should she be assessed ?

[Melissa1929]

My daughter is only 7 right now , but I have bipolar disorder that causes me to struggle a lot in life . Her fathers side of family are all against it that I'm just paranoid n like insulted if I bring it up .... I just would like to know if there are any signs , so I can remember n try n learn how to deal with them n teach her to deal with things . I don't want her to have the life I had , fought like hell to just function in life.

[pippistrelle]

Understandably, you're worried about your daughter's future, but I think there's a big dose of projecting going on here. Is there anything about your daughter's behaviour that gives you or her father particle cause for concern? If not, then just try to remember that your daughter is not you. That doesn't mean that you can't find out what early warning signs might be, but you can do that without involving her. On the plus side, she has you looking out for her, but in the meantime, any form of assessment sounds unnecessary, and why would you want to impose something unnecessary to soothe your own fears? So, unless you are seeing something beyond normal seven year old behaviour, then please try to let this idea go.

Is the issue, perhaps, that you're not sure what normal seven year old behaviour looks like? If so, there are lots of people to run things past here.

[Melissa1929]

I understand what you are saying , she is just a normal little girl yet , but only years away from when it starts to show , I just want to be able to help her , without her knowing of course , they say its important to be checked early if in family this close , I know if my mom new what was wrong with me would have made life a whole lot easier .

[Melissa1929]

Only thing that I see is she is a lot like me with anxiety . Just not as extreme .

[Melissa1929]

It's just a serious illness that I wouldn't wish on anyone

[pippistrelle]

but only years away from when it starts to show

But there's only a small chance that she will have this illness, and a much, much bigger chance that she will not.