“I Connected The Dots”: 19-Year-Old Seek Online Advice After Discovering Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

sister

This 19-year-old felt like the world as he knew it was falling apart, so he joined a Reddit group.

In an unexpected turn of events, the young man learned that his older sister, Rose, with whom he had grown up in an adoptive home, was not who he thought she was.

“One day, a friend of mine suggested I take a DNA test to learn more about my roots since my sister didn’t talk much about them.” The author found out that he had an aunt, whom he agreed to meet with. This was one of the interesting things he learned.

When they met, the missing pieces started to fit together.

H/T boredpanda

This 19-year-old has no idea what to do now that he found out his older sister was not who he thought she was.
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

Image credits: Christian Erfurt (not the actual photo)

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

Image credits: Mufid Majnun (not the actual photo)

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

When people look for their biological roots, a psychologist says, “The search for self is a very normal human experience.”

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

Image credits: Kelly Sikkema (not the actual photo)

As more people use commercial genetic tests to find family members and learn more about their DNA,  it turns out that stories like this one are more common than we’d think.

Psychologists say that looking for one’s biological roots is a normal urge and that a strong desire to know about genetic history doesn’t mean that a person is rejecting the family that raised him or her. David Brodzinsky, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of clinical and developmental psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, thinks that “the search for self is a very normal human experience.”

Brodzinsky says that for biological parents, especially those who gave their children up for adoption, reunification can ease guilt, uncertainty, and what can be deep scars from the choice. “It helps them work through what has been a really hard time for them,” he says.

At-home DNA testing, which is becoming more and more common, can reveal secrets about your family that no one can prepare you for.

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

Image credits: Christin Hume (not the actual photo)

But even though at-home DNA testing is quick and easy, which is what makes it so appealing, family secrets that come to light can cause a lot of mental stress. With the click of a mouse, a person can find out about new relatives, secret stories, and strange turns of fate.

Psychologists say that it’s usually better to talk to trusted family members and carers before getting news you weren’t expecting.

The 19-year-old later added this quick update

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

In a second edit, the author clarified some information about the whole situation

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

Image credits: Priscilla Du Preez (not the actual photo)

The author later added this update

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

Image source: MyLifeAreABrokenMess

This is what people had to say about the whole thing

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years

Some people wondered if the story was true.

"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years
"I Connected The Dots": 19-Year-Old Seeks Online Advice After Discovering His Sister Lied About Her Identity For Years