Epigenetics of anxiety and stress–related disorders

Epigenetics is like a set of markers that tell our cells how to work. Sometimes, things happen in our lives that can leave marks on our DNA that tell our cells to be more anxious or stressed. This can happen when we experience big changes or difficult situations, like moving to a new place or losing someone we love.

When we get anxious or stressed, our bodies release chemicals that help us cope. But if our cells have too many markers telling them to be anxious or stressed, our bodies might release too many of these chemicals, making it hard to calm down. This can cause problems like panic attacks or feeling nervous all the time.

Scientists are still studying how epigenetics and anxiety are related, but they think that by understanding these markers, they might be able to find better ways to treat anxiety and stress-related disorders.