had severe anxiety for 25 years and and depression for 15 years. My anxiety has gone through calm and true acceptance but the depression is still with me and I now understand it may be with me for life. I have read some posts on the BB Forums that it may be hereditary.

Even though at this late stage of my illness I would like to hear people's thoughts on if they think that their depression/anxiety has come from their parents or grandparents. Please share your thoughts.

Kind Thoughts

Paul

[Snoopy33]

Hi Blondguy,

i think it is to an extent. I can see symptoms of anxiety in my mother and grandmother. My aunty (mums sister) has been diagnosed with anxiety also. I can see that she experiences similar symptoms to myself. Both my mother and father have experienced periods were they have been quite low but were never diagnosed with depression. Both have said they have had a nervous breakdown and my mother was admitted to hospital when she had hers. They have never been diagnosed with a mental illness as far as I am aware. One of my sisters has had problems with drugs and bulimia. Drug and alcohol addiction and depression also have been an issue on my fathers side.

[geoff]

dear Paul, just as having OCD, depression can come down through the lines of our ancestors.
I do remember my Mum being sad but I think she always kept on putting that brave face pretending that no one knew, I can't be sure but that doesn't mean that depression isn't inherited down, because I know that being an alcoholic passes through the ranks as my grandfather, Mum's side was an alcoholic and on Dad's side both his father and Uncles were also inclined to love a drink, and I only found out at Dad's funeral that his Dad went bankrupt, so his grandfather had to put him through medicine.
But with bankrupties surely comes depression and also when my Mum was put into a nursing home with sound mind depression must have come on for her.
I wonder why my twin brother has never had depression nor does he have OCD, nor had an alcohol problem, so when I got depressed I was facing all the odds possible to drink, but now fortunately I only drink socially. Geoff.

[Starwolf]

Hey Paul,

I think the debate re your question is still open...Like with all health issues, genetic predisposition seems to play a role. But what I find interesting is that (as with Geoff's twin for example) some family members are immune to it while others are affected in varying degrees. Why ? What individual differences cause this ?

My mother had OCD, she'd freak out if anything was moved 1 cm but I'm not even house proud, quite slack when it comes to house work. No one else in the family shared her obsession.

While some of us seem to acquire depression for no other reason than hereditary, others need a triggering event or situation to set the process in motion while their ancestry is clear of the illness. Does it mean that there was a trigger for the first group that went unnoticed ? Does it mean that our genes predispose us to a specific way of responding to a trigger ? Is this response dictated by genes or just a learned pattern, picked up from our close family and turned into habitual behaviour?

As far as I know, research into the subject has come up with a bunch of contradictions. Different opinions and beliefs but what is the truth ?

When my daughter ended up with brain injury, I had many occasions to discuss with professionals both the workings of the physical brain and also the volatile mind. Her brain surgeon (a top bloke, both as a person and in his field) told me that in fact very little is still known re the ways the physical brain is affected by the mind. In spite of all the "mechanical" knowledge and mapping of every brain area, not much is to be taken for granted. Surprises that go against the grain of scientific knowledge are not uncommon. My daughter was one of those.The old mind/matter thing. (He also added with a cheeky smile that there again, those uncanny surprises may well be hereditary). As the girl would say...Go figure !

Sorry I have more questions than answers but thanks for initiating an interesting discussion.

Also sad you're not feeling 100% these days but it's good to know you're taking it slow. Always great catching up with you.

Please take care.

[Mares73]

Hi dear Paul

I too have come to accept depression will be with me for life. It's not a defeatist logic but rather acceptance that I'll need to live with it as with any illness. That's not to say I won't take actions to lesson its effects but rather that I'll spend my energy on maintaining a level of acceptance & action rather than wasting time fearing I must get rid of it.

My childhood was very abusive. My mother has always been a very anxious person & her father was carted off to the pysch ward when she was a child back in the late 1940s. He never came out again. My father was an alcoholic & drank to cope with blocking out his depression. Both my parents came from violent homes.

I've come to think depression is either or both genetic & environmental. Many people with depression have a trigger or life event that preceded their depression and in turn if their parents were depressed it does seem to amount to a combination of genetic or childhood & circumstances ie major trauma or life events. Of course not everyone fits my vague generalisation but I'm yet to know someone with depression who didn't have what I'd call triggers or painful effects on them from life circumstances.

Not sure I've been very clear.

How are you travelling?

Lve Mares x

[Guest_5218]

Interesting question Paul, and I suspect we are not about to stumble across a definitive answer here. But it is fun discussing it anyway and seeing other peoples opinions.

My own belief is that its a combination of inheritance (or being predisposed) and circumstances. I believe there needs to be a trigger (drugs, trauma, serious illness, bereavement, job loss, etc) for it to come about. And once that trigger occurs then it's over to our genetics, or predisposition, as to how we individually deal with the trigger. Some will develop anxiety or depression, and others wont.

There are no known mental health issues on either side of my family (havent we been lucky) so I cant blame inheritance for my own anxiety and ptsd. But perhaps everyone else in my family have just been incredibly lucky to have never had the triggers to spark depression or anxiety? Or perhaps they are just more resilient than me?

As Starwolf says - this discussion is likely to raise more questions than answers. ( - :

Stay well Paul.

Sherie xx

[blondguy]

Hi Snoopy, your experiences are very similar to mine with occurrences in the past. I havent helped myself by having senior career roles that have exacerbated my depression.

Thankyou Snoopy33

Paul

[blondguy]

Dear Geoff

Im sorry to hear about what happened to your mum. I cant even begin to comprehend what she went through. Like yourself my brother has no depression doesnt drink and zero anxiety...I find it interesting that the chips fall where they do. When you mentioned that your mum put on a brave face my mum did/does the same. Back in those days I think they were told they were suffering with 'nerves'. It would have been an awful time to have depression. My grandad died at 54 of a brain tumor but he used to drink the breweries dry...big time.

Thankyou for your wisdom and kindness Geoff. Paul

[Elizabeth CP]

I think like most of the other posters that predisposition to depression/anxiety is inherited. The strength of this predisposition will influence what triggers we will cope with & what will push us over the edge. Severe trauma such as rape or a chronic condition with severe pain & other negative consequences will push even the most resilient people over the edge unless they get a lot of support. In contrast someone with a high disposition to depression would be affected by a trigger other people could cope with. My family has a history of depression. My grandfather committed suicide after the war. My cousin also committed suicide. My aunt was very depressed & I suspect my uncle was as well. My son has also been severely depressed & suicidal in the past. Another aunt was fine most of her life until her only son died suddenly and she seemed to really struggle afterwards with grief & depression. In each case there were definite triggers prior to the depression.

[blondguy]

Starwolf..Hi...Your posts are always an inspirational and the more questions the better..My depression was triggered/brought on by my involvement in the family court. I think that genetics also play a role. Thankyou for you kind wishes Star x

Mares..Hey...Environmental as well....violent childhood too? Same here Mares. We are only as strong as the foundations/nurturing that are provided for us to grow upon

Sherie..Your family having no mental illnesses in the past is interesting...Maybe when we have a major life crisis or event it may open the door for the chemical imbalances of Depression?....Interesting Sherie

ElizabethCP ..Predisposition...absolutely..Well articulated as usual too. Because some people dont have the time to read other members posts I have copied & pasted a few words from your post just incase anyone missed it.....

"Severe trauma such as rape or a chronic condition with severe pain &
other negative consequences will push even the most resilient people
over the edge unless they get a lot of support. In contrast someone with
a high disposition to depression would be affected by a trigger other
people could cope with"

Thankyou Elizabeth and all so very much. Paul