Struggling with a moral dilemma - I really want to have kids eventually, but I also have OCD. Even though my experience of the condition has been mild, I still wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, and I would feel really bad if a child inherited it from me. I think this might be reassurance-seeking, but I can't tell. If it is, I'm sorry.

Username: Maddiamber Maddiamber

Date posted: 3y ago

My mom struggled with it when she was younger and now I have it. She’s been able to help me and understand me on a different level. Don’t let ocd stop you from living your best life and if you do have kids and they have ocd, you’ll be able to get him/her the proper support and treatment.

Username: SomeCatPersonSomeCatPerson

Date posted: 3y ago

I agree with the previous comment. My dad has had OCD his whole life and I'm thankful we have each other. Kids can development any potentially difficult condition, too, it's just something that comes with having them. No one is to blame for it.

Username: alycakesalycakes

Date posted: 3y ago

I felt the same way for a while but now I have a three month old and I don't feel bad about bringing life into the world - the pros outweigh the cons. My daughter may develop OCD at some point, but at least I'll know what to do about it. You may have children who don't have the disorder, but you won't know unless you have them. Honestly no one knows what kind of illnesses their children might have, it's always a gamble. What matters is that you are there for them through whatever struggles they face. Don't let OCD rip away your dreams of having your own family!

Username: BlueskyoneBlueskyone

Date posted: 3y ago

I have a kid and just wondered about this today for the first time. I think ocd is wildly underdiagnosed. If your kid does have ocd, you may be able to recognize it earlier and respond to it better than a lot of parents do. My daughter is a bright ray of sunlight in my life and many others’. Wouldn’t have done it differently even if I had known I had OCD before. Not a reason not to have kids! I also have ocd and to my knowledge, no one else in my family has it. So 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Username: OCDHaver OCDHaver

Date posted: 3y ago

I have this exact fear; I’ve always imagined having kids in the future, but I’m terrified of passing down my genes with this. Most of my family has some form of mental illness, so I really don’t know, it’s just really sad

Username: GoneHikingGoneHiking

Date posted: 3y ago

Thanks you guys, I appreciate your thoughts on this <3

Username: Brittany A.

Date posted: 5y ago

How did you decide whether or not to have children? My psychologist tells me that people with contamination ocd can be great parents but I just don’t know how I will possibly be able to handle it. My partner wants children and I think I do too but I’m just not sure if it’s the right choice for someone like me. I can’t take care of a human being if I go back to having full-on breakdowns and constant panic. Any advice or personal experience is appreciated.

Contamination OCD

Username: AJBT90

Date posted: 33w ago

Choosing to be child free because of OCD

I am interested to know has anyone here decided not to have children because of the risk of severe OCD resulting in a terrible life? How has that experience been for you? I am going through this myself at the moment but of course my OCD makes me doubt every decision I ever make. One minute I want something, the next minute I don’t!

Username: CalicoCat

Date posted: 26w ago

I feel like I can’t have children of my own

I’m a woman in my 20’s. I always thought I didn’t want kids but as I get older I’m starting to feel like it is something I’d actually want to consider in the future maybe. There are 4 reasons though that make me feel like I can’t have children. 1. Feeling like there is something wrong with me, like what if I’ve done unforgivable things, what if I’m a freak. My husband and family would tell you this is OCD, but I couldn’t tell you that right now as I’m in the midst of feeling like everything is real. If I truly am an irredeemable freak then I can’t be a mother. 2. I am afraid to pass on my OCD and autism to children. I do believe people with OCD and autism can live full lives and I know because of my own experience I’d hopefully be able to spot it early and know how to get them help but what if they suffer the way I have 3. My safety anxiety and fear is bad enough when it comes to my family, I worry myself to death that they might get seriously ill or in an accident etc, how will I manage coping with those fears with my own children, especially when there is such an added responsibility to these anxieties because I’m the one looking after them. 4. What if pregnancy and postpartum messed with my hormones and brain so much that my OCD was triggered into an unliveable state. What if I’m susceptible to postpartum psychosis because I’m already mentally ill I hate what this illness has taken from me, I’ve spent most of my life feeling guilt and shame and unease, not knowing if I’m good or bad, doubting if I even have OCD. It breaks my heart that my future is going to be ruined too

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