Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New profile posts
Latest activity
Internet Search
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Parent Support Forums
Substance Abuse
Detaching "WITH LOVE"?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Stress Bunny" data-source="post: 629299" data-attributes="member: 4855"><p>The genetics vs environment issue is complicated, and I did not intend to create any discord with my original post or imply that "addiction is a destiny". In addition, I believe our son has a personality disorder along with his substance abuse problem. From the research I have done, genetics can either cause or predispose a person to certain issues. There are studies that indicate genetics play a larger role in determining personality/character than environment. I am not denying that environment is an important consideration in healthy child development, but in the case of our son, he had a great environment and still displays personality disorder traits, substance abuse, high-risk behavior, ADHD, and a host of other problems. All of these issues are present to a high degree in his bio family, and I very much doubt this is a simple coincidence. Most research indicates a combination of genetic and environmental factors for the development of personality disorders. In terms of addiction, the 50% genetic effect you mention is very significant with which to be born into the world.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I have not seen any research to support that early environment plays a larger role in the development of personality disorders than genetics.</p><p></p><p>You referred to callous-unemotional traits in your post:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Callous-unemotional (CU) traits in children are highly heritable:</p><p></p><p>"These differences, researchers say, are most likely genetic in origin. One study calculated the heritability of callous-unemotional traits at 80 percent." From: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/can-you-call-a-9-year-old-a-psychopath.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/can-you-call-a-9-year-old-a-psychopath.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0</a></p><p></p><p>While this article does indicate that certain therapies may be helpful in developing empathy in such children, that they haven't been tested in C.U. children, but that warm/affectionate parenting "seems to" reduce callousness in those children over time.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I feel offended by this remark, largely because, though I believe genetics play a HUGE role in our oldest son's current mental health issues, I have not thrown my hands in the air and done nothing. Nor would I advise others to do so. We have spent the past 18 years of our lives in a constant state of crisis, trying to help our son. We have tried SO hard that we were left completely physically and emotionally exhausted. Raising him was the most difficult thing either of us has ever done. At this point, JT is an adult, and despite all of what we've done for him, he is making his own decisions now. I didn't cause these choices, and I cannot control or change them either. It's up to him. </p><p></p><p>When we first met that two-year-old, beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy in the tiny green pants with suspenders and green tennis shoes, all of his earthly possessions fitting into a brown paper bag, we thought we could give him the love and security and family he needed. We thought that we could overcome any problems he might have with lots of caring effort. We thought we could help make his life great and make up for anything he missed. But we were so wrong.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Stress Bunny, post: 629299, member: 4855"] The genetics vs environment issue is complicated, and I did not intend to create any discord with my original post or imply that "addiction is a destiny". In addition, I believe our son has a personality disorder along with his substance abuse problem. From the research I have done, genetics can either cause or predispose a person to certain issues. There are studies that indicate genetics play a larger role in determining personality/character than environment. I am not denying that environment is an important consideration in healthy child development, but in the case of our son, he had a great environment and still displays personality disorder traits, substance abuse, high-risk behavior, ADHD, and a host of other problems. All of these issues are present to a high degree in his bio family, and I very much doubt this is a simple coincidence. Most research indicates a combination of genetic and environmental factors for the development of personality disorders. In terms of addiction, the 50% genetic effect you mention is very significant with which to be born into the world. I have not seen any research to support that early environment plays a larger role in the development of personality disorders than genetics. You referred to callous-unemotional traits in your post: Callous-unemotional (CU) traits in children are highly heritable: "These differences, researchers say, are most likely genetic in origin. One study calculated the heritability of callous-unemotional traits at 80 percent." From: [url]http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/can-you-call-a-9-year-old-a-psychopath.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0[/url] While this article does indicate that certain therapies may be helpful in developing empathy in such children, that they haven't been tested in C.U. children, but that warm/affectionate parenting "seems to" reduce callousness in those children over time. I feel offended by this remark, largely because, though I believe genetics play a HUGE role in our oldest son's current mental health issues, I have not thrown my hands in the air and done nothing. Nor would I advise others to do so. We have spent the past 18 years of our lives in a constant state of crisis, trying to help our son. We have tried SO hard that we were left completely physically and emotionally exhausted. Raising him was the most difficult thing either of us has ever done. At this point, JT is an adult, and despite all of what we've done for him, he is making his own decisions now. I didn't cause these choices, and I cannot control or change them either. It's up to him. When we first met that two-year-old, beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy in the tiny green pants with suspenders and green tennis shoes, all of his earthly possessions fitting into a brown paper bag, we thought we could give him the love and security and family he needed. We thought that we could overcome any problems he might have with lots of caring effort. We thought we could help make his life great and make up for anything he missed. But we were so wrong. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Parent Support Forums
Substance Abuse
Detaching "WITH LOVE"?
Top