[Can't Stop Crying]

I feel so broken. Even if I pick up all the pieces, I don't know if I'll ever put them back together right. I spent years working on my mental health issues and was to the point where I could function undetected. Now both my sons are having issues with depression/anxiety. My boys are my reason to get up in the morning. I am worn out and feel so helpless. I feel like I did this to them, like I'm contaminated and everything I touch I destroy. I want my children to have peace and contentment. How can I teach them something I have never known?

[Don't touch me]

I think it's best to get them help asap. And don't blame yourself, you can't help your genes. Some things just happen...

[Emotional Ninja]

Please read my profile about me and then read this message. Do Not Blame yourself. You all just got a crappy role of the genetic dice. My entire family (on both sides) covers just about every mental illness so far discovered (and a few I think we invented). My young friend is right. Get help for them and support for yourself as soon as possible. But, lose the guilt. You didn't ask for any of this and you're doing your best to cope. I really admire you for that. My daughter has ASPD. She actually got that one from her father. Really ironic when I think about everything I could have passed on. Anyway, ASPD makes for a real fun time. She's 32 now, still lives with me and my severely schizophrenic sister. You know the really crazy part? We probably laugh in one day more than most households in a week. We make fun of ourselves all the time. If I can be of any help anytime you PM me. Trust me, if it's crazy in some form I've either lived with it or seen it up close and personal. All the best in the world. AND DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF. Love to be your friend.

[Leed]

Hi Dearheart ~ Ninja is right. You haven't "damaged" your children. It's in the genes!! All this stuff is inherited. Sure, SOME of it might be environmental, but certainly not ALL. I've been severely depressed since i was a child but NEITHER of my kids are -- so if it was all environmental, they'd have it for sure!!! I've been taking antidepressants for as long as I can remember too.

Of course you want your kids to be healthy and have peace and contentment ~ we all want that. I'm sure you did your VERY BEST to assure that for your kids. But just because they have depression/anxiety doesn't mean that they can't have those things. Make sure they see a therapist to find out what is bothering them and get them on the correct medication (if needed) and hopefully things will be fine!! If you catch this in the early stages, they won't have to go thru YEARS of therapy like I did.

And please ~ do NOT feel guilty -- this is NOT your fault!!! Two perfectly normal people can have a child with all kinds of mental issues!! And just because they have depression/anxiety doesn't make them "abnormal" either - I didn't mean to imply that.
Take care and God bless. Hugs, Lee

[madisgram]

oh i think you are a most caring mother. there are so many good rx's out there now for what your boys' symptoms are. i hope they can see a professional for dx and treatment . like u said your dx with prof. help enables you to be functional and pretty much undetected. the same can occur for your boys.
one of my sons has a severely paranoid schiz. father. they believe there's a genetic component. i spoke to my T and pdoc re my concern for that son. turns out he's a-ok and is 40 now.
you haven't caused their conditions. you haven't "contaminated" them, imho. it's the roll of the dice like they say. hugs. ...and keep us posted, k?