QUESTION:
Hi,
I’m 17 from Connecticut. I suffer from a lot of things like anxiety disorder or all different kinds and depression severe at that. Please I ask but I never get a answer am I gonna go crazy? Does going crazy run in the family? We don’t have any of that in my family. My mother suffers from the same thing. but I’m scared that I am gonna die can you please help me I don’t know where else to turn?
ANSWER:
Most mental health diagnoses have a “strong genetic component” – meaning that “running in the family” happens most of the time, but not necessarily all the time. The BPD has approximately a 50/50 risk. This also means that some anxiety disorders may be present in a less severe form in some family members, and that additional things happened to you. Its also possible your biological parents had milder forms of anxiety, and your combination became awful. Another genetic example similar to this (but not a mental health diagnosis) is sickle cell anemia – where when parents have a mild case theyre protected against malaria, but their children with a severe case die from their genetic disease.
I think youll find that if you and your biological parents do the screening test I use for my patients, youll find many similarities and similar disorders – even if they arent as disabling as yours have become.
The great news is that almost all of the diagnoses can be effectively treated, and you can have a terrific life. I encourage you to learn more.