Genetic Factors

High levels of anxiety and Anxiety Disorders as such are generally not inherited, however what can be inherited is a general sensitivity. If you are a sensitive person, you will tend to worry more than most about things happening in your life.  Your sensitivity may not just impact on you emotionally, however, also physically - you may be sensitive to heat/cold, certain foods and substances you put in your body, bright lights, loud noises and physical pain.  There is a beneficial side to being sensitive - you will often be kind and caring and considerate to others which are all wonderful qualities to have.  The not so beneficial side of being sensitive is that you may have a tendency to worry too much.  It is this worry that results in the experience of high levels of anxiety and can contribute to the onset of an Anxiety Disorder.

Worry is fear and fear is what turns on the anxiety response.  Some people have a predisposition to worry which is what can be called a 'mechanism to worry' or your 'can of worry'.  When you are born, your can is tiny and doesn't have any contents.  Over the years, due to your experience, you start filling your can up with things to worry about - ie. fear based beleifs and subsequent negative thinking patterns that become entrenched.  You can grows large and so you find there is lots to worry about.  

Therapy will help you in identifying what is in your can, and then assist you to reduce the contents of your can so that you no longer have much to worry about.  The mechanism may always be there, however you can learn to control it, and when you have your anxiety will decrease or disappear.