Problems Since Childhood?

[calebsmum]

Anyone else think they've suffered from mental illness since childhood? I was talking to my mum the other day and looking back at my childhood we think I started suffering from panic attacks around the age of 5, I can also remember feeling very depressed from about the age of 10 onwards. I'm now 27 and still have problems with anxiety/panic and depression. I have 2 younger sisters and neither of them have this problem, just really hope ds (2) doesn't go through this.

Hi Calebsmum

Having my kids has brought back memories from my childhood which I'd forgotten (or surpressed).

I can remember having a form of OCD (rituals) when I was about 6 or 7, I was also very anxious as a child. My mum doesn't really talk about it (brushes it off) so I can't remember how long the OCD thing lasted. Also I expect its quite common.

I am not a particularly anxiety prone adult (no more than most) so I must have grown out of it.

I have also worried occasionally about DS who is much like me, but so far he seems to be quite chilled so hopefully it won't get passed on.

I have tried to think back to my parents approach and change things that made me anxious as a child. I hope not to repeat the same pattern.

Is there anything in your childhood that could have caused your anxiety?.