A Controversial Topic Regarding Mental Illness

I read a lot of blogs about mental health.

Some topics I agree with and some I don't.

Today, I'm going to raise a controversial topic...

I was recently reading a blog where the author was talking about her three kids. Her oldest daughter is bipolar, her middle daughter suffers from hallucinations and hears voices (no exact diagnosis is given-schizophrenia?) and her youngest son is showing signs of mental illness as well.

So here's where it gets sticky...

You have one child who was born with a mental illness. She will be medicated and see a therapist for the rest of her life.

You have another child who, from the age of 8 months, you know is different. You later learn of her hallucinations and the voices she hears. She throws things, hits and bites when her illness is spinning out of control.

You have a third child who shows signs of mental illness at a young age.

I can understand having a second child but after finding out that second child has a mental illness (as well as the first), you must realize it runs in the family. As a matter of fact, the blog author states there is mental illness in her family, specifically.

My thought is, how does she justify having a third child?

Yes, the odds are against her but at the same time, this child may be completely normal. Whatever normal means. But why risk it? Especially when you know your first two kids are suffering.

I have a problem with this.

Your life becomes nonexistent because your life is there's now. Your special needs children will become special needs adults and so on. Your husband may end up working two or more jobs because you can't hold a job. Your kids can't be placed in daycare because of their needs. Your kids will probably be on Medicaid, which is fine, except that Medicaid is a bitch when it comes to mental illness. Medicaid is even more of a bitch when it comes to medicating your mentally ill child(ren).

Are my kids my life even without mental illness in their lives, specifically? Yes. They are my life but I still have a life. It's hard to put that into words but I know you'll understand what I mean.

My mental illness didn't come into fruition until after I had my third child. It was sparked through postpartum depression. I love my kids but now I fear everyday that at least one of them may develop symptoms of bipolar disorder. Because of me. I don't regret having three kids but had my symptoms shown up earlier, I can say I wouldn't have continued having children.

I couldn't be the one who made one or more ill. Ill for life.

I'm a straight to the point kind of person. This is how I feel.

What's your stance on this controversial topic?