Source: psychcentral.com
When a child is born, everybody’s so happy and excited in trying to pinpoint where it really got its features. But besides the physical attributes, bipolar disorder can also run in the family. Learning that your child has a bipolar illness isn’t an exciting thing, and is something that both parents must work on together to raise the child as healthy as possible.
Patrick Corrigan, PsyD said “There is a dichotomy in how mental health is discussed in pop culture and media.”
Statistics
Studies have shown that bipolar disorder is hereditary. Having one parent with bipolar disorder gives a 10-25% chance of the child becoming bipolar. If both parents are bipolar chances are higher and range from 10-50%.
Signs And Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is a mental health illness that involves changes in moods from being depressed to hype called mania. The shift in moods can occur unexpectedly. If one of the parents or any relative have bipolar disorder, watch out for these symptoms on your child.
Source: bipolarsymptoms.com
According to Jose Sanchez-Moreno, PsyD, “The treatment of mania starts with a correct diagnosis and elementary measures to prevent risks for the patient, relatives, and others.”
Signs Of Mania Are:
- restlessness
- inappropriate social behavior
- inflated self-esteem
- extreme happiness or euphoria
- agitation, jitteriness
- Impulsive behaviors such as overspending, gambling, drunk driving, or increased sexual desire
- rapid speech
- racing thoughts
- decrease need for sleep
Depressive Symptoms Could Be:
- weight loss or weight gain
- poor decision making, poor concentration
- fatigue
- feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
- oversleeping or insomnia
- loss of interest in activities that he used to enjoy
- anxiety, feeling of emptiness
- suicidal thoughts and behaviors
At What Age Does It Usually Manifest?
Bipolar disorder commonly appears in children between 15 and 24 years of age and persists through their lifetime. Though hardly seen, it can manifest in children as young as 6 years old. Some have mild bipolar disorder while others are severely affected that it can impair their chances of living a normal life.
Source: ehowcdn.com
Saundra Jain, MA, PsyD, LPC said “Practitioners of mindfulness meditation choose a secular “target” to focus on, such as their breath or a mantra.”
How Do Parents Feel About Their Child Having Bipolar Disorder?
No parent would be glad after learning that his child is suffering from the disease. There’s always that feeling of guilt and regret.
There Is HOPE In Treatment And Therapy
Though there may be high chances of inheriting bipolar disorder, there are ways to treat the illness. Through the years, new medicines have significantly changed the lives of families who have bipolar disorder with successful treatment. Parents should also have an effective treatment plan, medication and psychotherapy combined, so they can efficiently work together for their child’s welfare.
To delay the onset of bipolar disorder in your child, it is essential that you develop a healthy lifestyle such as good sleep habits, a healthy diet, avoidance of substance use, regular exercise, and providing a healthy family environment.
With proper and continued treatment and therapy, there is a chance of remission.
Source: healthymetoday.net
Having a Bipolar Child
Although it is said that bipolar disorder in children can be hereditary, it only constitutes 80% of chances of developing a bipolar disease. It proves that genetic link does not always mean that having one or two bipolar parents will necessarily produce a bipolar child. Other factors can trigger your child to develop bipolar disorder such as stress, family environment (disagreements, death in the family), traumatic events, significant life changes such as transferring school and moving to another community. Be aware of these things and prepare yourself to provide your child with a healthy home environment.
It’s not easy to deal with a child with bipolar disorder especially if you are bipolar yourself. You need to have a lot of patience and a lot of awareness about the illness. Most of all, it is crucial to keep in mind that your actions and decisions can affect your child’s behavior.
