I get a lot of things from my mother. I’m short like her, am bad at math like her, and share her fears of birds. We inherit many positive things from our parents both biologically and through observation. These can be things like fears, traditions, and genetic factors. However, not everything that we inherit from our older generations impacts us positively. Generational mental illness can impact sufferers and their families in ways that can be difficult to manage and navigate. 

What is Generational Mental Illness?

Like generational abuse, generational mental illnesses are mental conditions that cross generational lines. This can be due to both biological and environmental factors. Unfortunately, it is common for someone with a mental condition to have a close relative with the same problem. 

Recent research suggests that there are genetic links between family members with mental illness. According to evolutionary psychiatrist Emily Dean, all major psychiatric disorders have a “heritable component.” These disorders include:

• Schizophrenia
• Anxiety Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• And many more 

It is difficult to pinpoint exact genetic causes for certain illnesses because the human genome is so vast. However, it is clear that the biological component plays a large role in passing down mental conditions across generations. 

However, genetics is not the only factor that comes into play when talking about generational mental illness. Your environment also has a lot to do with perpetuating generational mental illness. For example, the CDC concluded that those with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) are more likely to develop mental conditions in conjunction with genetic factors. People who experience trauma as children are susceptible to mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The rate is even higher when those who have these experiences also have genetic predispositions. 

Struggles of Generational Mental Illness

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While psychiatric care has come a long way, people with mental illnesses still face many challenges. It is likely that you will inherit a mental illness from your parents if they already have one. The statistics for genetic mental illnesses are surprising. For example:

• Anxiety and depressive disorders have an inheritance rate of 20-45%
• Alcohol dependence and anorexia nervosa have an inheritance rate of 50-60%
• Bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia have a shocking inheritance rate of nearly 75%. 

Besides the genetic risks, there are other struggles that generational mental illnesses present. As someone who lives with generational mental illness, I would be lying if I said that things are easy. It can be difficult for several reasons, for example:

1. Observing unhealthy coping mechanisms of an older generation perpetuates those unhealthy habits.
2. It can be difficult to seek recovery when you are also living with someone else who is suffering.
3. Parents with multiple mentally ill children may find it hard to divide up their time and attention.
4. If a parent is struggling with a mental illness, it may be hard for them to find the capacity to care for both themselves and their child. 

I have personally experienced several of these struggles. I’m sure there are so many more struggles that others deal with. It can be dangerous when mental illness becomes your norm. If you never see your parents get help with their problems, you may never get help with your own. Acknowledging generational mental illness is so important if you want to break this cycle. 

How to Break the Cycle

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Even though breaking the cycle of generational mental illness can be difficult, it is possible. It may not be possible to completely erase mental illness from your family line due to biological factors. However, there are things that you can do to lessen the negative impact it may have on your life. 

The most obvious thing you can do to break the cycle is to reach out for professional help. Certain mental health professionals specialize in family and individual counseling. Getting help as a family can encourage bonding. You and your family member can support each other through recovery and hold each other accountable. 

There are many other ways that you can break the cycle, according to Rethink Mental Illness. These include:

• Eating a balanced diet
• Regular exercise
• Getting enough sleep

All of these things have been shown to improve someone’s mental state. Eating a balanced diet ensures that you are getting all of your nutrients. This is important considering that a deficiency in certain vitamins is linked to depression like vitamin B. Incorporating healthy fats in your diet assists in brain function and mental health. Exercise releases certain endorphins that help boost your mood. We know through extensive research that your quality of sleep has massive effects on your mental health. While these things don’t address the genetic factors of generational mental illness, they do provide significant relief. 

Conclusion

Generational mental illness is an illness that crosses generational lines. This is due to both biological and environmental factors. Genetically, the likelihood of passing a mental illness to the next generation is high. There are several struggles that those with generational mental illness face. However, there is hope in breaking the cycle with the right kind of help.

Breaking any kind of generational cycle is a difficult task to take on. When things become ingrained into you because of biology or the environment, it isn’t surprising when you get stuck in your ways. However, you owe it to yourself to get help. I’ve said it before in a previous post that nothing changes if nothing changes. While generational mental illness may be impossible to completely remove from a family line, it is possible to get relief by encouraging healing. Everyone deserves the peace of mind, even if your biology seems to be wired against it. By acknowledging your generational ties, you are taking the first step in setting a healthy precedent for future generations.

If you feel like you or someone you know may need counseling, we offer a safe, non-judgmental space for anyone needing to talk. We are here to walk people through tough times and encourage them that with Christ, there is a brighter future. Our counseling techniques help individuals learn new coping skills, change negative behavior and thinking, resolve conflict, grow spiritually, and so much more. Click here to Schedule your FREE consultation with a Certified Christian Counselor today.

Written by Bethany Fischer, blogger at Safe Harbor International Ministries. For more articles, visit www.safeharborim.com/articles

Featured Image: Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash