Myu Way Back to Contents Afflictions of the mind have always been with us. This value seems to be constant across a wide range of cultures and technology levels. The majority of mental illnesses are reactions to adverse situations experienced in life, from the horrific to the merely strange. Most first become manifest in early adulthood.
Some underlying predispositions exist.
The question of 'nature vs nurture' would appear to be irrelevant. Inherited factors, mainly dealing with neurochemistry and perception are as important as personality styles developed during childhood and adolescence. Anxiety is a normal physiological response in anticipation of a potential stressor. It is very useful - up to a point. Beyond this limit, it becomes counter-productive, even destructive.