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theaspiemusician
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19 Jan 2012, 6:24 pm

Of course I'm not old enough now, but I mean when i'm an adult and have kids. There are two Schizophrenic people in my family that I know of (but there are more), one on each side of the family. My mom's always afraid I'd start doing drugs because she thinks it would heighten my chance of getting schizophrenic later like what happened to my uncle. My cousin who's schizophrenic got it after he got a head injury in a car accident, so I guess I have to watch out for crazy drivers EVEN MORE. I'm pretty sure schizophrenia can just happen on its own, but with the ones in my family something had to cause it. I don't know much about schizophrenia, but I know I have a high chance and my kids would too since it's genetic.


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19 Jan 2012, 6:37 pm

theaspiemusician wrote:
Of course I'm not old enough now, but I mean when i'm an adult and have kids. There are two Schizophrenic people in my family that I know of (but there are more), one on each side of the family. My mom's always afraid I'd start doing drugs because she thinks it would heighten my chance of getting schizophrenic later like what happened to my uncle. My cousin who's schizophrenic got it after he got a head injury in a car accident, so I guess I have to watch out for crazy drivers EVEN MORE. I'm pretty sure schizophrenia can just happen on its own, but with the ones in my family something had to cause it. I don't know much about schizophrenia, but I know I have a high chance and my kids would too since it's genetic.


From what I've read it kinda seems if someones going to get schizophrenia they are going to get it regardless, maybe that's being pessimistic but it kinda goes along with the fact there really is nothing they know of that directly causes schizophrenia. As for drugs those can certainly bring out symptoms of underlying psychological problems in some people with a genetic pre-disposition for those problems. Head injuries I know can cause problems that did not exist before but I don't know if it could be the cause of schizophrenia and am more inclined to think it would instead just be a contributing factor.

Also, there is certainly a risk if you have kids they could have a genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia or maybe other psychological problems...but I am not sure how much of a risk, I do know there would be more risk if you and whoever you have kids with had schizophrenia. The only way to find out for sure though would be to have the kids.


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19 Jan 2012, 9:16 pm

The genetic component of schizophrenia is merely a risk factor. Genetically predisposed people only develop schizophrenia if they are subjected to certain environmental triggers, such as extensive bullying or a dysfunctional family environment.

In other words, not everybody with "schizophrenia genes" develops this disorder. Think of it as a genetic predisposition for heart disease or cancer. If you live and eat healthy, there is a good chance that you never suffer from these conditions.

And yes, drugs are a huge risk. The manic / paranoid episodes of schizophrenics are caused by elevated dopamine levels in some areas of the brain, and most recreational drugs (such as alcohol and cannabis) also increase your dopamine levels. This effect can trigger a schizophrenic episode and contribute to the development of the disorder.



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19 Jan 2012, 9:29 pm

Even people who are not at risk can experience a paranoid episode on drugs. I have had a few paranoid weed trips back in the day (I don't smoke anymore nowadays). But I don't want to demonize cannabis. It is entirely harmless for most people and should be legalized, imho. It's just that it poses a risk for people with a predisposition for a certain health condition, just like people with high blood pressure need to watch their coffee intake.

Btw, many neurological traits and conditions that we nowadays call diseases or disorders have evolved for a good reason. Most prey animals that live in the wild are paranoid as hell. If you grow up in a hostile and dangerous environment, paranoia can be a life saver. It's better to suspect a predator behind every tree than being too trusting and careless. Insofar, schizophrenia is perfectly normal. Alas, it's a huge disadvantage for a member of a social species who lives in a relatively safe asphalt jungle, where people are expected to be social and trusting (to a reasonable extent anyway).



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19 Jan 2012, 9:43 pm

And yet another afterthought: Nearly all genetically programmed behaviors and genetically predisposed "disorders" work in this way, meaning that they all have environmental triggers.

A monkey who grows up in an environment without snakes won't exhibit fear at the sight of a snake-shaped object. Fear of snakes is an instinct in primates, but this instinct has to be activated by a trigger experience. Ethologists call this "prepared learning". The neural pathways are there, but they are not potentiated (activated) by default.

This also means that nobody is "born bad" btw. Criminal behavior, alcoholism and violence, even sociopathy, everything has both a genetic and an environmental component. Except for birth defects, nothing is ever preordained. The only reason that we see so-called disorders and harmful behaviors is because our societies are not very healthy environments, and every generation screws up the next. We need a comprehensive package of social reforms to turn this mess into a conducive environment where all people have the same rights and opportunities, where people are protected from negative environmental influences (such as bullying), and where children can grow up to be wholesome and well-adjusted adults.



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23 Jan 2012, 9:29 am

Quote:
From what I've read it kinda seems if someones going to get schizophrenia they are going to get it regardless,


Lesson 1: Schizophrenia is preventable.

Now that the OP knows, he can look out for it and help prevent it when the signs show.


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23 Jan 2012, 9:44 am

In my fathers family most of the people have psychological disease they avoid each other, they yell and shout if you call them up, they are violent most of them are undiagnosed but what i felt is that they are schizophrenics.
Even my mom as lot of mental diseases she is emotionally vulnerable, narcisstic and depressed etc etc.....

I dont know whether I am schiz or whether i will head towards schiz in future.
But coming back to original question I have one son and i dont intend to go for other kids because of same problem i cant seem to understand the world neither i can assimilate or take care of anymore children
But in children 50% genes belong to mother and other 50% to father so my son is more like his father and hope is always there since he is more on my husbands side of family


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