Are people born with it?

[casual_nihilist]

Is the manifestation of anxiety and depression in people related to their life experience or is it a seed in the brain since birth?

[Starrlight]

I believe it is both- nature and nurture... for some more of one than the other. Predisposition doesn’t mean it will reveal itself. As a teen events happened to give me depression but ever since I can recall I was an anxious little girl with ocd and much of it could be from upbringing but I believe it’s very much also in my genes.

[AriaB in reply to Starrlight]

I agree with Starrlight. I think the ratio varies from person to person too. From what I've read this is pretty much the current accepted theory right now, at least for people who have suffered mental illness their entire lives.

[fauxartist]

It's both....nature and nurture.

[hypercat54]

I go with the current thinking that a prediliction to mental health problems can be determined from birth, and your upbringing can either escalate it or 'dampen' it down to a manageable level.

I have seen a study of prisoners in which it was found that a higher than normal proportion are the type of people who are fearless. Those with highly dysfunctional upbringings end up committing crime. Those with good upbringings are those who undertake dangerous sports ie become mountainers or explorers and use this quality for positive purposes.

[Hidden]

In my case depression seems to have always been around, at least as far back as I can remember. My family provided for me well, loved me and didn't mistreat me, so in my case depression just is something I was always vulnerable to and environment/experience played a smaller role.