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

[Mares73]

Dear Paul

I just wanted to apologise for my last post to you where I asked you specific questions about your experience in life whilst having the black dog around. I'd love to hear more about you but only if your comfortable so please don't answer if uncomfortable or if anything I've said brings on triggers.

im really sorry if my questions upset you as that's the last thing I intended.

Lve Mares x

[geoff]

dear Paul, this will create a lot of discussion, talking about the question you have asked but also about other issues that could be related.
If you put 2 people in the same situation, whether they are family related or not, but let's say they are from the same family and they have to face an awful situation which has just happened, then why does one of them fall to depression and the other one doesn't, is it because one is more emotional than the other, or is it because one has an unstable or unbalance chemical deficiency in the brain, or is their lifestyle has put more pressure on them, such as work, finance, husband/wife troubles, but then the question remains 'why'. Geoff.

[Mares73]

Sorry Paul can I just say Geoff your question is one I've thought of many times. It's like 2 kids raised in a loving family both with the same opportunities etc & yet one can grow up as a by product of a home life that gave them self esteem whereas the other one could turn out to be perhaps an addict or live a unstable life. Who can say how that can happen? Yet I've heard of it & seen in happen.

You raise a really interesting point.

Mares x

[blondguy]

Dear Mares

Your post was great to read....No problemo at all 🙂 I appreciate what you have to say Mares. My concentration has been limited due to my depression flaring up so when I get to the stage of trying to read a big paragraph from anyone and cant I just leave the forums and have a rest. I have just read Geoff's post...what a great point!

Always nice to see you Mares

Paul xx

[blondguy]

Dear Geoff

What a great point you have made. I have a daughter in her 20's that I love to bits and brought her up in a nurturing and kind home environment.She has since taken a rebellious and gothic path in her life with low self esteem and has issues. A wise older client (in his 70's) told me last year and I quote "Paul, please dont beat yourself up because of your daughters' behavior and troubles. Even with the best upbringing some kids take the wrong turn at the fork in the road and end up suffering"

One of your points was chemical imbalance. Very interesting point as the highs and lows of depression can vary so very much I do sometimes think that it 'may' be a physical problem that has 'life triggers' but is exacerbated through chemical activity in the brain. Even though we are discussing depression some senior medical professionals are now convinced that schizophrenia has chemical imbalances that results in adverse behavioral changes to thought processes.

You also mentioned environmental triggers...work....finance...relationship pressures. Possibly through even having a small chemical imbalance these triggers you mention may just be enough to initiate the depression and its awful presence in our lives.

Thankyou again Geoff....Paul

[Starwolf]

And there again...what comes first, the chemical imbalance or the behaviour ? It is now taken for granted that moods influence our chemical cocktail. So....

[blondguy]

The good old chicken and the egg scenario Starwolf....Words of Wisdom... I did learn that the brain of a long term anxiety sufferer is a different color from a non sufferer which is interesting (from a surgeon) Food for thought

I left you comments about your profile pic on another thread Star. He is gorgeous. I also respect the memory of my Alaskan Malamute and still use his pic. Paul x

[geoff]

no different than having a cut that needs stitches and whether or not it's infected, as it will be red and sore when you need anti-biotics, or liver cirrhosis when your liver has no redness about it.
I know that both these can be inflicted by yourself like having a diseased liver, but then circumstances come into the equation and will ocurr because of depression, stress or need, no different to how we can get depression, so the question remains open. Geoff.

[blondguy]

Absolutely Geoff....those circumstances are definatley a common denominator and like you said...leaves the question open. I am so glad you are here on the forums Geoff...I am helped and gain a lot from your experience.

I hope Moo Moo is doing okay...Paul

[Elizabeth CP]

I think this is an interesting topic but probably better for the medical profession to do research on in the hope that by getting clearer answers they can provide better targeted treatment. Once we have a mental illness at this point there is little help from knowing whether it was caused by genetics. Prior to becoming unwell worrying about our risk based on family history is problematic as the worry could trigger the illness anyway. This is in contrast to some physical illnesses such as heart conditions where being aware of the risk may lead to quicker diagnosis & treatment with better outcomes.

We know that certain events such as trauma or abuse are likely to trigger mental illness so society needs to ensure there are better supports to prevent these things happening as far as possible & to provide as much quality support for people who have experienced this to reduce the negative impact particularly on mental health.