How to Deal With Children With Bipolar Disease

As parents, we want only the best for our children. We hold them in our arms while they are still infants, and dream of their future accomplishments in life. When the diagnosis of bipolar disease is given, it can seem as though all those dreams will never be realized. The ups and downs, loneliness and constant sense of uncertainty in the years that follow can be exhausting. Learn how to deal with children with bipolar disease and hang onto the dreams you have for them.

Instructions

• 1

  Accept their differences. Children with bipolar disease often suffer from frequent mood swings, instability, anger and depression. These are traits you will face numerous times over the course of their lives. By accepting the bad with the good, you give these children a priceless sense of security in the midst of an unsettling disease.

• 2

  Set boundaries. Often times, children with bipolar disease will exhibit signs of violence or act out. Set boundaries early in the diagnosis with reasonable consequences. This will help safeguard the child suffering from bipolar disease as well as peers and others who are in contact with them.

• 3

  Be patient. Bipolar children have difficulty making friends, completing tasks and sometimes carrying on conversations. Try to remember that these children deal with constant racing thoughts, and they can be irritable as well as extremely restless. Your patience during the constant upheaval taking place in their brains can help them feel safe and reassure them that you care.

• 4

  Study. The National Institute of Mental Health and National Allegiance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provide excellent resources on bipolar disorder on national and local levels. It is absolutely essential to stay on top of the latest techniques for treating the disorder. Knowledge is power; educating yourself will not only help you better understand the disease, but will also help you cope with children who suffer from it.

• 5

  Join a support group. Contact your local mental health hospital or NAMI chapter to learn where parents and caretakers of children with bipolar disease are meeting. If there isn't a group, start one. Adults will learn from each other's experiences, and act as support during the dark times that accompany this disease.

• 6

  Stay organized and on a schedule. In a world of scattered thoughts, unstable friendships, doctors appointments and constant medication adjustments, routine is a lifesaver. It provides a deeper sense of security and predictability. It can act as a soothing agent and help maintain a sense of calm for bipolar children.