DistantNews
Support us
🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Unexpected DNA test results can be life-changing; here's how to cope

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Up to 40 million people have taken ancestry DNA tests, often leading to unexpected discoveries about family history.
  • These results can cause intense emotions like shock, grief, and confusion, challenging a person's sense of identity.
  • Support networks and specific services are available to help individuals process and understand surprising DNA test outcomes.

Ancestry DNA tests, taken by an estimated 40 million people worldwide, offer a glimpse into family history and cultural identity. However, these tests, often purchased casually or received as gifts, can uncover shocking family secrets, revealing unexpected parents, siblings, or other relatives.

It's something … that can be absolutely life changing, in that it really disrupts a person's sense of who they are at their very being.

— Michelle BlanchardBlanchard describes the profound impact of unexpected DNA test results on an individual's sense of self.

Michelle Blanchard, CEO of VANISH, a support organization for adults affected by adoption and donor conception, describes these discoveries as potentially "life changing." She notes that while "the DNA doesn't lie," accepting findings that contradict deeply held beliefs about one's origins can be difficult. The emotional impact can range from shock and disbelief to grief, anger, betrayal, and curiosity, according to Zena Burgess, CEO of the Australian Psychological Society.

We often say the DNA doesn't lie, but for some people it is a finding that is so outside of what they thought was possible, that can sometimes be hard to accept.

— Michelle BlanchardBlanchard discusses the difficulty some individuals face in accepting surprising DNA test results.

Burgess explains that unexpected DNA discoveries can destabilize identity and disrupt an individual's life narrative, especially when results challenge long-held assumptions. While some find relief and excitement in connecting with new relatives, the experience can be traumatic, positive, or both simultaneously. These feelings may also evolve over time.

Especially if the results challenge long-held assumptions about identity, family history or upbringing.

— Zena BurgessBurgess explains why unexpected DNA discoveries can lead to intense emotions.

Navigating these complex journeys requires support. Blanchard emphasizes the importance of having a trusted support network and encourages individuals to inform someone close about their discoveries. Depending on the nature of the findings, various services can offer guidance. For instance, if adoption is suspected, state government adoption information services can provide access to original birth certificates and other identifying information, helping individuals piece together their history.

A central finding across the literature is that unexpected DNA discoveries can destabilise identity and disrupt an individual's life narrative.

— Zena BurgessBurgess summarizes the psychological impact of surprising genetic findings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog