Mental Illness In Families

Can you inherit Mental Illness? Experts believe that mental illness among family members can be hereditary. The risk increases if one parent has bipolar, ADHD, schizophrenia, alcoholism, depression, or an anxiety disorder. According to Mental Health America, an estimated 44 million Americans suffer from a mental health disorder. Because I’ve struggled with mental health disorders, I wanted to share what I’ve noticed within my family.

In my case, I’m sure my mother battles with bouts of depression, panic, and anxiety attacks. She’s never vocalized this, but I remember periods in our childhood when she’d stay in bed all day. There were other signs, too. My sister, an LCSW, and I are sure that would be her diagnosis. My maternal grandmother also exhibited symptoms of depression, and sometimes she wouldn’t leave the house for weeks or months at a time. However, she was healthy with no medical problems keeping her housebound; she just decided not to go outside.

Disorders And Depression

Instead, the family took care of the errands she needed to have done. She was content playing cards, drinking coffee, and enjoying family who stopped by regularly to spend time with her. On the days she did leave the house, she would be itching to get back inside.

I have also experienced depression, so I know firsthand how it feels. Anxiety and panic attacks have plagued me since childhood and left me tormented on more than one occasion. Until I was in my late twenties, they would come and go whenever they felt like it. At times, I felt genuinely powerless, always trying to maneuver my life around them. My breakthrough came when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. His death and resurrection gave me the power to overcome the obstacles holding me captive. Jesus transformed my life, and those disorders no longer controlled me.

Mental Health Triggers

My sister has hormone-related anxiety and panic attacks. She has recently begun to understand what I have been dealing with for many years. It’s just her and I, yet she never had any mental health issues until peri-menopause entered the picture. My mother’s oldest grandchild, my daughter, had her first experience with panic and anxiety attacks after losing one of her best friends at 25. Before that, she had the normal anxiety you get with public speaking but nothing more severe than that.

Mental Health Isn’t Predictable

Neither one of my son’s nor my sister’s children, one of whom is just becoming a teenager, has been plagued with anxiety or panic attacks. I have a first cousin who has schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. She needs to be on medication to function but doesn’t like how it makes her feel, so she is on and off her meds. Her brother, the oldest, also has mental health disorders that require medication. My cousin has two sons; the youngest one is considered “normal.” The oldest one is brilliant; he graduated top of his class and has a high IQ. However, he also has some mental health illnesses.

Disorders In Families

There are also some disorders on my father’s side of the family. When we were younger, my cousins and I can recall scenarios with some family members considered psychotic breakdowns. We’ve pieced together some instances that point to mental health disorders, even if no adults in the family wanted to call them that. Black families usually shy away from talking about serious topics like this.

At least, they used to. However, more people are beginning to talk about mental health and understand how it can bring healing. We realize that we can’t keep quiet. It’s essential to know your family history regarding heart disease and cancer. Knowing if severe mental illness is in the immediate family is vital. Since the pandemic, there has been a demand for therapy in person and online. More Black Americans are acknowledging their mental health disorders and seeking help. It’s important to note that you can have faith and seek help for mental health disorders.

Disorders In The Genes

So, does mental illness begin in the gene pool, or are they environmental? Both are important factors; however, it’s more complex than that. For example, growing up in a particular environment or womb-related stressors can be linked to disorders. No disorder has 100% heritability, but the risk is greater if the person with the disease is a parent and even higher if both. It’s essential to factor in the brain’s chemistry, which can trigger some diseases. The risk can also increase when dealing with financial pressures, chronic medical conditions, and alcohol or drug use.

People who have suffered from childhood neglect or abuse can have a mental illness gene turn “on.” Was this the case for me? I certainly wasn’t abused but watching my Mom stay in bed for days may have triggered something. The reason mental illness can be passed down and run in families remains unknown. Just like a family with a history of heart disease, there’s no foolproof way to know if someone will develop a mental illness. However, if you are aware of a history of mental illness within your family, be mindful of it. Do what you can to care for yourself and avoid negative people and situations.

Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings. If you’re in a dark place, reach out to a loved one or spiritual leader. Seek help from your primary care provider or get professional help if needed. I find prayer, journaling, and exercising helpful, but you need to find what works for you. If you or someone you know is having a tough time, check on them.

National Suicide Prevention Number is 1–800–273–8255