6 Childhood Dynamics That Can Lead To Adult Anxiety

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Having highly critical parents

If you grew up in a home where nothing you ever did was good enough, you may struggle with anxiety today. While some parents make a point to reward the effort rather than the results, or to give the positive feedback along with the constructive criticism, others only focus on what the kid did wrong, or whether or not they “succeeded” by conventional standards. So, rather than being applauded for placing in the top three of a tournament, you’re criticized for the reasons you weren’t number one. Children who grow up in such a household tend to grow up and develop an overreaction to adversity. Not getting that job or not getting that second date feels like the end of the world, rather than the small bump in the road it feels like for others. Scientific American shared research that showed those who grew up with overly-critical parents have higher levels of what the psychology community calls “Error Related Negativity.” Essentially, it’s an intense reaction to making mistakes. Put simply, these individuals are too hard on themselves.