Bipolar Disorder

What Can I Do To Help My Child?

Bipolar Disorder in Children & Teens

How is Bipolar Disorder Treated?  -  Help, Support, Advocacy

You and your family will benefit by learning as much as possible about how to live with bipolar disorder.  Read books, attend lectures, talk to health professionals, and consider joining a parent group for information, support, and guidance.

Your child can reduce the minor mood swings and stresses that sometimes lead to more severe episodes by adhering to the following:

• Maintain a stable sleep pattern.  Go to bed around the same time each night and get up about the same time each morning.  Disrupted sleep patterns appear to cause chemical changes in your body that can trigger mood episodes.  If your child has trouble sleeping, or is sleeping too much, be sure to tell the doctor. 

• Maintain a regular pattern of activity.  It is common for teens to drive themselves impossibly hard and be involved in too many activities.

• Do not use alcohol or illicit drugs. These chemicals cause an imbalance in how the brain works.  This can, and often does, trigger mood episodes and interferes with medications.  If your child has a problem with substances, ask your doctor for help, consider self-help groups such as Marijuana Anonymous, or admit your child to a treatment center or residential program.

• Be very careful about "everyday" use of small amounts of  caffeine, and some over-the-counter medications for colds, allergies, or pain.  Even small amounts of these substances can interfere with sleep, mood, or medicine.  Also, some of these seemingly harmless medications are abused, such as Coricidin.

• Support from family and friends can help a lot.  Even the "calmest" family will sometimes need outside help in dealing with the stress of a loved one who has continued symptoms.  Ask your doctor or therapist to help educate both your child and your family about bipolar disorder.  Family therapy or joining a support group can be very helpful.

Regardless of scheduled appointments or blood tests, call your doctor if your teen exhibits the following:

• Suicidal or violent feelings

• Changes in mood, sleep, or energy

• Changes in medication side effects

• A need to use over-the-counter medications such as cold medicine or pain medicine

It is very important to learn the warning signs of suicide.  Take any threats your child makes very seriously.  Confidentiality is important but does not stack up against the risk of suicide.  Call 911 or a hospital emergency room if the situation becomes desperate.  Encourage your child to realize that suicidal thinking is a symptom of the illness.  Tell your child that you love him and that you would be devastated if anything tragic happened.

Psychotherapy can play an important role in reducing the stresses that can trigger manic and depressive episodes.  Psychotherapy is much more likely to be helpful for depression than mania, since individuals in a manic phase often have trouble retaining what they learn.

Three types of psychotherapy appear to be particularly useful for depression and may also help during recovery:

• Behavioral therapy focuses on behaviors that can increase or decrease stress and ways to increase pleasurable experiences that may help improve depressive symptoms.

• Cognitive therapy focuses on identifying and changing the pessimistic thoughts and beliefs that can lead to depression.

• Interpersonal therapy focuses on reducing the strain that a mood disorder may place on relationships.

It will be up to your child to get the most out of psychotherapy by being open and honest, keeping appointments, and doing whatever homework is assigned as part of the therapy.

Many teens, however, are resistant to therapy and refuse to be an active participant in treatment.  In such cases, residential therapeutic treatment may be recommended.

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation ~ Educates families, professionals, and the public about pediatric bipolar disorder; connects families with resources and support groups; advocates for and empowers affected families; and supports research on pediatric bipolar disorder.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance ~ Education, advocacy, and support groups.  Toll-free information line:  1-800-826-3632

DividedHeart.com ~ An online Christian community for those who are struggling with out-of-control behaviors or inappropriate relationships, and those who are close to someone who is.

Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation ~ This organization is solely dedicated to the support of research for the study of early-onset bipolar disorder.

MDF The Bipolar Organization ~ This UK organization provides information, self-help groups, training programs, online message board, and legal advice line for employment, benefits, and debt issues.

Mood Disorders Society of Canada ~ Advocacy and support for people affected by depression, bipolar disorder and other related disorders.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) ~ Education, advocacy and support.  Toll-free: 1-800-950-6264

National Empowerment Center ~ Education and information on healing and recovery from mental illness, with links to events and consumer-run organizations.  Toll-free: 1-800-769-3728   (Outside USA:  978-685-1494)

Mental Health America ~ Education, advocacy, and support groups.  Formerly known as the National Mental Health Association.  Toll-free: 1-800-969-6642

Patty Duke's Online Wellness Center ~ Information and resources on mental health issues, especially bipolar disorder, from one of America's great actresses and mental health advocates.

Pendulum.org ~ Resource of information and support -- including discussion forums -- for those with bipolar disorder and their family and friends.

S.T.E.P. UP 4 BP Kids Foundation ~ Supports children and teens with early-onset bipolar disorder, depression and related spectrum disorders by  providing free resources to parents and professionals, events, and support groups.  Toll-free:  1-866-922-KIDS  (781-545-9909 in Massachusetts)