Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic attacks have been shown to run in families, and symptoms can show prevalence early in childhood.
As far as Barb knew, GAD started with her maternal grandmother. She was the chronic worrier who took extreme measures to overcome her fears, even in the most mundane situations.
For example, during loud thunderstorms she would wake up all the children and force them to sit under the piano, which was logically located away from all windows.
She would even go as far as to start praying and doing the rosary during these times, not providing any support to the children. She was so afraid of injury and "what if's," that she did not see the damage she was doing to her children.
She was also very extremely overprotective of her children. She would hover over them, was always in their business, and constantly warning them of all the dangers to watch for outside the front door.
Consequently, and perhaps partially for genetic reasons, her children developed anxiety disorders of their own. Even as a child, her daughter showed symptoms: blacking out without physical cause, feelings of suffocation and entrapment, and frequent crying spells.
As an adult, her daughter had troubles functioning in society: her home looked like a train wreck, she had severe antisocial behaviors, and she verbalized feeling scattered with her thoughts.
In this particular situation, it is difficult to determine if nature or nurture was the ultimate cause of GAD through the generations. Ironically, her granddaughter and grandson also have anxiety disorders, both of which experience some impairment in their daily functioning without the help of medication.
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