One reason why such childhood environments and experiences can lead to a propensity during adulthood to suffer from anxiety is actually quite obvious. Children believe what the significant adults in their life tell them. In an attempt to 'fit-in' and 'be accepted',' liked', 'loved' etc children learn strategies to survive and get what they need emotionally. In environments that are predominantly negative and emotionally challenging they will adopt certain character or personality traits that assist them in their quest. This is what children do in any environment but when they experience highly charged negative ones they tend to learn less empowering traits. These include:
- ·The need for perfectionism
- ·The desire to be or to appear to be in control
- ·High sensitivity to criticism or disagreement
- ·A high emotional sensitivity about anything
- ·The inability to make decisions
- ·High personal expectations of themselves and others
- ·Obsessive tendencies and thinking
- ·A tendency to feel guilty a lot of the time
- ·Insecurity, low self-esteem and a general nervousness·
- ·Becoming over analytical
- ·The tendency to take things too personally and to overreact
- ·Tendency to suggestibility to the problems of other people
- ·The tendency to worry about other people's opinions
- ·The inclination to over worry about health issues