Family History and Mental Health

[Moderator ★]

Does your family have any history of depression or anxiety? Have other family members ever faced stigma for a mental health issue?

Activity: Ask your parents if they have family members or knew people close to them who were affected by mental health issues and stress – you might relate to some of them! Ask if you can see photos of them if you’ve never met them. Afterwards, share what you’ve found and how that made you feel here. You may find that other adolescents here have had similar experiences.

Check out these articles to get some more information about how blogging ambassadors have explored their family history in the past!

Mental Health in Your Family Tree

A Hobby to Help with Bad Feelings

As a reminder, please make sure to stay anonymous. Please do not share any information which can identify you like: your name, where you live, your contact information, or other personal details.

[sillybilly]

In my family my grandparents, cousins, and even my parents struggled with mental health. Some have depression and some anxiety. I felt relieved that some one else in my family has experienced the same thing as me.

[quarrelrelated]

I have a good number of family members who’ve struggled with mental health. Anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and schizophrenia are all present within three generations on one side of my family.

[Foxy]

In my Family, it’s hard for those of us with mental health problems, like my cousins and myself. The older generations of my family don’t believe mental health problems are actually real. Even though I can see that the older generations have and still are, in some cases, dealt with mental health problems, they act as if there is nothing wrong with them and they don’t deal with it or get help. They tell us younger people that we’re overreacting.

[steel2]

I have had a couple aunts and uncles who have struggled with anxiety and OCD.

[sovastateofmind]

My one side of the family has a good bit of mental health issues. Schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder are all prevalent on this side. My other side of the family has issues with anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, and ADHD. Asking about our family history made me realize how common some of these disorders are, even in my own family, which helps me feel not alone in my struggles.

[TheWomanInMyMind]

After feeling quite alone in my mental health struggles, I was saddened, yet somewhat relieved to learn there have been mental health issues on both sides of my family. I was sad because I would not wish my struggles on anyone else, but also a little relieved to know I wasn’t “weird” or alone in my struggles. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health diagnoses in my family, which is also what I struggle with. Learning more about my family’s mental health history has allowed me to open up to some close family and discuss our struggles so we can support each other in our daily lives. It’s comforting to know you have someone who understands you and knows what you are going through.

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