need some advice

Hello there all. I am new to this forum and I suffer from depression with psychotic features, agoraphobia and post traumatic stress disorder. Having a mental illness is something within itself but when you add children to the mix it gets that much harder. I would like to know if someone would give me some ideas on telling my children about my illness so they might be able to understand me a little better or do I just not say anything?

Hi there, I think it totally depends on your kids ages for the level of understanding they would have and how it could be best explained to them. I.e. even toddlers can have things explained to them in a simplified manner. But like I said, it depends on your kids ages and their level of understanding.

How old are your children?

I too agree that telling your kids and what you tell them has a lot do with their ages........ we now await your answer.

BTW - my two boys learned about me and some of what I went thru when I had my mental break down eleven years ago....... but to this day they have never been told about my DID.

I try not to let them know I hide my meds etc they are ten eight seven and three, I have older ones aged 19 and 18 who are aware that I am ill but are only recently finding out the hows and whys.

I try hard to let my children live a life of innocent childhood many will think I am wrong but it has worked well with my younger ones as I let my older ones know about my illness from the symtoms alone, I was not a good parent to them and failed them but as I have learned more about my condition I am learning to adjust it to suit having children and taking time out which is a God send.

I personally treat it the same way I treat sex education with them which is if they ask the question I think they are entitled to an answer befiting their age.

Perhaps you T can help advise how to tell your children based upon their ages ??

They are ages 13, 10, 8 ,7, 3, and 2 mos. I know that the younger ones wont understand but I worry about the oldest four.