Starting a family after being diagnosed?

[Anonymous_Username]

I'm curious to know if anyone here was diagnosed with a mental illness (please specify which one) and still went on to have kids. So, you should've had the diagnosis before you had children.

I'm asking because my mental illness(es) prevents me from starting a family and I'm wondering if there are others in the same boat.

[Hidden]

My disability is connective to a Reactive Depression, and later Short Term Memory Disorder. We did not have children because my disability is part Genetic. I lost my career and was classified disabled thirty eight years ago.

And You ??

BOB

[Anonymous_Username in reply to Hidden]

I'm sorry to hear that. I have bipolar and OCD and am therefore studying part-time. Unlikely that I will ever hold a job or find a partner.

[Hidden in reply to Anonymous_Username]

If you cannot find another job, you may find if you work Voluntary etc you mat find finding a job in the future that easier, this is because you are putting yourself out to help others. Also the fact you are helping in another way The future employer will look upon you in a brighter light

BOB

[Stilltrying_ in reply to Anonymous_Username]

You may well find a partner. The kids thing is a tricky one. I have met many families where one or both parents have mental illness. Often this is passed on to the kids; I think it's around 50 per cent chance with bipolar or schizophrenia that it will be passed on though I'm not a medic that is what I have read. For me I could not have kids thinking I may pass this illness on but many people do and many people do end up with children with mental illness too.

I think Bob's advice was spot on. Voluntary work can be very fulfulling. I can't work full time myself; I just do a little spot of voluntary work. Meds can stabilise some people and not others so it is going to be a bit of a waiting game for you I think. However don't rule out a productive life. It may take time to stabilise and find out what your limits are. Things such as mood diaries can help and then training yourself to be more aware of your triggers and so on. These methods have high success rates as do some drug therapies.

[MAS_Nurse]

Hello and welcome to this community.

I see that Bob has given you some good advice. Hopefully there will be other members who can identify with your concerns and can share their experience and wisdom with you. In the meantime you may find it helpful to have a look at the websites listed below concerning pregnancy and mental illness.

tommys.org/pregnancy-inform...

nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy...

mind.org.uk/search-results?...

Best wishes

[Anonymous_Username in reply to MAS_Nurse]

Thanks! I'm a guy, though and so getting pregnant is out of the question. But it's interesting to note that lots of women with mental health problems do get pregnant.

[MAS_Nurse in reply to Anonymous_Username]

Hello again. Apologies for that. I misunderstood your post and thought that your concern was that you thought a person couldn't have children due to having a mental health illness. Hopefully our members will further share their thoughts and experience.

[Anonymous_Username in reply to MAS_Nurse]

You didn't misunderstand my post; my mental illness prevents me from finding a job, getting married and having kids. You just assumed I was a woman for some reason, that's all.