To Test or Not to Test
Blood tests that identify biomarkers for certain genes related to anxiety disorders are on the horizon. One is currently being developed for panic disorder. However, the tests are likely to be expensive and not always necessary, as many anxiety disorders can be diagnosed with the DSM-IV (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—the mental health care professional’s bible). Not that a diagnosis necessarily needs to happen—everyday occurrences of worrying and anxiety are perfectly normal emotions, just like happiness and sadness. Doctors are also reluctant to use gene profiling to predict mental disorders. Just because your biology predisposes you for anxiety doesn’t mean you’re destined to become your hand-wringing mother. Genes are a blueprint, not fate. And the last thing you want is a self-fulfilling prophecy that will have you worrying about your susceptibility to worry.
Don’t Stress
Worrying is normal, but simple lifestyle choices can help you manage elevated levels of stress: exercise, eat healthy, stay away from caffeine and alcohol, get enough sleep, and try relaxation exercises. If your worry is chronic—particularly about things over which you have no control or that are in the past, like whether you should have invited your second cousin to your wedding four years ago—consider seeking professional help. Your anxiety may be a result of a medical condition, like a thyroid problem or hypoglycemia, or a side effect of medications you’re taking. If not, there are treatment options. Exposure therapy (repeated exposure to your source of anxiety in a safe and controlled environment), cognitive behavior therapy (identifying and challenging negative and irrational thought patterns), hypnotherapy, and physician-prescribed medications all have good track records in treating anxiety disorders.
While genetics can open doors for understanding why we are the way we are, DNA isn’t a crystal ball. It’s not inevitable that you’ll follow like Chicken Little in your mother’s anxious footsteps. But if you do, scientists might be able to explain why. At least that’s one less thing to worry about.
