Parenting & children
Mental illness not only affects the individual with the condition, but will often have major consequences and implications for family members, and for someones relationships and family life in general.
This section looks to discuss some of the issues that mental illness can create within relationships and family life and the implications involved especially in regards to having and raising children.
Relationships
Relationships are an area of life that many people will find are impacted on by a mental illness. This can be as a result of changes to someone's mood or symptoms of the illness such as delusions or paranoia which can lead to altering the way you behave.
For many people such changes can be difficult to deal and cope with. Mental illness and the effects of this on someone are well known for knocking confidence, and in some cases shattering peoples self-esteem - both of which can make starting new relationships, or maintaining existing ones, very difficult.
Having children & parenthood
Having children brings new stresses and pressures for any couple, but there are further complications from pregnancy through to parenthood for people with a mental illness.
But having children and a successful family life is just as possible for someone with a mental health problem as anyone else - by getting informed about the potential difficulties and preventative steps you can take, you can give yourself and your family the best chance for a happy and healthy environment.
