hello anyone give me any advice please

[lexie x]

Hey, im alex and im 17, im fostered, i wonder if you can help me out, im worried, you see my mother and father are schitzophrenic, my grandmas were alcholics and wernt right quite right in the head on both sides of my family, my uncle had schitzophrenia, my aunty shaved all her hair off and used to cut herself and has been through severe depression and my other grandad was and alchoholic and commited suiside through alcohol a few years ago, my grandmas mum died of anorexia, and my other grandad had bipolar,the problem i have is that im dealing with things ok although i have bouts of depression though not often, every 6 months for a week but on all sides of my family there is mental illness and i worry alot about my self and my genetics, i dont want to be like them and i would like to know all the things i could do to prevent my genetics from ruleing me, i dont do drugs yet my sister stupidly does and wont listen to me when i tell her not to because im younger she takes no notice...=[ so if you could please send me any advice at alll it would be really helpful and stop my worrying, thankyou very much

[admin]

You have higher chance of developing a mental disorder due to your family history of mental illnesses but not necessirily you would get it. You could help yourself by avoiding street drugs such as cannabis, cocaine etc... as well as leading a healthy life style e.g. regular exercises, sleeping properly and taking things easy etc...

It is bad that your sister is using illicit drugs. Even for a person without any family history of mental illness, long term use of illicit drugs could induce mental illnesses like psychotic disorders including schizophrenia. She might need proper "psychoeducation" from a psychiatrist in your local area.