Adolescent Psychiatry

Why do some people have kids only to ruin their lives? I've always wondered this, but now I'm REALLY starting to see what can happen when parenting goes terribly wrong. I shouldn't put all the blaim on the parents though, things can happen to kids that are completely out of parent's hands. Maybe it's just asshole adults in general... or even other kids (both of whom were probably also screwed over by other adults or other kids -this is getting a little convoluted, but you see the vicious cycle being painted here).

Last month in Pediatrics I was witness to how a child's physical health can deteriorate because of neglect, now I'm seeing how their minds can be destroyed. In the words of the co-assigned nurse I worked with this week on the adolescent psychiatric unit, abuse is pretty much a prerequisite for many of the disorders institutionalized kids are dealing with. I wonder how many of them are able to get better or at least become functional and happy. It makes me really sad and angry that kids have to deal with the kinds of stuff I've seen so far on this rotation.