Need Advice on Schizophrenia!

I have a brother who is a paranoid schizophrenic. No one else in my family that we know of has had this mental illness. There is alcoholism and depression in the family. Early signs in my brother were depression and paranoia. My brother's doctor told my M. that my brother was likely born with the gene for schizophrenia, but it typically doesn't manifest until around 19 or 20 years old. My brother was always different, a gifted child who had problems adapting socially. He ended up not being able to finish high school and got his GED instead. The schizophrenic person often seems younger than his age and is limited in what kind of job he would be able to cope with. My brother had the typical problems you hear about: thinking he was abducted by aliens, hallucinating, thinking the family doctor had operated on his brain and that the government was involved, etc... Medication has helped him tremendously. He is also off drugs now. It is common for mentally ill people to also be chemically dependent. My parents went through hell and back with this, and at age 24, my brother still has to live with them. There is the prospect of a mentally ill child living with you forever. Some schizophrenics can also be extremely violent. So I would say that with this family history, you will want to learn all you can about this illness and be on the lookout for the signs, especially toward the late teens. Hope this has given you some of the information you were looking for! Be well, R.

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I think you've already had some pretty wonderful advice from mama's more qualified than I...but as an adoptive M. myself, I thought I'd remind you that you're one of the lucky ones. Knowing your child's medical/biological background is a gift...all i got w/ my children's referrals were estimated ages, weights, and results of HIV/Hep B tests. Sounds like your little 8 month old has alot of positives already in his/her corner.

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I can only imagine how hard this decision is for you. While I don't have any experience with schizoprenia, I can share some information on the speech and physical therapy. My mother was a physical therapist (now retired) who specialized in birth to 3 year olds. She often worked closely with speech therapists. Mostly she saw kids born with birth defects but sometimes there were kids who just weren't developing as "normally" as their doctors felt they should. And there were also kids that had been exposed to drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. So, I don't think PT and speech therapy at 8 months is terribly unusual. This is a tough decision and I wish you all the best!

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You should talk to a doctor about this. Your pediatrician should have some good info. My husband and I adopted our daughter (who is now 8 months old) and we would have said “no” to a situation like this. From what I understood from our doctor, schizophrenia can be a very debilitating disease and is also hereditary. Though it is more common for the disease to appear in the child’s 20’s keep in mind that this will be your child for life. You won’t stop loving her or having a relationship with her once she turns 18. If she is disabled by mental illness later in life, it may still fall to you to take care of her or assist her with decisions. Even if she is not seriously affected it can be heartbreaking to watch your child struggle with a severe mental illness.

I am not saying this is going to happen, but when faced with tough situations like this in adoption I always thought, let’s pretend that I know the child will have this disease. Then you have to ask yourself would you be prepared to parent this child and if you would be the best parent. We said no to a situation that may have involved fetal alcohol syndrome because we didn’t think we would be the best parents for that child. That baby found another family who is prepared to love and care for her and our daughter came home to us. In the end, everything works out and the child that is meant to be yours will be yours.

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Find out what type of schizophrenia it is - your 8 month old might become more sensitive in different areas depending on what kind it is. For example, I taught a child whose M. and dad were paranoid schizophrenic and everything hurt her feelings.

As for your 4 year old's safety and mental well-being, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Schizphrenia normally doesn't manifest until the early 20's.

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Hi,I too have adopted 2 children one age 10 months and a 3 year old they have the same mother different fathers.She too has been in serval mental instatutions for mental health issues,also drugs,how ever our children are 13 yrs old and 10 yrs old they are perfect in every way no problems with any issues from mother.They both are A & B students in school,and very loving.I could not of done a bettre job at birthing them my self I thank this Lady their bialogical mother evry night for them.I guess you just never know what is going to happen years from now,But Iam so very grateful that I did not turn these 2 great kids away because of fear,God know what he does before he even lets us in on it,TRUST HIM IF IT IS MEANT TO BE THEN IT WILL BE. GOD BLESS

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WOW. I am not a medical expert, but before you sign on the dotted line with this child, do some research FIRST.
Talk to a few doctors and pediatricians, get on the internet. This is a MAJOR SERIOUS psychological issue with genetic/biochemical ramnifications. I hope is am right on the g/b description.

Will you be able to reason with and control this child?
Will they take their medications on their own?
Find out if this child has to be on medications -- if schizoprenia should manifest itself later on. The schizoprenia may not manifest itself right away. My neighbor's brother's marriage ended in divorce. His wife had schizoprenia. Another lady friend years ago told me that her first husband was in an institution due to schizoprenia. She later remarried.

I think this question should be answered by other readers who have had more direct experience with this issue.

Adopting this child, and the resulting behavioral issues will cause stress in your marriage. Plus, you already have a 4 yr old child. I would think this over twice, for the sake of your own child. Do they NEED a schizophrenic sibling?

I would NOT adopt a child with this medical/psychological background. Your social worker is NOT telling you everything. See the medical experts first before getting in a situation you won't be able to control. Yes, the field of psychology and medicine has made advances.

Sorry, but I am being honest. Think Twice.

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My biological mother was schizo and I am not. I have no mental illness and neither does my sister. Schizophrenia doesn't show up until you are in you mid teens to late twenties. So more than likely you won't have to worry about it while your oldest is at home. Just because of the mother and grandmother have problems doesn't mean the baby will. In fact studies have shown that it can be worse if they are around mental illness. Plus stability is a great protective factor. There are four things a child needs to be resilient: A talent or hobby they are good at, a mentor who takes interest in them (separate from the parents), A group they feel they belong to (that can be the family or some outside group), I don't remember the last one. Trust in God. He won't give you more than you can handle.

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I have read that tapping could help with schizophrenia. Go to www.tapping.com and www.emofree.com to learn more about the process. Good Luck!

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I can't help with the mental health other than it can be hereditary but I can give you some ideas on the therapy.
Speech and Physical, along with occupational, therapy can be started at very young ages, as early as birth, for many reasons. I work in a Neonatal intensive care unit and we start "developmental therapy" which means one of the three will work with the baby on all three areas, on our premies thru full term infants for trouble drinking from a bottle or muscle tone (either hypertonic or hypotonic issues). Some babies, as they develop, begin to show signs of delay. Physical therapy could help with these delays. I would still think at this age the speech therapy would be because of eating issues more so than speech issues. Some babies just can't suck on a bottle and breath at the same time. The issues that lead to the need of therapy may be isolated or related to some underlying cause. The issue could be something very mild or something more severe. I don't think they would be related to the mental issues unless it was mentally delayed in some way but I am unsure of that.

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I don't have any "insight" into this issue, but I do know a few reasons a baby would be in therapies. Being born premature, meds the M. could have been on or drugs she used could be affecting the baby and she isn't making her milestones like she should be, or there was trauma at the birth and they have reason to believe she has been affected. On that note, did they not tell you why she was in therapy. You need to know these things as she could be a severe special needs child as well as the other issue at hand and you need to make sure this is something you want to take on. It sounds like you need to do more research as for what all is going on with this child and make sure it is what you want. I am all for adoption, we were at the point of possibly looking into it before I finally got pregnant and you do have your own child to look after. Goodluck!!!

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As many readers have stated, speech and other therapies for a child this young are not uncommon or cause for concern. My son started physical therapy at age 11 months for low muscle tone a related issues. Regarding the family Hx of mental illness of the little boy you wish to adopt- thre is some research that suggests a hereditary predisposition for schizophrenia, but that does NOT mean that he is guaranteed to have it. But, there are no guarantees with your own biological child either! Life, especially as parents, is unpredictable. If this boy indeed someday is diagnosed with a mental illness, wouldn't it be so much better that he be a part of a loving ad supportive family than that he be languishing in "the system"? Schizophrenia is not a death sentence. It is certinaly challenging, but with medication, it can be manageable. It sounds like you have a wonderful family and have a very big heart. I think both you and this little boy could enrich each other's lives.

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Here is a wb site http://www.schizophrenia.com/

Schizophrenia does run in familys but in most cases it is treatable with medications.Just because the childs M. and Grandmother have it doesn't mean that the child will.Most children are fine to a point and then in late teens to early 20's start showing signs of it.It can be scarey and exspensive to treat.If you don't think you can handle it pass the child up and wait for another.Someone else will take the child and love it and do the best they can.There must be other reasons for speech and physical therapy, get all the facts before you make your decision to adopt.

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Congratulations on your referral! You didn't mention if this is an international adoption or domestic? Either way, you could probably get some good advice from one of the adoption clinics at a hospital. We used the one in Cincinnati. There are also ones in Columbus and Cleveland. You can usually do a consultation about a referral on the phone.

I know a wonderful person whose mother had severe schizophrenia. He has no problems at all. So it isn't a given that the baby would have a mental illness.

About the speech and physical therapies. I agree it sounds unusual. You'll need to find out exactly what they are doing. If this is an international adoption, remember that what that country calls speech therapy for an infant probably is not the same thing here.

Good luck. The adoption journey isn't easy but is filled with blessings.

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God bless you as you open your hearts and home to this baby! I just wanted to let you know that it is not uncommon to have kiddos that young in PT and ST, though I do wonder what necessitated the referral as you didn't mention any conditions that might warrant those. My daughter was in PT for hypotonia and she has seen a speech therapist since birth because of a cleft palate (they assist with feeding issues as those are the muscle groups that are used for speech later). Please let us know what happens as you try to adopt this special little one!

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Hello B.,
My brother was adopted when he was 11 days old. His mother was schizophrenic and my parents were aware when they adopted him. He was fine growing up but started having severe headaches in his high school years. My understanding is that schizophrenia symptoms don't show up until late teens, early twenties amd the severe headaches can be an early symptom. He is now 44 years old and is on disability. He does take medication and there has been many times that he decides he don't need it and stops taking it. When he does this, he ends up in the hospital and each time it seems he that once they get him back on track, he is worse than before. He gets very paranoid, angry, uncontrolable. My M. has had to call the police on him because he has threatened her. Sadly, my brother scares me and there's no way I would allow him around my kids when they were little. Now, we grew up in a very loving Christian home. No matter how much you love someone, if they have schizophrenia, you can't control the disease. Some people have a mild case, some are severe. I have seen the heartache my parents have gone thru with my brother and it's very sad. Yes, this child needs someone to love and raise him or her. There's no guarantee that this child will get the disease, but there's a good chance. I think it would take a very special person to jump into something like this. I don't know that I could, but that's just me. If you decide to adopt this child, just make sure you familiarize youself with schizophrenia so you know what you may be getting into. Maybe you and your husband should really pray about it and if you feel it's right for you both than maybe you should go for it.
It can't be an easy decision. God bless you and I wish you the best of luck no matter what you decide.
J.

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Just because the mother and grandmother had schizophrenia does not mean that your child will for sure, but it is possible. My brother suffers from the disease. Life has been tough with him, but he suffers from a severe case. It varies. It can be severe or mild. Let me tell you though, regardless of how hard it can be to manage his disease at times, he is my brother and I love him, My whole family does. The fact that you're adopting this child is wonderful and the fact that the child might (MIGHT) have issues in the future just means they need all the more love. I think the child is truly B. to have you as parents.

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Well, God bless you for adopting. My advice to you in this very delicate situation, is to get a proffessional's advice/opinion. This is a very serious decision without any issues, but, with the medical/mental history of this very young childs immediate family, for the young childs sake and safety, as well as your own and your family's, I would absolutely seek out the advice/opinion of a professional. Case workers are wonderful and dedicated people on the most part, but at times, they are not qualified to answer or give professional advice on the concerns and obstacles you and your family will possibly be facing. Hope all turns out wonderfully for you, your family and the beautiful baby that you are considering adopting. Again...God Bless You...T. R.

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Dear B. M,
I read some literature from a chiropractor that said some of these behaviors are from allergic reations to certain foods. These people did very bizarre things that were even against their character and when it was found out what they were allergic to, it either disappeared or became manageable. I would certainly try this before you had to take more drastic measures such as medication. I don't know the name of the book or the author but if you are interested, write me back I will find it out for you. L. J

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I am the child of a diagnosed schizophrenic. My parents divorced when I was 6, and I lived with my dad until the age of 12. I did not find out about the diagnosis until that time, but I did much, much reading and studying about the disease all through school. It can be passed down the line from parent to child, but I would like to share a little about my dad to help ease your mind. He has always been a normal, functioning adult. There have been times through the years that he may have had a "breakdown," but he also refused to ever take any meds. He did, however, become an alcoholic after my M. left. This didn't happen overnight, and seemed to be compounded by my sisters and I moving states away to live with my M. and his M. passing away at the age of 53. (He was only 36 at the time.) His alcoholism caused him to almost die at the age of 52 from cirrhosis. He now lives with me, my husband, and our 3 kids. His biggest "symptom" of the scizophrenia throughout the years has been paranoia. He rarely talks on the phone, until recent years never had a checking account, and he tends to think that people are out to get him. When I say that, don't take it so literally. Schizophrenics tend to be extremely intelligent people. My dad often thinks the dr's just want to study his mind to find out why he is so intelligent, or that the government wants to know what he knows. He thinks family members often only want something from him, but don't actually care. These situations are usally handled by me simply just being stern with him. There have been times throughout the years that I may have noticed a "symptom" in myself because of a thought or a mood that I have been in, but because I eduacated myself about the disease I was able to catch it and calm myself down. In spite of being the alcoholic, he was able to work an excellent job, buy and pay off a house and car, and had quite a nice savings. If it is something that you are aware of ahead of time, and you educate yourself, you have the wonderful opportunity to give this kid a life he may not have elsewhere. Please don't let his mother's mental history affect you. I truly believe that showing a kid love is one of the best ways to overcome some of these mental illnesses. Besides that, he may not even develop the disease at all. It is not always easy dealing with my dad, but it gives me an understanding and patience that I may not have had otherwise. Knowing ahead of time gives you the power to lead this baby in the right direction from the start. You are not having to "undo" the mental harm that could have already been ingrained in a older child with the same history, but my heart would lead me to take them on too! Good luck in whatever you decide to do, and I want to say how thankful I am that you are even considering this option!

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If you decide to adopt this child, make sure you have lots of support in place. You must have medical coverage and especially mental health and prescription drugs coverage. I have a bipolar child and just one medicine that he takes is nine hundred dollars a month. We have medicaid coverage which is about to end because the child is turning 19. He cannot hold a job and so will probably end up on the streets.
When they're little you think you can help them to heal, but no matter how much love you pour in, the illness cannot be fixed.
On the other hand, this child may not inherit the mental problems of her mother.
I can't tell you not to adopt this child, but get lots of information before you sign those papers and know what you are getting in to.

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Hello B.,

My husband has schizophrenia, and we share a child together... so I have done A LOT of research online about the chances of my son inheriting it. If one parent has mental illness, the child has a 13% chance of inheriting mental illness. It doesn't matter if it is schizophrenia or not... it could be any mental illness... and your child could inherit any mental illness. My husband's mother is bi-polar, and her mother was mentally ill as well. One thing I discovered was that it is not the genetic predisposition alone that determines a child getting it... a MAJOR factor is environmental. If your house is loving and patient... his/her chances of becoming mentally ill decreases dramatically. If there is fighting, anger, stress, and negativity in the home environment ~ the chances increase dramatically. My husband was was abused most of his life by his stepfather horribly. At one point, when my husband was a young teen, his stepfather even held a gun to his head and told him that he could pull the trigger and no one would ever find out, and no one would ever care. He was beat for years and treated horribly. I am SURE this played a MAJOR part in his mental illness.

That being said, my husband does wonderful on his medication. He is the most loving, patient, and kind man I have ever met. He has a great job and supports our family, which includes my 3 boys from a previous marriage. It's amazing that he has overcome so many obstacles in his life, and is a scizophrenic, and can come out on top so well and be this amazingly wonderful man. Schizophrenia is so misunderstood by so many people. It's not as scary as it sounds, or as the Lifetime movies make it out to be. I would not let it be the deciding factor on adopting your new child. But do recommend that you educate yourself on it... and as long as you can provide your child/ren with a stable, loving home (which I'm sure you already do) I wouldn't worry too much.

Good luck and God Bless,
S.