Feeling guilty for not knowing...

[3Trees]

...that Bi-polar is linked to inflated risk of ASDs.

I am Bi-polar, and I knew my child would be at higher risk of being Bi-polar, I also knew from DPs history that ds' risk of ASDs would be elevated, but now I know that it was TWICE elevated, so, I feel like his issues are MY fault!

I know, it makes little difference and there is no point ascribing fault, and really all I need are some good strategies, and we'll get along just fine, and, with the billion things that can happen in the formation of a person, this one is a small problem. But I still feel guilty.

dont feel guilty,my sons in process of asd diagnosis,my ex has family history of bi-polar,i didnt realise there was link,think about how many asd children there are,some have no family history/(medical link) ,they can still get asd xx

Don't feel guilty please I beat myself up for a ling time that dd medical stuff is my fault as is genetic it's only now I learnt

I think that guilt is the biggest part of being a mother, I have spent the last 3 years feeling guilty it's all my fault etc. I am now trying to let it go because it's ruining my life and the enjoyment I should be getting from my fabulous unique boy.

Easier said than done I know. I have considered some counselling has anyone else done this and did it help?

Probably doesn't help you but your not alone.

Good luck. xx

Is it? How did you find out?

My mum and sister are both bipolar (runaway bigamous grandfather possibly also had some underlying condition rather than just being That Man We Don't Mention), and we have one definite and one poss ASD, but no one has ever mentioned a link, so I'm curious.

This oe is very complex, but looks at links on a genetic level
genomemedicine.com/content/pdf/gm102.pdf

and this one is the major research from 1994 that most more recent pieces cite.
neuro.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/16/2/199

Hope that helps.

Thanks -- will read later!

(((hug)))

See, when you write your story, I can SEE that it is NOT your fault, and that you are just doing what you are doing / what needs, more than what needs etc etc etc but when it's me, I don't know how I feel really.

For SOME reason I am cross that this piece of information wasn't one we considered and worked through etc, like some of the others.

It's not even like it makesa difference.

What I especially am, is cross with my family, cos I KNOW others in my family are bipolar (without diagnosis, cos they don't believe in diagnosis, or even the existence of such things as psychiatric issues OR ASD) and woud be very surprised if my sister doesn't have some form of ASD.

Hugs for you all. Starlight, I know you are a lean, mean, fighting machine for your DS - well done.

We all feel responsible and guilty. I was fobbed off and let them. I probably gave DD the brain malformation she has because I had 2 viruses that got me signed off work for 4 weeks, then 5 weeks in early pregnancy.

I have to live with the fact that it was probably those viruses which fried her brain. Nothing that can be done now, it is fried and we have to deal with it forever.

Sorry, DLA forms have a cunning way of pointing out every difficulty in x10 magnification, don't they

Oh Star I started a thread asking for news, but have just seen this. It takes a long time, doesn't it? I don't know how you are managing to breathe. Mind you, you'd be no good to MasterStarlight if you didn't, would you