Connection between Anxiety and Family Systems

Anxiety does not come out of nowhere. It can be rooted in dynamics from your family of origin. The roles we took on in our families of origin often shape how we see ourselves and how we relate to others.

If, say, your role in your family was to be “seen and not heard”, your sense of self may not have fully developed. Instead of being supported in becoming your own person, you may have learned that your value was in managing others’ emotions or keeping the peace. You didn’t learn to regulate your own emotions because you learned to regulate someone else's emotions. By not having permission to express, and consequently, learning to manage your own emotions, you could have become disconnected from your real self.

The result of disconnecting from yourself to maintain harmony in the family system can lead to experiencing anxiety. You might struggle with patterns of people-pleasing, difficulties with setting boundaries, or feeling resentful when others overstep. These behaviors are often anxiety-driven. Fears of rejection, conflict, or letting someone down are often rooted in how we learned to function in our family of origin.

However, the path to becoming a calmer, more authentic self is possible. While there is no quick fix, meaningful change is achievable. Individual therapy is one of many tools available to guide you through this process, helping you find more clarity and confidence in yourself and in your relationships. Bringing in an objective, third party person to coach you through the process of differentiating from your family of origin can be very useful.

If you’re ready to begin this challenging but deeply rewarding journey, I’m here to walk alongside you.

Stephanie Brannan, LPC-Associate #96795

Supervised by Deana Reed, LPC-S #68220

stephaniebrannan@nlcc1.com

512-677-2577