| Being a parent to any child is a difficult | | | | Discipline is necessary to raise a well-behaved |
| responsibility any way you look at it; however, | | | | child, whether they have bipolar disorder or not. |
| supporting a child with bipolar disorder is even | | | | 6. Reward their good behavior |
| more difficult. This child has needs that other | | | | You don't have to spoil your child to control their |
| children do not have. | | | | behavior, either. Simply reward them for good |
| Following are ten tips to supporting a child with | | | | behavior, just as you discipline them for poor |
| bipolar disorder: | | | | behavior. This could be as simple as a gold star on |
| 1. Explain bipolar disorder to them | | | | a chart or as extravagant as building up to a |
| They already know that something is "different" | | | | vacation at Disneyland (after a great deal of good |
| about them - they just need to know what it is. | | | | behavior!). |
| Unless you explain specifically what it is (in terms | | | | 7. Don't treat them any different than your other |
| that they can understand), they will feel as if they | | | | children |
| are "not normal" or "bad," rather than having a | | | | If you have other children, don't treat your child |
| disorder that is not their fault. | | | | with bipolar disorder any different, or else you will |
| 2. Make sure they take their bipolar medications | | | | have another problem on your hands - jealousy. |
| This is crucial to your child's stability. Without their | | | | Along with the normal problems that raising a |
| medication, they will continue to go through mood | | | | special needs child brings, you will also need to deal |
| swings and exhibit uncontrollable behavior. If they | | | | with problems from your other children, who |
| manifest their bipolar symptoms in school or | | | | might resent your child with bipolar disorder. |
| around their friends, this can lead to stigma that | | | | Treating them all the same will help to keep |
| they shouldn't have to deal with at their young | | | | peace in the family. |
| age. Taking their medication will help them to | | | | 8. Give them responsibilities |
| remain stable. | | | | Chores are normal for every child to have. Just |
| 3. Take them to all scheduled appointments | | | | make sure that they are age-appropriate. In |
| It is very important that your child see their | | | | addition, if they are old enough, they can have |
| doctor, psychiatrist, and therapist regularly so that | | | | the responsibility (under your supervision, of |
| they can get better. Their doctor will help them | | | | course) of being responsible for taking their |
| physically, just as he would if they did not have | | | | medication. They can also do other things to help |
| bipolar disorder. The psychiatrist will prescribe and | | | | around the house. It is important for them to feel |
| follow their medications, and their therapist will | | | | as "normal" as possible, to take the focus off |
| help them deal with the issues surrounding their | | | | their bipolar disorder. |
| bipolar disorder. | | | | 9. Talk to school officials |
| 4. Set boundaries (and stick to them) | | | | You may not have to do this but, if necessary in |
| Your child needs to know the difference between | | | | your child's case, talk to school officials about your |
| acceptable and unacceptable behavior. You need | | | | child's bipolar disorder. If they need special |
| to teach them that there are boundaries (lines) | | | | accommodations, for instance, you may need to |
| that they cannot cross, and that there will be | | | | advocate for your child. If they need to take their |
| consequences to their actions if they do cross | | | | bipolar medication during school hours, this |
| these boundaries. Then you need to stick to | | | | medication will need to be given by the school |
| those boundaries. | | | | nurse. |
| 5. Discipline them for poor behavior | | | | 10. Let your child be a child |
| You would not ignore your other children if they | | | | Don't let your child's bipolar disorder interfere with |
| behaved poorly, and your child with bipolar | | | | them just being a child. Enjoy every moment of |
| disorder is no different. Discipline them for poor | | | | their childhood with them. Take many pictures to |
| behavior. If you don't, they will think that they can | | | | preserve the memories you share together as a |
| get away with anything. Worse yet, they may | | | | family. Make a scrapbook of things they make. |
| feel as if you don't care about them, or else you | | | | Let your child be the child they are. |
| would put limits on them for their poor behavior. | | | | |