If you are living on disability and have all of the mental illnesses you list - and anxiety that severe - no, you shouldn't have a child.

Normal people without mental illnesses who have children end up having high levels of anxiety. Could you imagine how much worse it would be for you if you already have a high level of anxiety to start with? How would you socialize your child on play dates before school starts? How would you get your child to school or have parent-teacher conferences?

A child isn't going to make your life better; it will just make things even more difficult. There is a lot of joy involved with having children and parents love talking about their kids and remembering all the good stuff, yes, but just ask one parent to tell you all the things that drove them crazy about their child, all the nights they felt insanely lonely because they were alone taking care of the baby, all the days they were worried sick because the baby had a cough, ear ache or other medical problem, when, as a toddler, the child tried to jump off of anything and everything in sight and ended up in the hospital four times.

If you have any family with young children perhaps it would be best to spend time with those children. The great thing about being an aunt is that you get to give the child back to its parents when you're done coddling and playing with it.

I think this is a very personal decision and you should think long and hard about the full ramifications of what having a child will mean. For instance, you don't mention any medications, but just based on the facts as mentioned I would assume that you are taking something. Asuming you are female, will you have to go off the medications after becoming pregnant? If so, what will be the effect (for example, will you becoe a damger to yourself, your unborn child, or anyone else)?

Also, will the other parent be involved, and at what level? (Meaning, will they be living with you such that they can be involved in the day-today care of the child? Will you be married? Will the child go to live with them if you're unmarried?) I think this is one of the big factors thatwill be involved here.

Finally, and probably the most important of all, what are your reasons for wanting to have a child? That more than anything will probably answer the question better than anything else. But I can tell you this: children can be a source of strength, and can help you hang on when things feel like they're spinning out of control. It's because you love that child, and will do everything in your power to protect and keep them safe, even if it means overcoming your own fears and inhibitons (like anxiety). I seem to recall a story from a few years back where a young woman with a lot of mental/emotional problems seemed to inexplicably go off her meds and was behaving so erratically that some in her family wanted to have her meds injected by force. But her brother intervened and said, "Leave her alone. She's pregnant. She intentionally went off the meds so they wouldn't hurt the baby." Long story short, the family endured her instability until the babt was born, she went back onher meds afterwards, and it was the best thing that ever happened because having the kid grounded her and made her more responsible and stable such that she was able to eventually cut back on much of her medications.

This is a difficult decision because I can understand your need to want a child and wondering whether you should, given your condition. Irrespective of your emotional need to have a child, you will need to consider what impact your health will have on the pregnancy and on your baby and whether the baby will be at risk. You will also have to consider what kind of life your child will have, because its not just about you, it is also about the child and the quality of life she will have as a child.

Given your anxiety and depression I would be hesitant to say yes. Just being pregnant alone causes the body to go through a lot of changes which includes a drastic hormone change. Your doctor is better qualified to explain to you what the effects of pregnancy would be on you and whether there would be any risk to the unborn baby, given your mental and physical condition.

I think my major issue is with what is in the best interest of the child more than what is in your best interest. I know this may sound cruel, but at the end of the day your child will carry the consequences of your decision.

Thanks.

Thanks for the award and all the best.