Posted by lucie lu on October 18, 2008, at 16:27:56
In reply to Re: Mental Illness in Your...., posted by JayMac on October 18, 2008, at 12:39:33
Jay,
My family is a classic study in genetics. Nearly everyone in my family (for three generations at least) has had 3 or more of the following: alcoholism, depression or mood instability (incl bipolar), ADHD, SAD, fibromyalgia, sleep or eating disorders, school phobia. We really should be in some study, there is such a strong genetic component. I know many studies have strung many of these factors together, and they do seem to come together in our family. Clearly there is a neurological basis for most if not all of these conditions. Then of course IRL, living among these conditions doesn't exactly lead to optimal family dynamics either! It's hard to know what's normal when you grow up in such an environment.
I am so sorry that you have had to deal with your mother's schizophrenia when you were growing up. I really can't imagine the pain it must have caused. Your story reminds me of a chapter of the book "In Session" in which the daughter of a schizophrenic mother tries to work through her years of pain with a T who eventually serves as a mother substitute and enables her to complete her growing up, in therapy. Have you read it? It made me cry, it is so very moving.
Bear hugs and love to you, friend.
Lucie
poster:lucie lu
thread:857980
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20081018/msgs/858138.html