[Ocean Swimmer]

My mom and dad were alcoholics. Plus my mom drank while pregnant.

I've always wondered about that kind of influence on my mental health.

Plus my dad took her to Cuba for an abortion. Both very unhappy about the fetus (me)

Mom said no. They married. Unhappily. He was clean and sober at the time.

He started drinking. Bet $25,000($200,000) by today's money. Lost it at Greyhound dog track. It was the payroll for his business
All this drama while my mom was drinking and smoking and pregnant at the time.

She divorced him and dropped me off at my grandparents.

I think this could have effected my brain development.

What do you think? Possible???

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I once read a study that alcohol does change the genes in someone's DNA therefor leading to it being hereditary. And then I've read articles that say it's all nurture and not nature. Weather or not you want to agree with those studies is your own choice. I never said they were right or wrong.

But in my case I guess it could be both nature and nurture seeing as my dad was always an alcoholic long before I was born and long after. So my upbringing was to think his drinking was "ok". I'm a alcoholic and substance abuser but I haven't had a drink since May 2015 after a hospitalized rapid detox. As far as other substances, heh. That a different story.

Trileptal 600mg BID
Buspar 45mg
Seroquel 150-300mg for sleep
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvanse 70mg
Risperdal 4-6mg PRN

I don't get msgs unless the other person using tapatalk app!

[Ocean Swimmer]

R X Queen. I understand. My step father is also an alcoholic. I got ripped from my grandparents home and made to live with them when they married.

I spent lots of time with my Aunt and Uncle. Then they had a tragedy. Their youngest son died by drowning in an artificial lake. My grandparents were looking at a retirement community at the time.

So my Aunt was in a Psycotic state for many years. And she was a RN and an X-ray technician.

[BlueInanna]

You've been through hell
My last therapist told me it was not hereditary. But I'm not sure if she was just trying to calm down my worry about my son & his father's history.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Dear Blue, thanks. My grandfather used to get sick if he had more than 2 drinks. I do too.

He said it was a gift from God so we'd never become heavy drinkers.

[Keegan2015]

I think it's pretty well established that alcoholism (and most / all mental illness) has genetic components. Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by Keegan2015

I think it's pretty well established that alcoholism (and most / all mental illness) has genetic components. Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Thank you for posting these links!

Trileptal 600mg BID
Buspar 45mg
Seroquel 150-300mg for sleep
Ativan 1mg PRN
Vyvanse 70mg
Risperdal 4-6mg PRN

I don't get msgs unless the other person using tapatalk app!

Alcoholism is definitely hereditary. So is bipolar. But just because you may have the gene doesn't mean it will be activated.
I'm a big fan of Dr. Drew, and he once said something like if you have the alcohol gene plus untreated trauma on top of that, it's likely to develop and addiction.
I haven't drank for 13 years or so but have struggled with other substances. I have no doubt that I have the genetic marker for both BP and alcoholism, as it runs strongly in my family.