Yes, they can. According to the research of Dr. Michelle Craske at UCLA, scientists will be able to identify risk factors for the development of anxiety and depression.
One such factor is neuroticism which is the tendency on a person's part to experience negative emotional states. What this means is that something you or I would laugh at becomes a source of pain for the neurotic person. What most people would brush off as insignificant is imbued with negative, phobic intentions to neurotic people.
Fear is at the basis of neurosis making victims respond with unnecessary stress to ordinary events. The underlying tone in these individuals is a sense of threat. In essence, they are living lives filled with real and imaginary threats.
Adolescents who are tested high in neuroticism may develop anxiety and/or depression years down the road.
According to Craske, 25% of the US population experience anxiety disorders over their lifetime and these disorders are twice as common in women as in men.
Certainly food for thought--considering the fact that not being able to forget bad memories has been seen to be at the basis of anxiety disorders.
Perhaps women have a more difficult time forgetting the pain of negative experiences.
2 comments:
Thanks for this post bianca. I love it. It's amazing what scientists can understand from genetics these days. Keep up the great work. I'm loving these anger management tips.
Neurotic predictors huh? Well it's a shame that some people feel they cannot break out from underneath the bondage of painful memories.
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