You know it is funny....with my first three children, as they entered the teenage agnst period I told them what I had dealt with.....deep depression, suicide attempts, long hospitalizations, etc. I told them that people would tell them that these were the best years of their life...but they were probably the most difficult. I tried to give them coping tools..and it worked for them. With my youngest..well she seemed to have the world by the tail.....I never shared my story with her ... At 13 she was diagnosed with major depression with psychotic features....mine at that age was schizophrenia...but essentially we have the same illness. Now, when my depression returns...I am required to have "therapy" to get an adjustments to my meds...if I express a negative thought, a self doubt so to speak, the therapist will say...."well you had to learn that response somewhere...what were your parents, your home life like?".... Well that just reinforces the fact to me that I and only I caused that mental illness in my daughter.... so when she was in therapy...I guess that is what they said to her too... My home life was crappy. ...but I tried so hard with my own children... My daughter? She is doing well, in college, currently trying it without meds (not my choice) but she has a good relationship with her doctor. So I now if I am faced with nature v. nurture. question...well I can see both sides I guess.. it is just that I hate what I did or didn't do........ that caused my own daughter's illness. I hate having to relive my past too....everytime my depression returns Oh well, thanks for all the responses...they were all great!