Genetics, epigenetics and environment
The similarities between my son and me.
My son looks a bit like me but I think that the environment he grows up in is key.
I worry about my son the most out of all my four children as he is the youngest and is still half doing a university course he isn’t entirely sure about. All my other children are securely in work and show no signs of mental illness.
My son is happy enough and doesn’t suffer from a mental illness, but having the life that I have had, I haven’t been able to help worrying about my children’s mental health from time to time.
Luckily, my husband has always enjoyed good mental health and has always supported me. He has always been in employment and hopefully provides the stability and role model for my children which has been more difficult for me to be. I also have always encouraged my children to be supportive to one another. Hopefully in this way, the nurturing environment of their life can overcome any genetic or other factors that have affected me.