Family Support:
Family History Pointers to Mental Illness
"Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops." Cary Grant, In Arsenic and Old Lace, 1944
When you go to a psychiatrist for a first time, you will be asked you a series of questions to establish a little about your background. From your answers, the psychiatrist may be able to determine if your problem is related to a physical injury, confined to a "life situation," or a "learned behavior," or widely spread over your family (possibly indicating a genetic basis).
The major mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, appear to be genetic. Scientific studies are pointing to this. Physical injury such as head trauma may also cause a person to become mentally ill, with no genetic basis.
When a family is told that their loved one has an illness which may have been inherited, they just cannot believe it. They exclaim: "Nobody in our family is mentally ill!"
Undeniable Denial
There is a lot of negativity stigma associated with mental illness. This means the family will not talk about what they know, because it is "shameful." Even after you have been diagnosed by a doctor, your family members may deny that anything is wrong with you. They may even try to talk you out of your legitimate diagnosis. They may tell you to shape up, or snap out of it!
In the "Good Old Days," people with mental illnesses were institutionalized, hidden away, ignored or shunned. Medications didn't become widely available until the 1960s. There was little research being done. The most common reaction was to avoid the subject. So, you get stories like: "Remember your great-Uncle Joe? He was always doing crazy things, and he drank a lot. His sister cried a lot. They were a mess!" These family stories are quite important for many reasons, including medical.
In discovering these stories, you are looking for clues. And good clues lead to more effective treatment for you. You're not trying to bad-mouth your family or dredge up hard feelings.
A Few Pointers
Here are somethings to look for in your own historical family tree, or in your immediate, biological family of origin. Hold on tight, this list will knock you over.
- alcoholism
- anxiety or panic attacks
- arthritic-like symptoms (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome)
- behavioral addictions or compulsions
- child abuse or spousal abuse
- chronic aches and pains
- chronic digestive problems
- chronic headaches or migraines
- compulsive gambling
- compulsive shopping
- criminal activity and/or incarceration
- depression not related to life events
- drug abuse or drug addiction
- Eating disorders (bulimia, bingeing, anorexia)
- eccentric behavior
- explosive anger/prolonged anger
- hyperactivity
- hypersensitivity to light, noise, touch, crowds, etc.
- kleptomania
- mood swings
- past history of psychiatric treatment
- pedophilia
- reactiveness/destructiveness
- eligious addictions or religious compulsions
- seasonal depressions
- self mutilation (i.e. cutting, head-banging, scratching)
- sleep disorders
- suicides or suicide threats
- talking continually, talking fast
- Tourette's disorder
- unusual reactions to prescription medications
- withdrawal or agoraphobic behaviors
Whew. Did you make it through all that?
Having these markers within your family doesn't always mean the family member has a case of undiagnosed bipolar disorder or some other mental illness. Think of the list above more like possible pointers. For instance, the prevalence of abuse in a family could mean undiagnosed mental illness, or, the abuser may simply be acting out, based on other unresolved issues in his or her life. Sometimes it is a combination of both.
Physical Signs
Don't ignore the physical ailments mentioned above, especially if they are combined with questionable behavior. Sometimes people with a certain combination of physical disorders may also have a co-existing history of bipolar disorder or some other mental illness.
For example, some of the physical symptoms listed above-such as migraines and digestive problems-are often considered to be part of the affective spectrum. That is, people with affective disorders (bipolar, unipolar, and schizoaffective disorders) often have these accompanying physical problems at a higher rate than the general population.
Please note: Some physical disorders may "mimic" bipolar disorder or other mental illnesses. Also, medications taken for allergies or pain may alter behavior via their side effects. Many different angles must be considered. If you think that your diagnosis is a mistake, take the time to visit another doctor and get a second opinion.
If You Think a Family Member is Mentally Ill
If you suspect that a family member may be mentally ill and needs help, do not try to walk the path alone. It is so very easy to be overwhelmed by the whole situation. Be sure to take care of yourself, and seek out those who can help you sort through options.
There are resources out there, some on the Net, with ideas for you. Perhaps the first course of action is to talk to your family doctor. She/he may be able to refer you (or your family member) to a counselor. Or, check out "Mental Health Resources" in the Yellow Pages of your phone book. Local organizations may have brochures on various topics relating to mental illness.
|
