Family
As a clinician, I frequently have patients who also have an older relative with GAD or chronic worry. From a psychological perspective, we know that children are easily influenced by their parents and other significant people in their lives, and that they are quick to learn and adopt ways of interacting with the world that they see. Therefore, if a child watches her mother became anxious and worried when faced with some sort of stress, the child will likely adopt this trait as well. Fortunately, watching parents cope effectively with stress, even if they become worried, can also be passed on.
Environmental Stressors
All of us have different experiences growing up that influence how we view ourselves, others, and the world. Based on this, researchers have identified several major areas of environmental stressors that could be causes of anxiety disorders like GAD. First, any abuse can be a factor in development of anxiety disorders. Second, a chaotic home life (parent divorce, substance abuse, neglect, etc) can also be an influence. These experiences cause intense fear and psychological disturbances that create an underlying belief that the world is threatening, and is thus experienced with chronic fear and anxiety. Also, some health experts think that traumatic experiences can also affect brain development as well.
Click here for more on other theories of what causes GAD.
