H’s DD diagnosed. I’m kinda freaking out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make sure your child understands that due to her genetics, it’s ESPECIALLY important that she never uses marijuana as a teen or early twentysomething.

Lots of studies on the link, but here’s just one: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/teens-who-smoke-pot-at-risk-for-later-schizophrenia-psychosis-201103071676

I’m so sorry your husband kept his family’s medical history from you. I would feel that my trust were shattered—either in his honesty, or in his intelligence (if he really didn’t think you would want to know).

Op I do really want to second this. Please please share this with your child and educate them over time. Multiple drs have confirmed my cousins orginal psychosis, now schizophrenia, was triggered by marijuana use as a teen. It is not a joke and if you have some predisposition you should be very careful there.

As others have said I’m sure your child will be ok, though I completely understand your stress. But just wanted to second this to make sure you see it as I was unaware and now will be educating my children on it as well.

[Anonymous]

I’m a pp but wanted to add- make sure you don’t talk negatively about mental health or your child’s sibling as they are growing up. If they have any sense that you or their father would disapprove they may not share any concerns or initial symptoms with you for fear of judgement (in the very, very unlikely case they did have schizophrenia)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just wanted to sympathize. I had an aunt who was schizophrenic and I do worry about my children. I’m not sure that it’s something they can genetically test for so I don’t think there’s much you can do. just hope for the best I know what signs to look out for at what ages.

+1 my uncle has it and I take the same approach. I come from a large family and he is the only one in his generation who has it. The next 2 generations, no one has it. The youngest generation is 6-20 years old.

This is so interesting to me because I’ve just realized I don’t worry about this.

My uncle doesn’t have an official diagnosis, but he is very mentally ill and probably has some sort of schizoid personality. I always heard he did a ton of drugs in his youth and that triggered it. No one else in the family is mentally ill, except for things like mild depression or anxiety.

Pp you responded to. My uncle was brilliant and sailed through law school at the top of his class. He never used drugs or even alcohol. Shortly after passing the bar, he had a psychotic break. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He never practiced law or even worked. He lives in a group home and is fine, all things considered. I asked my dad if there were any signs early on and he said my uncle was strange as a teenager. They thought nothing of it because of his high intelligence. I don't soend my life worrying if my kids will have it, but I do keep an eye out for signs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP it's more concerning that he didn't tell you about his sister till now. And that you don't feel comfortable discussing a medical issue with a doctor while he is present. Couples counseling might be good before baby comes. Parenting together is a whole other ballgame.

I really, REALLY agree with this. The sister is a significant thing. It's really weird he didn't bring this up. Even if only to say... "I don't have much of a relationship with my sister, due to the difficulties surrounding her mental health."

[Anonymous]

OP, look into the Baylor genetic testing for it. Not pre-seek-there is a specialty test if you request it. It's in a specialty panel that cost about $1k.

Another way to start is if you have the raw data downloaded from 23&me and upload it into Promethease. Sort the results.

I would take/eat lots of choline and vitD for sure. Thorne has good options. Add omega-3's. You can find a lot of research on these related to preventing schizophrenia. Discuss with your doctor.

My MIL hid the same information from her children (and DILs) because she knew nobody in their right mind would have children with the severity found in both her and her husband's family history. Obviously there is a lot of resentment about withholding this kind of important medical information.

As a DIL, it feels like a huge bait and switch since she repeatedly lied about it and knew we were interested in having children. She even married FIL knowing he was diagnosed schizophrenic from age 14 so it isn't like she didn't know when they initially got together mid to late 20's.

The other DIL and BIL have had lots of issues with their children. It may not be avoidable but they didn't research or even bother to try educating themselves in any way about the condition, prevention, etc.

SO & I have done everything related to FIL after he went completely off (meds no longer work at all) and MIL unexpectedly dumped him on us when we were very early 20's. We had no idea what was happening or why and it was difficult to navigate the legal system. I will absolutely not caretake for anyone with schizophrenia ever again.

Schizophrenia has a very high heritability rate so educate yourself as much as possible. Even if they end up with the genetic predisposition it still needs to be triggered by the environment. Avoid getting the flu as much as possible because that is a huge risk factor.

Find out when the sister was diagnosed and any other relatives. See a good genetic counselor. Make a game plan and consider your options if your child is also affected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP it's more concerning that he didn't tell you about his sister till now. And that you don't feel comfortable discussing a medical issue with a doctor while he is present. Couples counseling might be good before baby comes. Parenting together is a whole other ballgame.

I really, REALLY agree with this. The sister is a significant thing. It's really weird he didn't bring this up. Even if only to say... "I don't have much of a relationship with my sister, due to the difficulties surrounding her mental health."

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just wanted to sympathize. I had an aunt who was schizophrenic and I do worry about my children. I’m not sure that it’s something they can genetically test for so I don’t think there’s much you can do. just hope for the best I know what signs to look out for at what ages.

+1 my uncle has it and I take the same approach. I come from a large family and he is the only one in his generation who has it. The next 2 generations, no one has it. The youngest generation is 6-20 years old.

This is so interesting to me because I’ve just realized I don’t worry about this.

My uncle doesn’t have an official diagnosis, but he is very mentally ill and probably has some sort of schizoid personality. I always heard he did a ton of drugs in his youth and that triggered it. No one else in the family is mentally ill, except for things like mild depression or anxiety.

Pp you responded to. My uncle was brilliant and sailed through law school at the top of his class. He never used drugs or even alcohol. Shortly after passing the bar, he had a psychotic break. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He never practiced law or even worked. He lives in a group home and is fine, all things considered. I asked my dad if there were any signs early on and he said my uncle was strange as a teenager. They thought nothing of it because of his high intelligence. I don't soend my life worrying if my kids will have it, but I do keep an eye out for signs.

Yes, my uncle was an engineer. Very smart. Worked for a few years but then lost his job and came home to work in the family business. He did a job that was very very solitary. He was quiet and awkward as a teen.

[Anonymous]

Keep your kid the F away from marijuana

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:here's one http://schizophrenia.com/prev1.htm

So, 96-97% chance your child won't have it

By that same token there was a 96-97% chance his older daughter wouldn't have it too. And yet.

I'd be concerned that it's more rampant in the family than just his sister and daughter. What about his parents, aunts, uncles, etc? If he was hiding a sibling with schizophrenia from his new wife, I would assume that he's pretty comfortable treating the unwell people in his family tree as dirty secrets that don't get mentioned. That's a pretty major thing not to ever come up in conversation.

Having schizophrenia alone doesn't ruin your life. If you catch it early you can nip it in the bud with a moderate dose of antipsychotics. I've even heard of someone being able to go off them. What will really F you over is schizophrenia + drug addiction +/- life trauma

Marijuana use before mid 20s ups the schizophrenia risk.

OP should speak to a child psychiatrist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, look into the Baylor genetic testing for it. Not pre-seek-there is a specialty test if you request it. It's in a specialty panel that cost about $1k.

Another way to start is if you have the raw data downloaded from 23&me and upload it into Promethease. Sort the results.

I would take/eat lots of choline and vitD for sure. Thorne has good options. Add omega-3's. You can find a lot of research on these related to preventing schizophrenia. Discuss with your doctor.

My MIL hid the same information from her children (and DILs) because she knew nobody in their right mind would have children with the severity found in both her and her husband's family history. Obviously there is a lot of resentment about withholding this kind of important medical information.

As a DIL, it feels like a huge bait and switch since she repeatedly lied about it and knew we were interested in having children. She even married FIL knowing he was diagnosed schizophrenic from age 14 so it isn't like she didn't know when they initially got together mid to late 20's.

The other DIL and BIL have had lots of issues with their children. It may not be avoidable but they didn't research or even bother to try educating themselves in any way about the condition, prevention, etc.

SO & I have done everything related to FIL after he went completely off (meds no longer work at all) and MIL unexpectedly dumped him on us when we were very early 20's. We had no idea what was happening or why and it was difficult to navigate the legal system. I will absolutely not caretake for anyone with schizophrenia ever again.

Schizophrenia has a very high heritability rate so educate yourself as much as possible. Even if they end up with the genetic predisposition it still needs to be triggered by the environment. Avoid getting the flu as much as possible because that is a huge risk factor.

Find out when the sister was diagnosed and any other relatives. See a good genetic counselor. Make a game plan and consider your options if your child is also affected.

Being pregnant over the winter too, forget which trimester, they think its due to flu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a nightmare I’m sorry. Currently raising a teenager with mental illness and a learning disability — genetic links were covered up during my marriage to her father. It is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. 10/10 do not recommend

You’re living my life only a few years behind me. I’m sorry. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done too and it never seems to get easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make sure your child understands that due to her genetics, it’s ESPECIALLY important that she never uses marijuana as a teen or early twentysomething.

Lots of studies on the link, but here’s just one: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/teens-who-smoke-pot-at-risk-for-later-schizophrenia-psychosis-201103071676

I’m so sorry your husband kept his family’s medical history from you. I would feel that my trust were shattered—either in his honesty, or in his intelligence (if he really didn’t think you would want to know).

+1 about marijuana use is adolescence. There are also some studies looking at other ways to reduce risk in kids who have a high genetic risk-certain antioxidants, for example. The great likelihood is that your child will not have it but I would be worried if I were you also because it can be such a heartbreaking illness. As your child gets older I would consider meeting with a psychiatrist practicing in an academic setting yourself to talk about the latest in research for high risk kids and signs to watch out for in adolescence. (This is important because early intervention in the prodromal stage of schizophrenia does seem to lead to significantly better outcomes. Parents sometimes mistake the signs and symptoms for teenage angst.) good luck to you and congratulations on the baby!

+2. You will have to make it clear that she can not do drugs or abuse alcohol due to her genetic risk, not just because it’s bad for you and that’s what all parents tell their teens.

I will probably be crucified for saying this, but many kids have their first drug experience at a sleep over, and at a younger age than their parents would suspect.

[Anonymous]

Also, ugh, can't remember where I read this (Scientific American, maybe? Discover?) about two years ago. Here is the takeaway:

It was that once a person has a schitzophrenic break, it's "easier" to have that second break, and then even easier to have the third, etc. Basically, once the pathway is burned in the brain, it becomes easier for the brain to access that pathway. The more times any brain pathway is used, the easier it is to continue using it. Like the first time the path is not there, and has to be hacked into place; it's hard to do. Now it's a trail, it's there but still hard to navigate. Then the more used, the more the trail becomes a road. Continue using it and it's a wider road, then soon it's a highway.

So, IF you can keep someone from having that first schitzophrenic break, then you are really holding off the whole illness. If you can get through that critical period (what, teenage to early 20s) then there is less chance of developing the disease.

The way to get through it is the person has to control their environment so it's less stressful (and no pot etc), and be aware of the warning signs and know how to get help right away, before they have the psychotic break.

So basically, there is a measure of control the individual and their guardians can exert on the situation, which should make you feel a little better about the situation, OP.

Okay I hope that makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Be sure you get sunshine and/or take Vit D

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, ugh, can't remember where I read this (Scientific American, maybe? Discover?) about two years ago. Here is the takeaway:

It was that once a person has a schitzophrenic break, it's "easier" to have that second break, and then even easier to have the third, etc. Basically, once the pathway is burned in the brain, it becomes easier for the brain to access that pathway. The more times any brain pathway is used, the easier it is to continue using it. Like the first time the path is not there, and has to be hacked into place; it's hard to do. Now it's a trail, it's there but still hard to navigate. Then the more used, the more the trail becomes a road. Continue using it and it's a wider road, then soon it's a highway.

So, IF you can keep someone from having that first schitzophrenic break, then you are really holding off the whole illness. If you can get through that critical period (what, teenage to early 20s) then there is less chance of developing the disease.

The way to get through it is the person has to control their environment so it's less stressful (and no pot etc), and be aware of the warning signs and know how to get help right away, before they have the psychotic break.

So basically, there is a measure of control the individual and their guardians can exert on the situation, which should make you feel a little better about the situation, OP.

Okay I hope that makes sense.

+100 agree with every word