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It's fairly common for people who have suffered with panic and anxiety problems to find out that their siblings and/or parents also suffered from the same types of issues. Unfortunately, many people keep the problems hidden and they don't learn about the history until the problem has developed into something more serious.

In many cases, they only find out about the history of anxiety when their own problem becomes overwhelming and they seek help for it. They will often tell their family, at which point other family members may also come forward.

Unfortunately there is a stigma associated with anxiety and panic disorders, and many people are unwilling to admit to it.

Anxiety is not strictly hereditary, however. Even if there is no history of it in their family, a person can develop problems for many reasons. Some of the most common are major events in their life, such as:

-Grief : The death of a loved one or close friend
-Major trauma : A car accident, being held up or a life threatening sickness
-Financial problems : Unexpected job loss, large amounts of debt

In some cases, it is easy to identify the seed that has grown into a panic or anxiety problem. Other times it is not so simple. It can sometimes take years after a stressful event or situation before anxiety disorder symptoms start to appear, and it's not always easy to see the relationship.

So, to answer the initial question, yes, anxiety problems can be hereditary but they are not exclusively so. If your family has a history of anxiety, however, it is more likely that you are at risk of similar problems and should be more aware of any potential signs of a problem. If there is any doubt, the best course of action is to discuss the potential problem with your doctor.