It Runs In The Genes

Thanksgiving. A wonderful holiday filled with Food, Family, and Friends. People who celebrate it tend to love it. Not us. We hate it. All it is, is a chance for us to realize how f----- up this family is. But. This year I learned a few interesting facts. For of which concerns me. When I come out, Kimberly's naturally Blonde hair and Green eyes "change" to my colors. Black hair and Ice Blue eyes. That's what her parents say. I thought it was amusing. Now on to the points of real interest. Take a look at this family tree from her father's side.

Grandfather & Grandmother - Clean bill of mental stability
1st Son (Uncle) - Manic Bipolar, Psychotic Tendencies
1st Cousin - ADHD, Reliant Personality Disorder
1st Niece - Severe Conduct-Disorder, ADHD, [Possible signs of DID]

2nd Son (Father) - Violent Tendencies, Alcoholic/Drug abuser
1st Brother (Step brother) - Violent Tendencies, Currently in Jail [Unknown reasons]
1st Daughter (Kimberly) - DID, very mild Conduct-Disorder, Violent Tendencies, Manic Bipolar, [Possible signs of ADHD]

3rd Son (Other Uncle)
[Because of the sheer amount of kids, I'm going to group them]
1st, 2nd, and 5th Cousins - Drug Abusers, Violent Tendencies
3rd Cousin - Relatively normal [Possible signs of DID]
4th, 6th, and 7th Cousins - Too young to have any disorders, but show clear signs of Conduct Disorder
2nd Niece - Moderate Conduct-Disorder, Drug Abuser, Suicidal Tendencies
Remaining Cousin and Nieces are relatively normal.

I don't know if you do, but I see a few patterns. Namely the fact that over 90% of her father's side of the family has either diagnosed, or should be diagnosed mental disorders. Granted, Kimberly is the only with DID (that we are positive of), but the Violent Tendencies and Drug Abuser traits seemed to be passed down to nearly all kids. This got me thinking to myself. Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, that DID could be passed down just like everything else? The papers say no. But. The papers also say that DID causes a change in the brain. I don't know the details. I do know that the chemicals are changed ever so slightly and Switching releases another chemical. So. If someone with DID had a child, could that child be more prone to developing this? I don't see why not considering everything else in the book can be passed down.

-Kendra

What an interesting post. I would love to list some of the familial diagnoses and may but some would disclose at-risk relatives who somehow might get pointed out if we ever go public with our story. I can state the father was a pedophile (early CSA reported to the mother), possibly DDNOS, and the mother was definitely DID (early CSA self-reported) with at least five alters.

I think DID happens due to negative environmental causes. The tendency to dissociate is certainly inherited just like any other trait. I think there are many facts yet to be uncovered about the mind which the study of DID will lead to.

Hmm..there's messed up on both sides of the family. A lot of 'family secrets' so I'm not sure if anyone has a diagnosis if they did get one at all. I do know that there is sexual abuse and animal torture on my dad's side(uncles, cousins), on my mom's side lots of paranoia, violence, wishful/magical thinking. (seeing stuff, people doing stuff, blah blah blah). I do think the tendency to dissociate is genetic.
On my DH side, lots of artists, musicians, etc. they tend to be a bit foggy as a whole but a real mellow, sweet family. DH is a bit dissociative but he hasn't been diagnosed as DID or anything.