Laura, I know you'll do an awesome job with your son! In my mom's case, she wasn't diagnosed until just two years ago. So she lived through over 65 years suffering from the devastating cycles of this disorder, not knowing how ill she was, and existing in complete denial. That's why I mentioned that she really shouldn't have had children. You, on the other hand, are empowered with knowledge and you are doing incredibly courageous and insightful work on yourself. I'm sure you're a great mom.
I've suffered from horrible, chronic depression for much of my life (don't you just love genetics?!?), but because of the experience of being the daughter of someone who was mentally ill but didn't seek help, I've worked really hard to break out of that cycle and become healthy so I wouldn't be the kind of mother my mom was. It can be scary, because sometimes I doubt myself. But, like you said -- "all we can do is our best with what we are given." And I think often we have a lot more strength, deep inside and untouched by mental illness, than we realize.
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Laura, I know you'll do an awesome job with your son! In my mom's case, she wasn't diagnosed until just two years ago. So she lived through over 65 years suffering from the devastating cycles of this disorder, not knowing how ill she was, and existing in complete denial. That's why I mentioned that she really shouldn't have had children. You, on the other hand, are empowered with knowledge and you are doing incredibly courageous and insightful work on yourself. I'm sure you're a great mom.
I've suffered from horrible, chronic depression for much of my life (don't you just love genetics?!?), but because of the experience of being the daughter of someone who was mentally ill but didn't seek help, I've worked really hard to break out of that cycle and become healthy so I wouldn't be the kind of mother my mom was. It can be scary, because sometimes I doubt myself. But, like you said -- "all we can do is our best with what we are given." And I think often we have a lot more strength, deep inside and untouched by mental illness, than we realize.
March 26, 2009 - 8:50pmThis Comment
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