Genetic Sexual Attraction

Genetic Sexual AttractionCarly Sullens, ATRJulie DeNeen, BS

AFIN 6th Annual ConferenceNovember 23-24, 2012

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Carly Sullens Julie DeNeen

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• Master’s Degree In Psychology as an Art Therapist

• Writer• Co-Developer of the GSA

ForumWebsiteBlog

• Adopted at 4 months• Reunited With Birth Family at

age 32• Experienced GSA with Bio-

Father• Currently Writing the book,

What is Genetic Sexual Attraction.

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•Carly SullensGSA Expert

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• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology• Writer• Co-Developer of the GSA

ForumWebsiteBlog

• Raised with Bio-mom and Step-Dad

• Knew of Dad, saw less than 5 times

• Reunited with Dad at age 30• Experienced GSA with Bio-Dad• Wrote about the experience in

the book, Wanted- A Memoir

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• Julie DeNeenGSA Expert

EspañolaWhat are the Symptoms of GSA?

•EspañolaGenetic Sexual Attraction & Reunions

EspañolaWhat is GSA?

EspañolaGSA Prevention

EspañolaHow to Support

EspañolaWho is at Risk for GSA?

EspañolaWhat Is the Progression of GSA?

EspañolaDifferent Types of GSA

• Española, GA is an attraction that is intimate and intense, but lacks the sexual longing.

• GA is an attraction that is intimate and intense, but lacks the

sexual longing component.

• What is Genetic Attraction, or GA?•Española

EspañolaNo Sexual Desires

EspañolaStrong Emotions

EspañolaMay grow into

GSA

• Española, GSA is an attraction or set of emotions towards kin that is defined as romantic or sexual.

• GSA is an attraction or set of emotions towards kin that is defined as

romantic or sexual.

• Española, It is an intense desire to bond with relatives you’ve been separated from.

• It is an intense desire to bond with relatives you’ve been separated from.

• Española, Electrical or addictive grip of emotion• Electrical or addictive grip of emotion

• Española, Very similar to the feelings of “falling in love”

• Very similar to the feelings of “falling in love”

• What is Genetic Sexual Attraction, or GSA?•Española

Española, Blood Family Members

Reunite

Española, Separation must occur at least from birth to 6 years for one

member.

EspañolaStrong Desire To Bond

• Española Any family members that have been separated through divorce or adoption.

• Any family members that have been separated through divorce or adoption.

• Española Evidence suggests that the years between 0-6 are the most crucial for developing the incest taboo.

• Evidence suggests that the years between 0-6 are the most crucial for developing the incest taboo.

• Espanola, Affects both

genders, parents, children,

siblings, and half-siblings.

• Affects both genders,

parents, children, siblings,

and half-siblings.

• Espanola, Homosexuals are

also at risk.

• Homosexuals are also at

risk.

• Espanola, People with

addiction, mental illness, or

history of impulsive behaviors

are at higher risk for GSA

related incest.

• People with addiction, mental

illness, or history of impulsive

behaviors are at higher risk for

GSA related incest.

• Espanola, Adult children are

more vulnerable because of

the abandonment and early

rejection.

• Adult children are more

vulnerable because of the

abandonment and early

rejection.

•EspañolaWho Is At Risk For GSA?

EspanolaSeparation

EspanolaPeople

EspanolaMental Health

•EspanolaSymptoms of GSA

Symptoms of GSA

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Mental

EspanolaEmotion

al

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Physical

EspanolaSocial

EspanolaSpiritual

• Espanola, Constantly thinking of reunited family member

• Constantly thinking of reunited family member

• Espanola, Highly distractible, unable to concentrate• Highly distractible, unable to concentrate

• Espanola, Impaired judgment and impulsiveness• Impaired judgment and impulsiveness

• Espanola, Focusing on reunited family member's good points and ignoring their faults

• Focusing on reunited family member's good points and ignoring their faults

• Espanola, Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences

• Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences

• Espanola, Obsessive or compulsive behavior• Obsessive or compulsive behavior

•EspanolaMental

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Mental

• Espanola, Feeling an intense bond and sense of togetherness

• Feeling an intense bond and sense of togetherness

• Espanola, Frequent or wild mood Swings• Frequent or wild mood swings

• Espanola, Feeling unusually 'high' and optimistic• Feeling unusually 'high' and optimistic

• Espanola, Feeling an unexplained strong emotional connection to your reunited family member

• Feeling an unexplained strong emotional connection to your reunited family member

• Espanola, Separation anxiety when separating from reunited family member

• Separation anxiety when separating from reunited family member

• Espanola, Feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment and remorse after sexual exploration

• Feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment and remorse after sexual exploration

•Espanola• Emotional

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Emotional

• Espanola, More focus on appearance• More focus on appearance

• Espanola, Experience a palpable tingling Sensation when you touch• Experience a palpable tingling sensation when you touch

• Espanola, Constantly wanting to hug, hold hands or touch your reunited family member

• Constantly wanting to hug, hold hands or touch your reunited family member

• Espanola, Sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic

• Sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic

• Espanola, Increase in sexual desire• Increase in sexual desire

•Espanola• Physical

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Physical

• Espanola, Ability to communicate easily with your reunited family member

• Ability to communicate easily with your reunited family member

• Espanola, Easily trusting your reunited family member• Easily trusting your reunited family member

• Espanola,

• Espanola, Isolated from others, even spouse, children, close friends, to concentrate or be with reunited femily member

• Isolated from others, even spouse, children, close friends, to concentrate or be with reunited femily member

• Espanola, Excessive defensiveness or excuses• Excessive defensiveness or excuses

• Espanola, Look past certain character flaws that could present major problems

• Look past certain character flaws that could present major problems

•Espanola• Social

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Social

• Espanola, With feelings of elation you rationalize God intended this

• With feelings of elation you rationalize God intended this

• Espanola, Renounce or morph your religious beliefs to justify GSA behavior

• Renounce or morph your religious beliefs to justify GSA behavior

• Espanola, With feelings of depression and abandonment re-focus on God's love for comfort

• With feelings of depression and abandonment re-focus on God's love for comfort

• Espanola, Feeling unworthy for forgiveness• Feeling unworthy for forgiveness

• Espanola, Angry at God for 'allowing' this to happen

• Angry at God for 'allowing' this to happen

•Espanola• Spiritual

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Spiritual

Progression of GSAEspanola

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• Espanola• Overwhelming desire to know family member

• Espanola• Daily focus is on GSA family member

• Progression of GSA to Incest

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• Espanola• Family member withdraws

to pursue emotional intimacy

• Espanola• Sexual Arousal

• Espanola• Internal vs.

External

Connection

Intense Focus

Isolation/Secrecy

Physical

Crisis

Separation

• Espanola, Parent/Child GSA is most complicated because of the dual roles.

• Parent/Child GSA is most complicated because of the dual roles.

• Espanola, Sibling GSA is often harder to resist because it doesn’t feel as wrong and the DNA similarity coding is higher.

• Sibling GSA is often harder to resist because it doesn’t feel as wrong and the DNA similarity coding is higher.

•EspanolaDifferent Types of GSA

Sister

Hermana

Brother

Hermano

Parent

Padres

Child

Chico

• Espanola, Most resembles a typical love relationship.• Most resembles a typical love relationship.

• Espanola, Strong genetic pull because of similar DNA.• Strong genetic pull because of similar DNA.

• Espanola, Feels less “wrong” because of similar peer ages.

• Feels less “wrong” because of similar peer ages.

• Espanola, Sibling GSA

• Espanola, Sibling GSA: This can include full-blood or half siblings. Most common type of GSA.

• Sibling GSA: This can include full-blood or half siblings. Most common type of GSA.

• Sibling GSA

•Espanola, Father-Daughter GSA• Espanola, Father/Daughter

GSA: 2nd most common GSA.• Father/Daughter GSA: 2nd most

common GSA.• Espanola, Daughter is highly

vulnerable to father’s “approval” (wanting to marry Daddy like a small child)

• Daughter is highly vulnerable to father’s “approval” (wanting to marry Daddy like a small child)

• Father-Daughter GSA

• Espanola, Father has power over the daughter

• Father has power over the daughter• Espanola, Most resembles traditional incest• Most resembles traditional incest

•Espanola, Mother-Son GSA

• Espanola, Mother/Son GSA: Fairly rare, but still happens more than people realize.

• Mother/Son GSA: Fairly rare, but still happens more than people realize.

• Espanola, Son desires “mothering”

• Son desires “mothering”

• Mother-Son GSA

• Espanola, Mother has instinct to caress and hold son as if “newborn”

• Mother has instinct to caress and hold son as if “newborn”• Espanola, Highly dangerous relationship because of

the imbalance of power• Highly dangerous relationship because of the imbalance of

power

How do you support individuals experiencing GSA in a reunion so that

incest does not occur?Espanola, Education and counseling prior to reunion is important, but not always available.Education and counseling prior to reunion is important, but not always available.

Espanola, Mentorship programs and peer support are crucial to navigating GSA.Mentorship programs and peer support are crucial to navigating GSA.

Espanola, Concrete boundaries.Concrete boundaries.

Espanola, How do you support individuals experiencing GSA in a reunion

so that incest does not occur?

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How do you support individuals experiencing GSA in a reunion so that

incest does not occur?

Espanola, Full disclosure with spouses.Full disclosure with spouses.

Espanola, Family activities where both parties can enjoy the other in their natural familial roles (but must be balanced with space and time to work through GSA feelings). Family activities where both parties can enjoy the other in their natural familial roles (but must be balanced with space and time to work through GSA feelings).Espanola, Grief counseling to deal with past regrets..Grief counseling to deal with past regrets..

Espanola, How do you support individuals experiencing GSA in a reunion

so that incest does not occur?

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•Espanola, GSA Prevention• GSA Prevention

Education Prior to Reunion

Counseling During

Reunion

Open Adoptions

GSA Support

Community

Espanola, Education

Prior to Reunion

Espanola, Counseling

During Reunion

Espanola, Open

Adoptions

Espanola, GSA

Support Community

www.geneticsexualattraction.comwww.geneticsexualattraction.orgwww.thegsaforum.comwww.carlysullens.com

•Espanola, Books On GSABooks on GSA

www.amazon.com

•Espanola, Questions & AnswersQuestions & Answers

Questions&

Answers

Gracious