Is being a bit mental hereditary?!
Question:
Is being a bit mental hereditary?
I recently found out my nan (on my mum's side) who I never met, had a nervous breakdown, and in those days they used to stick anyone a bit nuts all together in an asylum...
My mum (her daughter) is a bit eccentric - she spends all day at the window looking at the neighbours and dries the shower out after I use it so as not to get mildew, to name a few...
And although I can appreciate all of the above as slightly crazy, I have similar mental behaviour and was wondering if it's possible that my mum's side has passed it down to me?
Answers:
I think most mental "illness" is about half "nature" and half "nurture." However, those with genetic predispositions are generally nurtured by those with the illness, thus reinforcing any problems.
Ultimately, being a bit different is not a problem unless it interferes with necessary activity or enjoyment of life. If your mum, for example, neglects caring for herself so that she can look out the window, or is truly afraid of mildew, that impacts the quality of her life and is a problem. If she she can laugh about her tendencies and carry on with life, not a problem.
The important thing is not what everyone else does. The important thing is whether you are able to live a fulfilling life.