How many times have you heard the words spoken, “Don’t be so sensitive!” “Why are you such a perfectionist?” “Why do you care so much?” “Sit still and focus!” “Why do you leave everything to the last minute?” “Why can’t you just quit drinking?” “Don’t be so reckless all of the time!” Why can’t you just forget out him/her already?” “Don’t be scared!”
Well, for all of those questions above, there’s a very clear—a-least-partial—answer, genetics. For every gene in our bodies, we get one copy from our mother, and the other from our father (BBC, 2014). Without turning this into a scientific paper on how genetics work (you can learn more about that here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20363/), the point is to talk about how genetics are often times more responsible for traits than we may think.
According to the NIH’s article, Understanding Human Genetic Variation (2007), it is human tendency to be curious about why we do what we do, and why others do what they do. This curiosity plays a big part in the hype around the current genetics tests (for example, Ancestry, 23&me, etc) (NIH, 2007). People want to know where they came from, and who they are, in a more ancestral, physical sense. Perhaps as humans, our desire to know ourselves is a deeply threaded question, and genetics is a way that we can use the current technology to better understand ourselves, through a more physical means. Through ancestral genetic testing, people have been able to make somewhat more sense of questions we may have about physical and physiological traits, thus making some more sense of our lives (NIH, 2007).
I have never done an ancestral DNA test. However, what I did do recently was a genetic psychiatry test. Similar to an ancestral DNA test, but different in the fact that it is limited to simply the genetics of the brain. Just like in other DNA testing, the reasons for doing this can vary. Some people choose to do DNA tests to see if they are at more of a risk for certain physical health condition, and others simply do it for sheer curiosity. The same applies for the psychiatry testing; someone might choose to do it to see how a clinician can diagnose better; and it can also be done simply out of curiosity for how one is “wired” in their brain. Personally, I did the test for the latter reason. I wanted a better understanding of my brain’s chemistry and genetics, and aspects of certain functioning. So, two cheek swabs and a couple of weeks later, I found myself with a stack of papers that held the results in my hands. I sat in front of someone who could interpret the meaning of these foreign looking results. Before the interpretation and explanation, I felt somewhat indifferent. Sure, I was curious, but also skeptical of how much I’d really find out.
The interpreter began to explain the results, walking me through one gene at a time. He confirmed everything that I already knew about myself; that is, all of the things in my life that I felt had somewhat of an inexplicable or idiosyncratic nature. Of course, this might not sound that interesting, considering I already knew these things about myself, and he was simply reiterating. But what made this interesting was that he was explaining all of these—what I thought to be—hidden things about myself to me, as if they had clear explanations in his world: through his language of simple brain chemistry. He explained, from what he could read from my genetic results, all about parts of me I’ve struggled with the most in my life, and thought had no rhyme or reason. Through his pragmatic explanations, he seemed to legitimize what I had resigned to be “bad patterns,” as actually parts of me with clear, physiological, genetic, explanations. He could see all of this just by seeing the genetics of my brain! This man did not know anything about me before looking at these results; I had barely met this person before. So he had no previous assessment of me from which to make the statements about my patterns.
I left the meeting feeling a sense of awe. All of my bizarre, (and some lovely of course), and difficult patterns and idiosyncrasies that I had either struggled with relentlessly or benefitted from, had a very clear, rational, chemical, and genetic explanation to them. I felt a sign of relief pass through me. I felt so much more compassion towards myself. Most importantly, I felt freer and less trapped in redundancy of what I used to see as bottomless patterns. I now could understand that humans have reasons for why we are the way that we are. Of course the nurture side of the story should not be discounted. But, to be able to understand the nature side of genetics makes for a much more explainable and better understanding as to why we are the way that we are. Acknowledging that there is a genetic reason for something can create a sense of deeper understanding around your tendencies in life.
Of course, there is always the risk of using the excuse of “genetics” as the resigned justification for being a shitty person. Or better put, to not do your deeper work of liberating yourself of certain unhealthy patterns. That’s not what I’m arguing for here. I’m not saying that you should find out your brain chemistry and then resign to never changing, relishing in being a victim of our—genetic—circumstances. Genetics should not be an excuse to stop working on patters that you know do not serve your highest potential. But perhaps having a deeper understanding of your brain wiring will help you be more compassionate for your journey in this life. It’s important to have an understanding around those pesky patterns that you are, chemically, more likely to struggle with. Thus, you can understand how to support yourself better, and ultimately be the best version of yourself.
So next time you start to judge yourself for having a hard time in crowds, being sensitive, being a dare-devil versus more reserved with your adrenaline, being meticulous, being obsessive with your love-life or projects, being a perfectionist, struggling greatly with addictive patterns, having frustrating tendencies towards food cravings, etc, etc, (the list goes on!) Stop, and send some compassion to yourself, and to the genetics of your brain. And when you feel yourself judging another for their actions, pause and consider that perhaps everyone is doing their best, given their genetic situation. Some are dealt more difficult genetics than others, and they are probably doing their best. So much of what we struggle (and thrive!) with, has a very strong genetic component. So let this knowledge extend as a wider net of compassion for yourself and all beings on their walks; chances are, “there’s a gene for that”…
Sources:
BBC, (2014). Alleles. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_aqa_pre_2011/celldivision/inheritance1.shtml
National Institute of Health (NIH). 2007. Understanding Human Genetic Variation. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20363/
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