Stress and anxiety are universal human responses. However, why do some people manage pressure with relative calm, while others feel quickly paralysed, facing a constant battle that even affects their family lineage?
If you have wondered if can anxiety be genetic, the answer is yes. Your genetic code plays a fundamental role in the sensitivity and the response of your body to pressure. Understanding genetic predisposition to anxiety and depression is the first step towards the personalised management of your well-being.
Can anxiety be genetically inherited?
Current scientific research confirms the great influence of anxiety genetic factors, highlighting that the predisposition to this disorder has a strong hereditary component. There is no single “anxiety gene”, but hundreds of variations in your DNA that influence how your brain produces, transports and uses the mood chemicals, including:
- Cortisol regulation: The main stress hormone. Genes determine the speed with which your body releases and metabolises this hormone. A bad regulation can lead to a state of genetic causes of anxiety constant.
- Neurotransmitters: Genes such as the SLC6A4 (serotonin transporter) or the COMT (which metabolises dopamine) influence your chemical balance. Variations in these genes can make you more vulnerable to anxiety disorders.
Genetic testing for anxiety medication
One of the most powerful applications of genetics is the optimisation of pharmacological treatment. While is anxiety and depression genetic are essential tools, pharmacology teaches us that their dose and efficacy are not universal. The way in which your body metabolises these compounds is dictated by your DNA, making the same dose effective for one person and ineffective or toxic for another.
Genetic variability is crucial, for example, in the response to anxiolytics such as Diazepam, whose main action consists in acting as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA receptors in the brain.
Knowing this genetic predisposition to anxiety and depression is vital, since Diazepam facilitates the inhibitory neurotransmission mediated by GABA, which results in a calming effect on brain activity.
Pharmacogenetics helps to know a precise treatment plan, reducing side effects and drastically increasing the effectiveness.
Can I control my genetic predisposition to anxiety and depression?
Understanding the genetic vulnerability to anxiety does not condemn you, it empowers you. If you know that you have a genetic predisposition to anxiety and depression, you can take proactive and personalised measures to know how to lower stress and anxiety:
- Modulation of lifestyle: If your DNA indicates an exaggerated response to cortisol, focus on deep relaxation techniques (meditation, yoga) instead of high-intensity exercises.
- Nutritional optimisation: Some people with certain genetic predisposition to anxiety and depression are especially sensitive to stimulants. If you wonder how it affects you, you will be interested in our report on caffeine and anxiety.
- Directed therapy: Knowing the biological root of your genetic causes of anxiety, you can communicate it to your therapist to design more effective cognitive and behavioural strategies.
Your emotional well-being is written in your genetic code. In tellmeGen, we give you the tools to read it and make informed decisions for you and your well-being.