Originally Posted by
ArtFriend 
I only went back 3 generations on my mother's side of the family (I know nothing about my dad's family). A lot of mental illness and drug/alcohol abuse. I wish I had known this before I picked up a drink. I am not blaming my alcoholism on family history, but it is another part of the puzzle. Genes load the gun and environment pulls the trigger.
Really? The knowledge of this would have stopped you from drinking??? Not me, I would have toasted them!
I load the gun, I point it at myself and choose what's next. If I need help, I seek it. I was a volunteer, not a victim.
We have a choice in life - get to work getting better or fret over the shadows of what's past.......