Was wondering...... My father was
bipolar, my brother also has some problems
with depression. If I decide to have
children..... What kind of a chance do I
have of having a child with a mental
illness? And, what types?? Or, anyone
know how I can find out???
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2ferano
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Dec 2003 Posts: 3717
Posted: 12-23-03 22:54pm
It is very likely. Not to scare you, but
it is in the blood. I am not sure what
your exact chances are, but it could
definately happen. But when you do have
children, just watch their behavior
carefully. Lithium can control bipolar
disorder pretty well and the earlier it is
caught the better!
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purple333
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 1420 Location: Sydney
Posted: 12-26-03 08:26am
You & your husband could have
chromosonal checks done to see if anything
shows up to indicate a greater chance of
inherited problems.
But remember, this is a whole (& fast
changing) new world so many mental health
issues that people would have been locked
up for or put on inappropriate
meds/misdiagnosed etc even 10 years ago
are no longer such huge unmanageable
problems.
Personally we chose not to worry about
these issues & have children - also
though I would look into alternative
treatments first before putting any child
on medications which could set him/her up
for life on ever increasing dosages or
have negative side effects re development
or create problems with giving other meds
when the child is ill etc etc etc
11 years ago two of my friends were
talking about their respective sons ages
5 & 6 who had been diagnosed with add
& adhd respectively. My daughter was
the 4 1/2 & really was a good child
but so much of what these other two said I
could have said too, won't tidy room, just
tosses bag down, doesn't want to do
homework, just refuses to do as told (here
I would have said just doesn't hear when
doing/thinking something else) & it
made me wonder whether these 2 boys w
really were add/adhd or whether it was
(& still is) the "in thing" to
diagnose a child with who is not a totally
well behaved little robot??
So be careful about assuming that a child
has "x" condition as opposed to then just
being a child. My son ( is a totally wild
thing & drives me to distraction but
he's not add or adhd just very active
& bright & inquisitive.
is a totally wild
thing & drives me to distraction but
he's not add or adhd just very active
& bright & inquisitive.