05/20/2021
Y'all if you want even more mental health facts, tips and info go give Courageously.u a follow!!
This is so true! I hear statements like "well my dad has anxiety so I have anxiety and just have to deal with it" all the time, and while yes genes play a major role, we have the ability to shift these patterns!
“Depression runs in my family” is a statement I hear allllllllllll the time. 🙈
Friend, I’m here to tell you, just because your fam struggles with depression (or any other mental “illness”) doesn’t mean you have to, too.
Your genes are not your destiny - they are not fixed! 🙌🏼
You might be born with a set of genes that predispose you to certain mental health struggles, but it’s factors throughout life that turn them on or off (determine whether genes express or not).
Gene expression is influenced by our environment, habits, and repeated experiences. What can flip the switch?
✔️ Childhood adversity
✔️ Chronic stress
✔️ Trauma
✔️ Chronic inflammation (diet and lifestyle also attribute to this)
Why do people need to stop attributing their mental health struggles to genetics?
Elizabeth Stanley says it best, “ When someone’s thinking brain has such beliefs, they’re setting themselves up for a self-fulfilling prophecy. Believing that their genes are fixed and the disease or addiction is inevitable, they’re much less likely to engage consistently in the beneficial habits that could counteract their genetic tendencies.”
Believing your struggle is due to your genes can leave you feeling stuck, hopeless, and lacking a sense of agency.
Repeat after me: My genes are not my destiny!
Drop a “💛” in the comments if you want to learn more about epigenetics.
