Recently, I had the most unusual experience in discovering medical records in a family member's war service from WW1. This can be a fascinating historical exercise, but for me, there are some trends uncovered which may continue today in myself and my family.
The individual was a great uncle who left no descendants. His diagnosis at the time was dementia praecox, an obsolete term today, replaced by schizophrenia. This may not be applicable in my case, however, I recognize the symptoms in my brother who also has struggled with depression in his life, likely far more severe than I have. More closely related are the observations of physical symptoms and personality traits that I share and observed as well in my father. There even was a description of being a nervous individual, which fits not only myself and my father, but also my great grandfather according to the account my great uncle gave to the doctors which treated him. Much like I have today, symptoms like various pains have no detectable cause, yet they cause considerable concern in the individual, to the point of accelerating depression. It becomes somewhat weary to constantly describe these concerns only to have them dismissed. To discover some hereditary connection possibly validates the symptom, but it still does not offer relief. Perhaps it is not all just in my head?
I suspect our genetic makeup can play a great role in our mental health. Much of our family histories will contain at least one story of that crazy aunt or uncle, yet we can see the trait in ourselves and our children. My great uncle resumed a civilian life, even served as a government official after his military service, but was reportedly "shell shocked" for the rest of his life. I met him only once and I recall him in terms that would coincide with the observations made by those military doctors. Perhaps this helps me
The individual was a great uncle who left no descendants. His diagnosis at the time was dementia praecox, an obsolete term today, replaced by schizophrenia. This may not be applicable in my case, however, I recognize the symptoms in my brother who also has struggled with depression in his life, likely far more severe than I have. More closely related are the observations of physical symptoms and personality traits that I share and observed as well in my father. There even was a description of being a nervous individual, which fits not only myself and my father, but also my great grandfather according to the account my great uncle gave to the doctors which treated him. Much like I have today, symptoms like various pains have no detectable cause, yet they cause considerable concern in the individual, to the point of accelerating depression. It becomes somewhat weary to constantly describe these concerns only to have them dismissed. To discover some hereditary connection possibly validates the symptom, but it still does not offer relief. Perhaps it is not all just in my head?
I suspect our genetic makeup can play a great role in our mental health. Much of our family histories will contain at least one story of that crazy aunt or uncle, yet we can see the trait in ourselves and our children. My great uncle resumed a civilian life, even served as a government official after his military service, but was reportedly "shell shocked" for the rest of his life. I met him only once and I recall him in terms that would coincide with the observations made by those military doctors. Perhaps this helps me
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