Do you think a person with schizophrenia or any other serious mental illness should have kids?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

sure. I don't have a problem with it. Being at high risk for schizophrenia is a downside but maybe there are equal upsides that go along with it. Like enhanced creativity or something that becomes possible for the children of crazy people.

[Asker]

Yeah I am very creative and my boyfriend has adhd which is another worry that my kids will definitely have something but it may skip them. Who knows?

[Kaneki05]

Longs if they are been treated and they aren't a danger to others then sure.

[Asker]

I am. I have been on medication for it for about two years now and no longer hear voices. But I just wonder if I am going to pass it down to my kids. I wouldn't want them to go through what I went through.

[Kaneki05]

It's more likely they will but it's not guaranteed. And if you as so, I would say you know what to look for right? Which then means if they do get it, you can spot it and try to help them right away.
And that is actually better than having kid for them to get it but the parents are unaware of what it is or what they can do to help, and even likely neglect their kid for it.

[Asker]

That's very true. I definitely know what to look for so that would be very helpful in getting them treated right away for it.

[Kaneki05]

Exactly, you'll be more thoughtful about it because of your own experience which makes you a better parent. So yeah I don't see a problem here.

[sage2021]

No, I really don't. I think they deserve to have their own family, but in reality they couldn't handle raising a child.

This answer is from knowing someone who has it.

[provokeesmokee]

Personally, no. But I don't know how hereditary those issues are.

I think if it's severe, they should seriously reconsider. Saying this as someone with severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder and ADHD - I wouldn't wish these on a kid. Not that I'd want kids myself anyways.

I grew up with parents who have undiagnose and unmanaged mental illness. It left me with a lot of damage to undo.

This all said, with improvements in treatment of these conditions, I think it doesn't necessarily need to be a limitation. Especially if there's a way to control and mitigate the risk.

[exitseven]

I dont know. Maybe if it was hereditary I would think twice about it.

[Anonymous]

My putative mother has had schizophrenia since she was 16, it's not as bad as people think.

[Asker]

Yeah I'm currently taking medication for it and I'm normal for the most part with the medication of course.

[Anonymous]

Probably shouldn’t but doesn’t always carry over to offspring

[Asker]

That's my concern is that it will pass down to them but my mom didn't have it nor my grandmother. Just my great grandmother. So it skipped two generations. Maybe they might be lucky and it skip them.

[Opinion Owner]

It’s possible as long your partner doesn’t have any history of it either

[Asker]

Yeah he doesn't have a history of it in his family thank goodness. He just has adhd.

[Opinion Owner]

Oh, I wonder what that combo would produce

[Asker]

Yeah me too