How to Help Your Child That Has Bipolar Disorder

If you have a child that has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, your child will really need your help and support. You can be there as a strong support for your child.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 1. Medication. Bipolar disorder is condition that affects how you feel and can involve severe mood swings from low depression to high maniac states. Medication can ease and balance out the moods, so that a person can function normally. Some of the common medications might be Lithium, Seroquel, or Wellbuterin. Be sure that your child takes his/her medication, because there are times that he/she may want to stop the medication.

2. 
   Daily Journal

   2. Daily Journal. Keep a daily journal to track the moods and the times that the medication is administered.

3. 
   Education

   3. Education. It is important that you learn as much as you can about bipolar disorder in order to help your child. Learn to look for the signs that your child might display if they are in a mania stage. Some of the signs are reduced sleep, unable to concentrate, very impulsive, talking excessively, involvement in risky behavior or activities without consideration of consequences, severe changes in mood, physical agitation or possibly your child has complaints of racing thoughts.

4. 
   Support group

   4.Support Group. It is important that your child understands he/she is not alone. It is important that your child knows you are not judging and that it is not anyone’s fault. There are others that have this same disorder. Support groups can help your child realize this. The groups can also show you how to help your child. So it is important that you attend the support group with your child. Below is a site that you can go to find bipolar support groups in your city.
   
   http://DoTellAll.com Find a support group in your area. Just enter bipolar support groups, then enter your City and State and click go.

5. 
   Keep appointments with doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

   5. Doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Be sure that your child keeps his/her appointments with the doctors and the psychiatrist. Let you’re your child know that there are celebrities and other famous people that have bipolar disorder and are functioning quite well. Maurice Benard of the soap General Hospital speaks about his bipolar Disorder on You Tube listed below.
   
   YouTube - Maurice Benard, Bipolar Disorder
   
   Other Resources:
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2TVi1jjvSE
   http://www.bipolar-lives.com/famous-bipolar-people.html
   http://www.imedix.com/bipolar/videos#vY98YYQn09s Bipolar video
   
   http://tools.health.com/channel/bipolar-disorder.html?page=what-is-bipolar-depression&pkw=PSHEGLTX051909SNND1868&partner=yes&gclid=CMepq82r5Z0CFSUMDQodXSXeOw

Tips & Warnings

• Tips: Be understanding. Be patient. Ask how can you help. Tell your child that you love him/her often.

[teacups]

on 11/16/2009 Some good information on this disease. Thanks for sharing. will rate 5* and recomd

[chrisanimelo444]

on 11/4/2009 Great tips! Very informative. Love the images.

[chrisanimelo444]

on 11/4/2009 Great tips! Very informative. Love the images.