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On my side. It's very scary and it worries me a lot; I hope my kids never have to deal with these issues, but we probably won't know either way until they're much older.

Yes, however I hate to see it still being referred to as mental illness. I personally have Aspergers and know that it makes a huge difference in a person's life to know that loved ones support you through something and see you as no less vs seeing it as an "illness" to stigmatize. Okay, stepping off my soapbox now.

@spaniellove: In my experience, it has felt like the people who have been diagnosed with the illness are the ones who seem to make a big deal out of it and use it as an excuse to check out of life.... I'm glad to hear that you don't let it hold you back like that.

@spaniellove: But my understanding is that it is an illness, they have medication to help it. MrBee isn't using it in a negative way at all, but I mean, what else is there to call it?

@spaniellove: Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?

@mrbee: Completely agreed. Depression is very serious, and something not to take lightly.

I am very lucky, but there is not much mental illness on either of our sides if any. No one on my side of the family has been diagnosed with anything, and with DH side, I don't believe so either. We are very fortunate.

Thankfully no, however there is distant alcoholism on both sides (cousin on DH and great grandfather on my side.)

I actually don't know about my side. I was adopted, and I've gotten in contact with my birth mother so I know there's nothing on her side, but we know nothing about my birth father. I do have a history of severe depressive disorders, generalized anxiety, and manic episodes (though they were triggered by medication), as well as alcoholism and addiction. Soooo I'm willing to wager there's some of that in my genetic history.

DH's mom went through a period of depression and agoraphobia when he was young, so I'm not sure if it's deeper in his family or not.

With my issues, I'm just hoping I don't pass anything along.

And I would call depression a mental illness, yes. I require treatment and medical oversight, as well as medication when I'm able to. It's more than just being "blue" -- I'm literally delusional when I'm depressed, I'm paranoid and I think people are out to get me and nobody likes me and I want to die. I wouldn't say somebody who has mild situational depression because of a death, other life circumstances, etc. is mentally ill. But for me, yes, I have a mental illness.

@mrbee: I think we're both getting at the same thing here, that this is a valid medical condition.

We live in a time when science is moving towards a better understanding of psych disorders as having a neurological/chemical basis, with appropriate treatments, but the language and common understanding haven't caught up yet and that needs to change. Hopefully in all the terms floating around they will pick one that works. (As an example, MR is being dropped in favor of "intellectual disability".)

My paternal grandmother had Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. My paternal grandfather had alcoholism. My dad's uncle has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I was diagnosed with PTSD after I was raped 10 years ago. So there is a fair amount on my side of the family. Hubs' side doesn't have anything officially, but there are definitely some undiagnosed disorders floating around in there. The two social workers and the psych grad student in the family all agree on that!

@spaniellove: I agree with you about stigmatization and negative images being associated with mental illness, and I wish there was a way to correct this in our society. However, like others have pointed out, things like Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia, etc, are illnesses that require proper diagnosis, treatment, and, in many cases, medication. Just like cancer or end-stage renal disease. There is a big difference between someone being depressed and someone having MDD. What else would you propose calling them?

On my side there's a lot of depression and dh is adopted but we know his birthmom is bipolar.

@spaniellove: Sorry, I must have missed your suggestion of disorders! I agree that that terminology could be appropriate, as well, if only our society could accept the fact that these illnesses/disorders are real and not "in their heads" as far too many people claim. I wasn't disagreeing with you, just trying to better understand.

ETA: I, for one, am a big proponent of using person-first phrasing, like saying "She has Bipolar" or "He has Schizophrenia" rather than the more common "He's schizophrenic." But it's a battle I've been fighting for 10+ years and not getting anywhere. Just keep fighting the good fight!

My mothers mother was schitzophrenic, my father is manic-depressive, my sister is a depressive and i have ADHD. My husbands mom is on anti depressents. she suffers from anxiety. My husband and his father both are not diagnosed with anything but have anger management issues. neither are physically violent or abusive but both are prone to unreasonable levels of anger and impatience that can lead to rude verbal outbursts and irrational behavior. I personally feel like most people deal with some form of something so growing up with awareness is gonna help us to manage anything that comes up for our child.

Yes, depression. From me. I hope LO grows up to avoid this!

@Rubies: I think you misunderstood my point.

@Rubies: I'm saying this from having been there too, in ways that almost took my life. When we say "illness" unfortunately the images it evokes are not technical and medical; for a lot of people it implies old-school, "in one's head", sicknesses. And we need to move on from that - clinical depression is not made up, it's not something to "get over".

When I tried to get help for my depression as a teenager, my parents refused, saying that being labeled mentally ill would ruin my life forever. My school counselor had to tell them that no, dying from depression ruins your life forever. Ideas like theirs aren't going to change no matter what the terminology, but I can't stand the thought that such stigmatized language is keeping people from getting the help they need.