Beauty, intelligence, and a range of human attributes are often traced back to our parents' genes, from eye color to intellect. But sometimes genetic heritage can come with unexpected and challenging defects or mental health conditions.
A 21-year-old facing such hardships has not only blamed his parents but also chose to cut ties with them, explaining his anger in depth on Reddit.
No Marriage License Found in Texas
The youngster, struggling with undifferentiated schizophrenia and reliant on medication, revealed: 'My parents are first cousins. They attempted to obtain a marriage license in Texas. The state denied it as it was illegal there. They married anyway and faced the consequences.'
Endured Much, Isolated for 8 Years
He continued, 'They thought since they were adults consenting to marriage, they weren't harming anyone. Yet, they harmed me, my grandmother, and tore our family apart. Among millions, they chose each other. I've faced numerous comments from other children and lived estranged from family for 8 years.'
Left Home at the Age of 15
'Around the age of 15 or 16, I began distancing myself from my parents. I turned to my grandparents and my aunts and uncles, and I'm grateful for them. The marriage between my first-cousin parents resulted in my undifferentiated schizophrenia, and now I’m on medication. College life also brings challenges due to my mental condition.'
He added, 'My primary care physician and psychiatrist both indicate that these issues are due to my parents being cousins. Typically, such relationships increase the likelihood of hereditary mental health problems. Learning this brought pain and anger towards my parents, questioning their decision to marry. I suspect I might also have BPD [Borderline Personality Disorder], but some symptoms might overlap.'
Why Shouldn't Cousins Marry?
It's often advised against cousins marrying. More than 10 percent of worldwide marriages occur between first and second cousins - yet not everyone agrees with this practice. Typically, an individual shares 6.25 percent DNA with a first cousin and 3.13 percent with a second cousin. Therefore, children born from such unions commonly experience physical and mental deficits.
