Dear Anne-Marie,
I have written about that very subject and pondered most intensely about it. In our childhoods, some of us, me included, have experienced terrifying events. The human brain suppresses those feelings to preserve 'sanity', perhaps. This all happens in our 'unconscious' reality. However, I don't believe this 'event' has to happen while we are in our childhood years. I say that, because, I remember almost exactly when my first feelings of anxiety and panic began to happen - I was a teen - then, it 'submerged' into my subconscious, then presented itself again when I was in my late twenties and exploded my early thirties.
The 'teen' episode was definitely from childhood fears. Although, my Mother presented anxiety, depression and agoraphobia - dizzy spells - when I was in my early teens. I wish, back then, people were more communicative about mental illness. I really give Nicole Kidman big time kudos for tackling her new movie about Virginia Wolfe. 'Hours' - and, Ron Howard for directing the movie 'A Beautiful Mind'. Movies like those will help (hopefully) the general public to 'not' turn away from those who are struggling with something life just threw there way. And, for them to embrace the causes and effects of mental 'problems' instead freaking out, thinking they are going to 'catch' the mental illness bug.
Thank you for the info.
Maria
