Would You Have a Child If You Knew They Would Have Bipolar?

I was diagnosed (at 30) with bipolar 1 and PTSD. I already had my son (age 7 when I was diagnosed) and was raising him as a single mom.
I will not be having more children directly because of my diagnosis. This is both for the sake of any theoretical unborn children who could develop the disorder and for the sake of my current son - another child, even if I found a partner and hot married, would probably make me not able to cope as well and if probably be not as good of a parent to the child I already have. People with mental illness should be cautious to knowingly reproduce but of course many people have children prior to their diagnosis and in that case get therapy meds and do your best not to ruin your kid.

Everyone's kids are on the line for something-we've all been entered into 1000 sucky lotteries by dint of being born. As solon, the ancient greek Philosopher said, count no-one happy until their way of dying is known. It's just a few arbitrary things taht make people think the risk is now 'unacceptable'. Life is guaranteed pain and/or frustration. Who knows? You could stub your toe while searching for a missing sock. The daily, trivial drudgery and imposition of the human condition is bad enough without being born some kind of cripple. I'm bipolar but I don't think 'normal' people are somehow praiseworthy just because the're making left turns on the rat-racetrack.
Remember, however great you may think life is, the unborn aren't missing out on it.

My partners daughter has bipolar and two children of which one has epilepsy. She does cause her mother heartache. Her mother is in a wheelchair. I believe that bipolar people should NEVER EVER have children as there is a 50/50 chance of them getting it. It is very selfish if they do.

I have bipolar disorder type 1. I have always been different and medicated since I was 6. I was first diagnosed when I was 15, again at 16, then again at 21, and once more at 31. I lived in denial for a lot of years if you can't tell. Now I am 31 years old and I am the SINGLE mother of 2 wonderful sons. My oldest is 13 and I have been a single mom to him from day one. Being brought up by a mom who is bipolar and raising her children on her own while her disorder had her wacked out of her mind more than half the time had to be tough. Top It off with the fact that I got pregnant when I was still in high school and it gives you a pretty good idea what life was like for my oldest son. What life IS like, really. That poor child! My symptoms first manifested into being obviously bipolar when I was 12. When my son turned 12 his symptoms manifested as well. I created a clone, he is smarter than most and has a wonderful heart and he is physically healthy as an ox but he is obviously bipolar. The silver lining??? I know bipolar. I knew the signs. I knew the disorder. Most importantly, I knew exactly what to do. I saw the signs, took the proper and effective steps, and provided him with everything he needed emotionally. I myself needed treatment and have been on meds for years. I lead by example and showed him that there was nothing wrong with getting help when you need it and it is possible to overcome the impossible. We got better together. Better than before. I was open and honest with him and I tried my best to boost his self esteem when needed and to be there for him. He learned that not everybody is the same and some people are just a little more messed up than others. The end result? Well my son is in 7th grade and he is not perfect by any means but he is perfect to me. He is compassionate, seasoned, understanding, makes straight A's and doesn't even have to study, he is teacher's pet in every class, plans to be an architect, highly intelligent, and a pleasure to be around. He looks at the world with the wisdom of ages yet sees the world through the eyes of a child. What a wonderful combo! The question was, if you were going to have a child who was going to be bipolar would you still have this child. My answer is ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? YES, YES, A MILLION TIMES YES. He is a gift to this world, I am so glad I had him, I have no regrets. He has already met life and he has already felt her harsh breath yet he is mentally sound and emotionally stable. He is more than most can ever hope to someday be and he has a lot of years ahead of him still. His heart is made of solid gold and I am so very proud.

Had a stable, happy marriage but chose not to have a child. My life has been very hard because of this illness. I didn't want to pass it on. I also was told at the time I'd need to get off lithium. My best friend had bipolar, and her second child found out he had it at 19.

If 1 parent has bipolar disorder his or her child has a 10% chance (give or take) of developing bipolar disorder. With 2 parents the odds increase substantially. Google it.
Natasha, Based on your second paragraph you clearly did not bother to research the genetic percentages. In the future I'd recommend checking facts prior to posting to this sort of audience.
I was completely alone in life when I was first diagnosed with with acute bipolar 1 disorder leading to delusions and distorted reality. At first I shrugged off the diagnosis as a bad trip or something until my second manic episode back in in 2002. Sure, I dabbled with a few pharma cocktails Geodon, Zyprexa, Lithium, Stratera etc, etc... but eventually decided not right for me, as I could not succeed in my career on the meds.
I currently have 2 children. A 1 year old and a 3 year old. I certainly understand the struggle and have experienced confinement against my will 6 times. Regardless, deciding to have children is the best thing I've done with my life.
Certainly it is a personal decision to have children and not a decision that is right for everyone for many reasons....
However... in the context of this thread.... Cancer, MS, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Disease, Heart Disease, obesity, and many other life threatening disorders are genetic. Therefore, by your rational nobody should have children.
The only thing you should fear is fear itself. Disturbing thread.

I'm bipolar II, and my maternal urge drives me nuts (or nuttier). My immutable decision to not have children was made with prolonged consideration and a lot of self reflection. Ultimately, unselfishness is the most significant reason. I'm medicated and have been so with great discipline and even still have "flare-ups". It is in those moments that I cease being an useful person. I'm such a mess that my husband has to help me find my sanity. I will not stop taking my medication because I have chosen not to risk any birth defects due to the medication and severe depression. Is it fair to ask my husband to become my caretaker, and my child's only parent? Although I can't with any certainty predict my future, postpartum depression is very real. Insomnia makes things worse for us and it is inevitable. My parents and my siblings would feel compelled to help us deal with my absence. I refuse to knowingly become a burden. It possible that my family with watch us struggle and suffer for the rest of my life. They will pity us. I'll be the furthest thing from a good wife, good daughter, good sister, and most significantly, a good mother. I refuse to any of those--let alone all of them.

I wasn't diagnosed with major depression, and GAD--general anxiety disorder,
until I started having panic attacks at age 26. I knew I was depressed before that time, and had some counseling but no meds when I was in college, unable
to turn in assignments on time and feeling suicidal.
I was diagnosed with borderline traits, at 29, and bipolar at 58. I would never wish this hellish struggle on any innocent child.
But I can understand why a woman could get pregnant and have one child, maybe more, before being diagnosed. Especially in a dismissive or religious family.
However, if you're introspective at all, you have to consider what traits make for a good enough mother, before getting pregnant. Above all, are you patient, and can you regulate your emotions? Will DBT or CBT work for you or not?
I can also understand people fearing there will be no one to look after them, as they age. But the fact that so much of mental illness doesn't respond enough to the meds, and the meds causing all kinds of bad side effects, was the determining factor for me to remain child free.

It seems that everyone is coming from their own experiences and forgetting that bipolar runs a spectrum. If your disorder is mild, you're like "oh, they can just treat it with medication and life will be roses." If you bipolar is extreme and medication doesn't stabilize it, then you're like "heck no, this is hell on earth and I wouldn't want my worst enemy to suffer like this." My bipolar isn't extreme but my answer is still no, if I knew my child would be bipolar, I wouldn't have him/her. Everyone struggles but there's no excuse for knowingly causing my child to struggle. That would be like dying a weight around his leg when he's trying to walk. Yes, it's normal for children to fall but a parent shouldn't knowingly make them fall. Knowingly saddling my child with a mental disorder is knowingly setting them up for a lifetime of struggle that I could have prevented, and as a mother, it's my job to not hurt my child hoping that doctors and medication can reduce the harm I cause. That's how I feel about the issue. Others feel different and I'll let the result of their children's lives be their judge.

I came here looking for answers, I'm trying to decide whether I should have children. I am bipolar and my husband is schizophrenic, but instead of finding a supportive community of like minded people with similar life experiences, I found a group of people that seem to think very little of themselves. Life is tough as a sufferer of any form of mental illness, but my husband and I are loving people, slowly coming to grips with a new way of life. I am not inferior, and I refuse to let anyone tell me I am. I get enough judgement and stigma from "normal" people, i really don't need to get it from bp's too. You guys really need to accept your lot in life and celebrate your beautiful, chaotic, frightening uniqueness. We are not less than, we are more. For we battle everyday, and every night we are the victors. I am proud to be what I am. I am happy to tell my story, because after all is said and done, I have survived.

My father has bipolar disorder and well, here I am. I have bipolar too. His bipolar makes his actions abusive, and I lived a terrible youth. I struggle between hating my life, and I sometimes still hate them for giving birth to me.
If a bipolar parent is reading this: please consider not giving birth to kids. Please do not make a child that will hate him/herself. I'd rather not to be born and it takes me huge courage to even continue living. Adoption is great.
And to answer this question: hell no, if I know my child will have bipolar - I already suffer this as the bipolar child. I will not let anyone else suffer the same pain.

To answer this question is a yes and a no. I got pregnant of course not planned and that was a deciding factor on us getting married. If I knew that my now ex was bipolar and knew the information about it thatI know now I would have not married him therefore I would not have had my other two children. Bipolar disorder is selfish and dangerous and I would not willing bring more individuals into society that cannot get proper care because we are more concern about rights than treatment. My girls all take medication and are in their early twenties and I worry everyday about when they decide to not take them anymore. All these years we have watched from a distance their father go in and out of jail, suffer drug problems become homeless and not interact with his kids, he has become a burden on society costing the courts money, his parents money and it will never get better. Sadly bipolar disorder is high ignored and people that suffer from it will never be properly treated in my opinion. I am not saying they aren't given meds and such but society likes to act as if it is not a mental illness and it is.

In my opinion only it is morally wrong to bring a child into this world if either potential parent has mental health issues. It is unfair to the unborn child as they might develop a mental illness that is going to destroy their life anyway no matter what drugsand treatments are available and be a burden to their families (unwittingly). Don't risk it - it isn't worth it.

Hi. My fiancee has bipolar and I have a history of depression and anxiety. My mother has paranoid schizophrenia. My father was abusive. The reason why we don't want children is because we don't think we would be able to cope and yes, naturally there is a fear that our child or children will have mental health issues. We have suffered so terribly ourselves that although the idea of having children is wonderful, we can not imagine ourselves being strong enough to cope with the stresses and strains of bringing up a family. I don't have a maternal instinct as yet and perhaps that is because of all of the mental and emotional abuse I have endured over the years. I do wonder if it will ever kick in.. I'm in my early thirties and feel the pressure of having children. I empathise with Natasha - she didn't mean to cause offence I don't think. I admire those of you who have raised children or want children and in a way I probably envy you a little. There are some of us who don't feel we are strong enough mentally or emotionally to raise them, even though a small part of us wants to. If I had a healthy maternal instinct, perhaps that would change my mind completely.

To Julia: what a brilliant post!!!
To Natasha: I am preparing to have my first child, so excited, whatever will be is already predetermined and I wont blame myself if the coin fell on the "wrong side" according to you...
But why would anybody really choose to have a child in this world with so many possible bad things like accidents, violence, cancer and yes, mental illness?
I do not think by not having a child you are being noble and I will certainly not be handing out any medals of honour in your direction... I rather think you are being afraid, we as Bipolar people can help our children by identifying the problem and learning them how to cope at a young age... Who better to help their children deal with mental illness than we ourselves out of our own experience?
There are much worse things than Bipolar disorder in this world, be grateful...

Natasha,
I think your responses of August 25, 2012 and August 28, 2012 are a little weak. . .because the issue brought up by the other individuals could certainly drawn from your original post.
Because of the way you asked the question (which at first I didn't even realize there had been multiple ways), their comments ARE reasonable. Your argument was that no, you personally would not bring a child into this world knowing he or she would even have a strong likelihood of mental illness, because you would not impose that suffering on someone else.
Well that's fine, but the other person's argument was basically that we choose to inflict suffering upon already living individuals. So should we not have had them? Should we not then, procreate at all? Whose life is worth having? Is mine worth less because I have a plentitude of mental illnesses? Um, no. This is much more than a discussion about bipolar disorder. And there's a huge difference between your two questions: "Would you have a child if you knew they would have bipolar?" VS "If you know that your child would have a mental illness, should you be having children in the first place?" Holy judgemental.
It shouldn't be about what the child might or might not have, but rather how the parent is able to parent.

Some good points Jill. As for me personally, the frame of the question could substitute any illness, and is such that I would have to weigh the pros and the cons. And a life of their suffering, in and of itself, is not reason enough for me to not have children. Because that's not the reason for existence. We all have suffering; it IS a part of life--so I wouldn't want to deny life to someone because I didn't want them to suffer. None of us want to suffer, but we do and we can't eliminate, try as we might.
Having said that, being single and not in a relationship (but absolutely loving children, I used to teach) I've already decided that I won't have my own biological children. Is it because of the likelihood I would pass on my mental illnesses (because I have more to consider than just bipolar)? In part, maybe. But it has more to do with the fact of having to adjust and go off some medications during pregnancy, probably not being able to breastfeed, and the very high risk of postpartum mental illness.
I can just as well adopt children, give a loving home to those who already exist and need a good family. I know one family who has 5 children, all of them adopted, and none of them from the same birth family. It is possible, and that is where I would see myself should motherhood be my vocation.

My bipolar husband has been gone for nearly a year. We were together for 24years and had 4 children together. I do worry about them being bipolar but would not change having them. They are the reason that I keep going despite the hurt that has been inflicted on all of us. I am very aware of the symptoms of bipolar and hope that I will recognise and be able to help if they need. As for my ex husband I have cut all contact with him. My kids still see him at times but he is not really part of their lives which makes me sad for them.
I don't believe that you can live your life worrying about the what ifs. Having children has been the best thing that has ever happened to me and I think that my ex would say the same thing. A bipolar parent is not ideal but it is not a life sentence. Be aware and informed and the chances for a good life are there.

If I knew my child would have severe bipolar, in my opinion, it would be cruel to bring that child here, and this with regard to today's medications.
I'm a male and have bipolar. I've had a lot of adventures in life such as rock/ice climbing, learning to fly, and fishing commercially in AK on the Bering Sea. The problem is all of my activities were done because I figured I could make my death from any of them look like an accident.
Bringing a child here that I knew would suffer the traumas of bipolar; the suicidal depressions, the destructive delusions and hallucinations in mania, the greater chances of substance abuse, etc... would be morally wrong of me.

I read the title of this article, and I thought, "of course I would have a child, even if s/he had a chance of becoming bipolar." And then the next second I thought of my suicidal ideations and multiple suicide attempts, and thought better of it. But I do have a child, who is 26 years old now, and she does seem to have symptoms or tell-tale signs of bipolar disorder. She has said, "I like being this way, I like bipolar disorder, if I have it." She will have my knowledge of medications to work with, and my roll-with-it attitude about my bipolar mood swings ... I have a 24- to 26- day depression to mania cycle, so my moods don't last very long. My depressions are mainly long days in bed sleeping, and my manias last for a few days. I'm lucky that way, I always have the knowledge that no one mood is going to last for a long time. I also hope, that if my daughter does sink into a suicidal depression, she won't actually try to commit suicide; she can always talk to me. In any case, her bipolar cycle, if that's what it is, is very similar to mine. Her moods pass quickly, and her depressions cause long days sleeping in bed. Medication doesn't really help me; my pdoc told me explicitly that medications seem to make my cycles much worse. So I don't know, it's possible my daughter has inherited this trait as well.
I think it really depends on what type of bipolar disorder you're dealing with. And if you do have a child who ends up with bp, you have to pass on your knowledge and wisdom and your mental toughness. Bipolar disorder is NOT for the faint of heart, and never should it be regarded as something "easy" to deal with. But a lot of us had kids before we knew we had bipolar disorder, so the question is moot. The problem is, I want my daughter to have children. I want grandchildren. So, my dad had bp, I have bp, my daughter may have bp ... so her children? Oh gosh, it almost seems like a given, her kids will have bp. I don't know. You deal with the hand you're given. I don't know if I'd be able to deal with having a grandchild who tries to commit suicide in the course of having bipolar disorder. The only thing I could do, as I said, is to pass on my wisdom to her, and try to make her a strong person. What else could I do?
It's a tough question to be sure.

I absolutely would have a child if I knew it was going to be bipolar. I think it is extremely dangerous for you to imply that EVERYONE suffers the same.
A person with Bipolar deserves just as much of a life as anyone else.
AND I fully believe you can live a fulfilled happy life even WITH bipolar.
Not everyone is condemned to a life of psych wards & suicide attempts.
yes there are struggles, yes sometimes its hard, but LIFE Is hard, for EVERYONE.
And EVERYONE deserves a chance in this life.
EVERYONE.

I'm bipolar. If I knew for sure my child would be bipolar, I would keep it. I would be far more likely to abort a non-bipolar child because the downside of not being bipolar is that non-bipolar people aren't as smart or creative (at ALL) and have a very little emotional range. THAT is a wasted life.

Thanks Terea, may I second that sentiment...

I want to add that no parent actually knows what they are going to get when they decide to have a child. I do not have bipolar disorder, but my child does. My sister has 4 children and so far none of them show signs of bipolar disorder, but she is bipolar. Even if you are perfectly healthy both mentally and physically, you could have a child with a genetic disorder or illness. Parents need to accept their children for who they are, and enter into parenthood prepared to love their imperfect children.

Are you kidding me? My 7 year old son is bipolar and he is the most brilliant, coolest kid I know! He constantly amazes everyone around him with his creativity and his unique approach to life. Sometimes I think he is like having several kids in one, but I think the rewards for being his mother are also multiplied. My brother and sister are also bipolar and they both lead successful lives. As a family we deal with some problems caused by the mental illness, but who doesn't have problems!?

I had my first manic break at 34. I was already the mother of a 15 yr old son, 11 yr old daughter and a 2 yr old daughter. (My 2 yr old was a huge surprise).
I had always had panic attacks as a child, which always ended with me vomiting. My family attributed it to my being " shy and fragile".
At 17 I experienced my first bout of serious depression.There was NO reason for feeling the way I did. I had a mom, dad, two little brothers, friends, a boyfriend...a normal teenage life that had come to a screeching halt. After a month of these unknown, scary all consuming feelings, I took a bath with a hair dryer.
My mom made an appointment for me to see a therapist. I was put on an anti depressant and slowly got well.
The next year I married.
From 1986 till 2001 I dealt with my panic attacks with zanax and was put on various antidepressants over the years. I'd slip into a depression, isolate, recover and carry on. It hit every few months, but never did I become as depressed as I had been in 1985.
In 2000, when my baby girl was three months old, my life came to a screeching halt once again. I couldn't eat, hardly moved, that impossible to explain miserly was back. By the time I weighed 86 pounds, my husband put me in the hospital. Major Depression and Anxiety Disorder. The sent me home with that diagnosis and scripts for medication.
In 2001 I had my first manic break. I thought "this must be what happy feels like" as I ran amuck. I couldn't see the destruction my behavior was causing. I crashed. I begged for forgiveness...and then I soared again! We went through this a few times. I was in the hospital again. Same diagnosis. Different meds. Home again, my family attempted an intervention, convinced I was a drug addict. I wasn't doing drugs! I was mad and when mania struck again, I left my husband with divorce papers and our children in his care. I never went back. My kids wouldn't speak to me. The baby was too young. My family disowned me. I was on my own. I lived with two girlfriends that took care of me when I was down and ran amuck with me when I was up. I couldn't hold a job. I put myself in the hospital two more times. Same diagnosis, different meds. It wasn't until I was 39 that I was properly diagnosed Bipolar at a hospital run, free clinic where I went for therapy and to see the psychiatrist that they had assigned to me. The psychiatrist were all interns. It was my third psychiatrist that hit the nail on the head. More med changes and a proper diagnosis. My last bout of severe depression occurred shortly after diagnosis. I was extremely suicidal and had become drug resistant. ECT was their last course of action and in a "whatever" fashion, I signed the papers. Many treatments followed. 3x a week for months.
By the end of my 40 th year, I was on meds that worked. I'm 45 now. Life is nothing like it ever was before. I'm on SSI&MEDICAL. Live alone with my dog and two cats. My family has "forgiven" me for the most part....but my children have suffered the most.
My son tried to commit suicide when he was 17 and again at 22. He was always an introverted kid. Too much stimuli made him anxious. I had put him in therapy, he resented me for it. He and I have gone through periods where we talked and then something makes him mad and he stops talking to me again. The last time he tried to commit suicide he called me first. I called the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team and they arrived at his house with three police cars, ambulance and fire truck. They evaluated him and took him to County Mental Health. That was three years ago. He hasn't spoken to me since because I "betrayed" his trust! He's 26 now.
My 22 year old daughter has gone through spells where she'd speak to me and then not. She is speaking with me now. "We've all had shitty childhoods, I might as well forgive you, you're my mom after all".
My youngest turns 14 soon. I had visitation with her over the years. I wasn't always real consistent, but we've built a relationship that we both value and talk or text a lot. Last year she started cutting. She shared it with me. We talked a lot. I told her Dad and he flipped out! "You're going to be just like your mother"! She hasn't cut since. She's afraid to get caught. Her dad won't put her in therapy because that's all "bullshit".
I love all three of my children in three very different ways. I love all three more than anybody else in my life.
It's hard to imagine life without them. I live with a tremendous amount of guilt for the circumstances they have had to grow up under, but if you believe we are all born for a reason, then I suppose there are lessons they must be here to learn.... I didn't know any better to make an educated decision about having children.
Do I worry about their mental health? Oh he'll ya. I've seen my son suffer and I know he has a long battle ahead of him. If he's NOT bipolar, I'd be shocked. I wish I could make it all better, save him from those dark places, but I can't. And that sucks.
I'm not too worried about my 22 yr old daughter. She's always had the world by the tail! Her self confidence and comfort with who she is amazes and pleases me!
My baby? I worry. She is open enough with me and has grown up knowing what bipolar disorder is all about so she's pretty self aware. She's aware enough to ask for help. Open enough to share her pain.
If I could make that decision now, at this point in my life? No way would I have children. This sort of misery I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, especially my children.

both my are mentally ill one lives in group home the lives with her boyfrind going to college with help from ssi

i have had a problem with bipolar 1 since birth they said i started showing signs at 3 years of age they took me to a diagnostic center at 5 were they were told there was something wrong but tere was nothing they could do so i went to counseers and mental hospitals i kindof lost track of how many times and how long i would go2 weeks with no sleep and then suffur along bought of depresion with was early 70s and late 60 after i finaly got out school of drove trucks over the road where staying for long period of time helped i did that the hullucinasions were kinda of hard to deal with i did that kind of for 13 yrs up until i had a phsicotic break and went to a mental hospital and the doctors said i could not drive anymore i got pumped full of shycotropics and mood stabillysers i feel beter now . iwas abelle to get disability and medicare wich has helped i have been in and out of mental hospitils be cause my meds stop working they put me on something else a year or2 later it stares over and im backagain

[...] of all those above people, only about 0.2-0.4% of children have bipolar disorder so most of those people won’t develop bipolar disorder until they are adults (although many show [...]

I had my children when I was in denial over my bi-polar situation. I had a psychotic break just before my eldest was born, and have struggled ever since. And my two children, 9 and 6, both have bi-polar. We didn't get help for them until she was in the second grade and he in preschool. Needless to say, my daughter is angry to have to be alive, and this while medicated and getting treatment. As soon as I realized what I'd put them into, I got my tubes tied. No accidentally-conceived children to burden with this. I adore my two children, very much. I also cannot endure watching them both hate life as vehemently as they do.

I don't think I can honestly answer this question. I know I would've have thought harder about it. I never once considered it. I would have educated myself and researched.
I didn't learn about my family history of mental illness until my son had been diagnosed. I remembered a conversation I had with my mom before I knew I was pregnant (turns out I was pregnant at that conversation). She made some comment that not everyone needed to have kids, some were better off without and maybe I should reconsider wanting a family. I remember being so hurt and offended since she'd known I wanted kids ever since I was a little girl. I look back and realize she was trying to say something. I used to get angry that she couldn't have been honest with me, been more direct with what she was saying.
Having said all that, if I hadn't had my children, I would not have taken the journey I have. While I definitely have had my share of struggles and battles (most currently last night), I have taken some jobs I never would have. And now I have a highly rewarding job of helping other parents. I have met some amazing people along my journey and many of them have become friends.
My son still struggles with his issues, but he is also a bright, funny, likeable young man. He has taught me so much on our journey, and I know I will continue to learn. He is a part of me and I love him no matter what.

Hi BohemianBlondeLife,
No, that's not the question I'm asking. In fact, I specifically say that in the article. I specifically say that I'm not suggesting that people aren't lovable or don't deserve to be here.
Asking if someone would have a child under a specific set of circumstances is a far cry from asking whether a person who is alive should be alive.
- Natasha

I had my son at 23, before I ever received a diagnosis. We have since both been diagnosed as bipolar. I do not plan on ever having more biological children. I would consider adoption as a way of expanding my family, if I ever felt the need to have more children. Watching my son struggle, and having my own challenges, it would be incredibly unfair for me to reproduce my genetics again.

The question you are really asking some of us is "do you wish you had not been born" and I can say no, i am glad i was born. My mother has bipolar ii and I was recently diagnosed bipolar ii. my brother does not have it. i have an amazing husband, a great job, and will be on medicine for life. do i wish my life was not difficult sometimes, absolutely. but would i wish my parents had chosen to adopt instead of having me, nope. i am glad i am here. and i will have children and be open and honest with them about my bipolar when they are old enough because every person has their own battle. this is just my "thing" i have to deal with. my cross to bear.

Its interesting that you post this article today. My friend and I were just having "the biological clock talk" yesterday. I am 33 years old and have no children and have Borderline Personality Disorder. I have Borderline for 2 reasons, 1 because I was genetically predisposed because my biological mother is a Paranoid Schizophrenic and 2 because she raised me while not on medication until I was taken away at age 4. I would love to have children but many things come in to play for that to happen. I would have to stop taking all my medications for at least one month before my imaginary husband and I even began trying. No medications during pregnancy or for how ever long I choose to breast feed. That means my imaginary husband would need to be a very understanding man because not only would I not be medicated but I would be hormonal as well. And just to be clear I am saying "imaginary husband" because I am not married; I do not see things. LOL. So lets say all that goes as planned and I nor my imaginary husband go off the deep end. Now we have a baby. Borderlines have emotional issues; that's the easiest way to sum it up. If we are angry we are FURIOUS. If we are sad, THE SKY IS FALLING. So lets stay on point here and remain positive; we have a baby. Ten toes, ten fingers, head full of hair and all over gorgeous. I breast feed and all is well. Now its back to medications which can take 2-4 weeks to be fully back functioning 100% into my system again and sometimes those 2-4 weeks are not fun. So do we hire a Douala to help out? Now the burning question that we all try to avoid... My child, no matter what I do will be genetically predisposed to a mental illness. Most likely Bipolar or Borderline or if I am lucky something simple like Generalized Anxiety. That is a hard question to answer for a couple different reasons one of which is very selfish. Am I capable even with the help of an imaginary husband of raising a child with mental problems? I need to be able to put my health first. The second reason is quite frankly; knowing that there is a chance even a small one is it fair to bring a child into the world to go through the pain I suffer daily?

Hello! I loved this article! Just had a discussion with my cousin about this. I really desperately want to have kids. I've wanted kids since 18. I'm now 25 and the desire has not gotten smaller but a bigger desire. Everyday I think about having children. I believe that's my reason on earth is to give life. I was just diagnosed last March and I struggle constantly with what's going on in my own head day to day. I don't think its selfish. I mean you don't see people with cancer encouraging others not to conceive?! You don't see other alcoholics or drug addicts telling others not to conceive?! So, why should not have an equal opportunity to have children as well because i have anxiety, adhd, and bipolar and depression. I hate hearing the words "You Cant do it too" it makes me want to do it more. Its hell being me. I constantly wonder whether my partner will try and take my kids and call me unfit because of my depression and mood swings. Constantly concerned about what pregnancy will do to my body and brain. BUT,I want to have children. I too deserve it too. I know the chances of my child having bipolar goes up because I have it too. I guess that since I have it and my twin sister has bipolar my mom had depression and bipolar disorder. I'am constantly worried because of all the anxiety. That's why we have support groups but that doesn't take away the worries of postpartum depression. The most exciting thought I have is seeing my baby that I made grow and develop. I constantly think how precious! I will do all in my power to make sure that my baby/child develops as healthy as possible. I want to be the best mom out there. I guess part of my desire besides hormonal is because I don't know my real parents. I was adopted at 10months so I don't know the whole story just bits and pieces but I know in my heart I want my own child. I don't want my children to struggle like there mommy. I want them to be proud of me and I want them to be strong individually. There are a couple things I have to do first before I produce. 1 work on myself inside and out. 2. love myself some more. 3. Don't be afraid of doing parenthood on my own. I'm still a good mom even if I do it alone(terrified of becoming a single, unmarried mom, I was raised like that I really needed Dad there.!) 4. I can do this! 5. Get myself support. 5. Find a great, supportive, attentive, respectful, and great husband/father. 6. Stop thinking about babies now and focus on getting finances, house, and steps to starting a great career! I have a lot of work to do. I have to focus on getting "babies" off my brain. darn hormones...... This year I'm doing community service so I can't afford to make babies now.... Or for like the next couple years. But, all and all yes I still have a strong desire to have children and no I don't think its selfish knowing I have a mental illness

What a interestng question.
I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder about 45 years ago..My life has been suffering and dillusions ever since.I had my son at 20 with my heroin addicted husband..he was raised mainly by my parents..He turned out to be an amazing person with a business known around the world.No bipolar disorder..but my grand-daughter 10 now has ADHD.I am terified she will be bi-polar..so the fear is always there..but I can't imagine my life without my son'

I always doubted that I would have children, in fact I vowed that I would not. I did not do this because of any risk of continuing the bipolar gene [as it is in each generation], but because the world can be such a trying place in which to exist.
Now I am pregnant & can finally say that, despite still believing in my original sentiment, I know I have more Love & stronger values to share than lots of so called 'parents' might. Self awareness goes along way, especially with my bipolar1 & what with was an almost successful suicide attempt, at least for a couple of hours before months, behind me.
My child will know & feel that it is loved & supported.
Is it China where individuals with mental health issue's are forced to abort a pregnancy? Great minds have been born of bipolar; Kay Redfield Jamison has listed many such individuals in her writings & she too has bipolar1. Jamison is also one of the leading, expert, psychologist experts on bipolar disorder. She is world renowned.
I understand your choices as individuals, but with any life comes responsibility & the fact that parents are forcing babies into an existence which might, one way or another, kill them.
Some of those parents, however, are awful.
I would much rather have mentally ill parents than awful ones and the two, it must be said, do NOT necessarily go hand in hand.
Elisabeth, august the 26th, I shake your hand and lets just think positive thoughts for these individuals and for a day when they might question their earlier choices...

I made the decision at some point that I was not well enough to be a mother, nor could I see myself coming off of meds for a pregnancy. I didn't find the right man either, but wasn't looking for "father material." That said, some of the genes that can set us up for mental illness can probably also have good benefits, too, which is why evolution let them stick around. Wouldn't it have been a great thing if George Bush was a little more negative and realized we could never win the wars in Iraq and Afghanastan before we went in? If we breed out mental illness, we might find that we breed out many exceptional people. And on a personal note- even though I have exquisitely painful depressions in which I have tried to kill myself, that while I have wanted to die, I'm not sure that I can truly say that I wish I had never existed. At least there was a me. If I were to kill myself, my choice. But at least I had a choice, a chance. The babies that I am not having, will have no choice at all.

A. If I'd known beforehand that both my parents were and I am (and I'm not sure how many of my 4 siblings!) I might have thought about the subject very briefly.
B. As my wonderful husband once told me ...if it wasn't for people like us who think differently there would be no inventors, artists, mad scientists, etc., and the world would be a lot worse place.
So the answer is probably ....YES!

In some parts of India a girl child is less than a boy child. Defective, if you like. For this reason it is illegal for the doctor to tell the parents the sex of the baby, or else the child would be aborted in case of being a girl. Now this seems like an extreme example to someone outside the culture, and you would argue, of course this girl deserves a chance of life, just as much as a boy. It has nothing to do with mental illness, that's totally different, you would say. I want to know, how, exactly is it different? The girl child, and her family, suffer because of her female condition, in that culture. And bipolars suffer as much because of the culture we are in, as from the illness itself. The future looks bright for bipolars. Better drugs are being developed all the time, and community understanding is improving, slowly. Why doesn't a bipolar child deserve a chance at life? I like to think that, overall my genes are superior to some of the population. But we all have some defects.
Just because you have suffered so badly, every day, doesn't mean that your child will suffer in the same way. It is not a sentence for torture.

Wow, what a question! I have to be honest and say that my first response would be no, I would never take that chance. Then again, I wouldn't have my two beautiful children (one that I am concerned about for her future). We found out my husband has bipolar disorder when our girls were 9 and 11 years old, less than six months ago. I hope they do not ever have to suffer the way he has.
To be honest, I don't believe he and I have a "normal" relationship, and there are a LOT of things I have to overlook in order to keep this marriage going. Bipolar is a very selfish, and at times dishonest, disorder. Although I am understanding of that now I'm not sure I would have chosen this if I wasn't already committed to my husband for 12 years before we found out about his illness. Up until now I've had times I just thought he was a major jerk, and I thought many times about leaving. I know it kills my husband to know that his illness has caused me such pain. I don't that I would expect another person to put themselves through the things I've been through to stay with my children if they do wind up having bipolar disorder in the future.
Therefore, I would not have a child if I had the knowledge that he or she would develop bipolar disorder. It hurts too many people, and that would just seem selfish to me.

I had three children before I knew I was bipolar, and they are in their thirties now. No bipolar or depression, thank God. To have a child live any part of the horrible life I had would be a terrible thing to do. So when the woman I was seeing mentioned having kids, and she has bipolar too, I told her I'd have a vasectomy first. Now a study is out (Nature mag.) about older men causing children to be born with autism or schitzophrenia, and I will have that done. I'm a virile 59.

Very interesting post. My three kids were born decades before I was diagnosed bipolar and PTSD. Although I had suspected there was something "different" about me since I was a kid myself, it never crossed my mind there was something to be inherited. It's only with hindsight that I realise one side of my family has had mental problems for generations. Unfortunately, all three of my kids have some psych troubles themselves; one has 4 or 5 diagnoses. When you roll a die, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I have no idea what I would do if I had the choice of fathering kids, knowing what I know now.

AJ French,
"Enduring hardship" is not all the same. People suffering every day is not the same thing as people who undergo their parent's divorce and it's insulting you would equate the two. I have been through both and they do not compare on any level.
While bipolar disorder is different for different people, for many it's a life-long crippling disability and in some cases it takes away almost everything a person has. It is not to be trifled about. Now, whether, you, personally, think having a child who would be in the situation is reasonable, is up to you, but it is no small amount of suffering to be sure.
And no, this isn't a "dangerous" discussion - it's a rational one. People can come down on either side of the argument but it's not about who is "deserving" of life it's deciding what is the best decision of you and your unborn child given a theoretical situation.
And it's a very real discussion people have every day in their real lives when facing the possibility of having children.
- Natasha Tracy

absolutely I would have this child. we all suffer. and, if you had prior knowledge of impending bipolar disorder, it is going to be much easier to manage, and to prevent some of the issues we bipolars face.

Well, where do we draw the line? Since persons with bipolar endure hardship, the conclusion (you've given) is we should spare the non-existant "child" the suffering. What about children who will suffer from divorce? Divorce is not predictable, but statistically more likely than having bipolar. Should we not have children to spare "them" the pain of divorce?
Whether or not to have and parent a child is a personal decision and, although we have freedom of speech, a rather dangerous discussion. It is reminscent of conversations that occurred during the WW II era. Who is deserving of life?

I'm bipolar and my husband has major depression. We have been blessed with three boys,all born before either of us was diagnosed. We would have still had children anyways. So far, none of them have developed any symptoms of a mental illness. They are in their mid to late 20's. It really is a dice roll when it comes to genetics and inheritance.

I am 65 and have been diagnosted schizophrenic. My mother also was institutionalized twice. At the time I had to decide, I had been institutionalized twice. There was at that time uncertaintanty about how important genetics was. Obviously I had to realize I could very well pass on my curse. Partly because I was also illegitimate and wanted a family I truly belonged to completely, because my mother seemed to have been effectively treated and because I was doing well at the time; I became a father. I have three children, two over thirty and one over twenty and none of them have had any trouble so far. Had I known they would inherit mental illness at that time I probably would have had children anyway believing that they could and would be effectively treated and have decent lives. Now after more than thirty years of deinstitutionalization and insisitence on civil liberties even for people in no condition to make sound, rational decisions due to psychosis, my decision would be harder and probably different. This is because the odds that they would recieve the treatment they needed are much worse now than they were for my mother and I in the fifties and sixties.