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.
ENGLISH
•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
ENGLISH
• 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
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• 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
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