I don't think they are "copying" our behaviors, and there certainly is a genetic component to it. But living with parents who have depression, anxiety, poor communication skills, etc. does impact kids. My kids learned how to cope with problems from my example. And you know what? I've been inadverdently "teaching" them poor coping skills. I didn't mean to do it. I tried my best, but sure enough, they handle things very much the same way as they saw me handle them. They aren't "copying" what I do; they're just doing things the only way they know how.

What can I do? Learn better coping skills. Communicate those to my kids. Teach them about my own mental illness so they know what is going on. I'm so glad my son and I had talked enough about it that he felt comfortable coming to me for help.