My last comment on another thread reminded me I was going to come back to this comment. I was really tired the other night and what I had thought of responding back was more than my brain was willing to put into thought. I don't think being born into a family like that is unlucky or a misfortune technically, it was just a preexisting set of circumstances that were well into play before my siblings or I were even thoughts. Considering all the suicides in the prior generation, the alcohol abuse, etc., it had become entrenched into a pattern of behavior that seemed normal. If it seems normal then it's neither being lucky or unlucky it's just normal. I had several years of counseling before I understood that. I often wondered why I attracted to alcoholics like a magnet....because the behavior seemed normal. Determination can come into play, at times though you are still predestined to limitations no matter how much determination you have. If one has/had opportunity/opportunities to see a difference and break the cycle of abuse there may be mechanism that come into play whereas something good comes along that may shield them, whether that be on a long or short term basis goes back to the limitation(s) issues, what others are willing to acknowledge and accept.