Do you ever feel like your gfg's issues have created mental health issues in yourself

[whatamess]

I came across a teacher who thought her students with autism had a high proportion of parents with bipolar. I keep thinking to myself the anxiety, fears and emotional roller coasters our gfg's take us on cause the appearance of mental health disorders or actually do promote the beginning of mental health issues. With my gfg, his moods permeate the entire house- when he is in a bad place, everyone suffers.
Do you feel you have any mental health issues as a direct result of your gfg's issues?

[DaisyFace]

To rephrase--

Are you asking whether living with a GFG makes parents feel crazy?

YES!!!!!

I think that about answers that...

--DaisyFace

[Dammit Janet]

There is a saying that goes:

Insanity isnt inherited, you get it from your kids.

But in all seriousness, there is a huge genetic component to mental illness and neurological conditions. As we find out more about mental illnesses, we are going to find out that they are actually not "mental" illness but that they are all based on neurobiological conditions. Its all a physical medical condition. Already they are finding out that certain genes hold the keys for autism, bipolar and schizophrenia. Obviously with that information it leaves no doubt that if a parent has bipolar, it is no surprise that a child of that parent is at risk of having a condition that stems from that same gene. Just science.

[MICHL]

I totally agree. I recently upped by antidepressant and what a relief, I'm doing better. It can all be so overwhelming.

[Shari]

I can't even begin to tell you the crazy feelings I am having lately. Wee going back to school, pc2 being a horse's behind, DH being a mule's behind, and a little tiff with gfg1's wife...well....today I'm fighting a lot of ugly notions about myself.

[gcvmom]

Absolutely! My depression/anxiety issues were brought to a head because of the stresses from dealing with two gfg-kids and a gfg-DH. AND these issue have been further nurtured and cultivated over the years because of the on-going gfg-ness in my house.

All I can say is thank goodness for my psychiatrist and my meds!

[Mom2oddson]

Absolutely. Dealing with my GFGs and GFG MIL has brought on issues like anxiety and depression for me. Beyond just mental illness type things, it's really changed me in other ways.

I used to be very trusting. I always believed in the best of people. If I saw an ugly side it was because something was going wrong in their life at this moment...they weren't truly that way. Never thought people would go out of their way to hurt others. Now, I almost expect it. It was just a couple of months ago that I told DH I didn't like who I have become. Been working on those issues with the Pdoc.

[StepTo2]

I would wholeheartedly agree. I have had a few episodes of minor depression, once as a teen (surprise!) and when I moved 800 miles away with XH (also a GFG). Then I was fine for years... Until the whole mess with Onyxx, Jett and DH. So I would say the stressors can, if not cause, then exacerbate existing conditions.

To clarify just a little - minor depression, untreated by meds, mostly situational stuff. Add stress and it got really, really bad. My parents say they have never seen me like this.

[flutterby]

Certainly raising kids with a mental illness is stressful and can lead to depression, anxiety, etc.

Actually, patients with bipolar disorder ARE statistically more likely to have a child on the spectrum than the general population (according to a former pdoc).

[StepTo2]

HMMMM... Not to diagnose but with anger issues, etc. perhaps this is why the delayed development with Jett and behavioral stuff with Onyxx?????

...Not me... DH & BM.