Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

 

Let me start off by answering the question that I have heard most since I began working on this page, "What is pediatric bipolar disorder?" Pediatric bipolar disorder is when bipolar disorder is found in young children. Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance of the brain. The most common form of depression is unipolar, meaning it only goes one way, down. Bipolar disorder causes ones emotions and moods to swing on a very wide pendulum. A bipolar person can go from being suicidally depressed, to a manic state, where one feels "superhuman" so to speak, nothing is impossible. There are a wide variety of moods and feelings between both extremes also. There are many levels of bipolar, some people cycle rapidly, others may cycle only once every few years. Unfortunately one can not control their cycling and/or which mood they feel at that moment. Medication may help slow the cycles down, and stabilize a person, but it does not cure the person.

Bipolar disorder can also include many other symptoms, such as rage or anger control problems, severe anxiety, paranoia, impulsiveness, fear of loss of control, inattentivnes, disorientation and more. With pediatric bipolar disorder many of the children suffer separation anxiety, oppositional behavior, sensitivity to visual, audio or other stimuli, problems with peers, cravings for carbohydrates or sweets, bedwetting, temperature dysregulation, fear of death or annihilation, night terrors, precociousness and possible hallucinations. With the proper medication or combination of medications most symptoms can be kept in complete control.

 

My Personal Thoughts

 

Parenting is hard enough by itself... much less being a parent of a child suffering from pediatric bipolar disorder. Many in the medical field are still convinced that bipolar disorder doesn't appear in children. So finding proper treatment for it can be a very difficult task. Many times it is misdiagnosed, and the wrong medication is given to the child, which can make thier symptoms intensify, instead of lessen. Some times a child is diagnosed with other disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and many more due to the fact that these disorders are symptomatic of Bipolar Disorder.

The general public knows almost nothing about bipolar disorder, therefore doesn't accept it easily. Most of the public just sees children who suffer from bipolar disorder as "bad kids" or as children that haven't received the proper parenting. As a mother of a bipolar child I often find myself wishing that people with that mindset would live in my shoes... for just one day. Then maybe they would understand just a little bit of what it's like to live with this disorder.

When one person in the family has bipolar... the whole family lives with it, and suffers from it. The worry of the next explosion of rage is ever present. The dealing with the rapid moodswings, the abusive speech, the destruction of property and possibly the physical harm done. Life is never easy. Every day is filled with battles to win, and mountains to climb.

A parent of a child that suffers from bipolar disorder is faced with many battles that parents of non-bipolar children would not even think of having to live with. I know from my personal experience that I had to make the choice to admit my son to the hospital for not only his safety, but for the safety of my daughter, and of myself. That was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. Never in a million years would I of thought that I would have to take my child to a psychiatric hospital, and leave him there. Every day that he was in the hospital seemed longer than 24 hours. Time went so slow. You begin to even miss the "no you cant have only pasta for dinner" battles. The hospital is the the best place to be when the children are not safe. Many times while in the hospital they can try new medications while they are under 24 hour watch. This way if a medication is not working, or if there are side effects the doctors can take immediate action. Unlike with a private doctor where it may take up to a month to get in to be seen to have a medicine changed. The doctors in the hospital get the opportunity to see every side of the child, how they behave at meal time, at bed time, and even at quiet time. This way they can see what medication they think will work best for the child.

Once the right medication, or medication combination is found life begins to calm down. The battles become lighter, and not as often. The child becomes all around happier. No child likes to feel out of control. I know that my son hated taking his medicines, but once we found medicinces that worked he is willing to take them, because he knows how much they help him. There are doctors out there who will diagnose early onset bipolar, it may take some time to find them, but they are out there. Thankfully with publicity this disorder has recieved latley the number of doctors that will diagnose it are increasing.

Below I have listed some links that I have found helpful, and a few books I have found extremely helpful in helping me to help my son.

 

 

~Links~

 

 

www.bipolarchild.com ~Home page for The Bipolar Child

www.bpkids.org ~The Child and Adolecent Bipolar Foundation

www.nami.org ~The National Association for the Mentally Ill

www.ndmda.org ~The National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association

 

 

~Books~

 

 

The Bipolar Child- The Definitve and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder By Demitri Papolos M.D., and Janice Papolos

How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk By Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.

The Explosive Child By Ross Greene

Bipolar Disorders - A Guide to Helping Children & Adolescents By Mitzi Waltz

Survival Strategies for Parenting Children with Bipolar Disorder By George Lynn

 

 

Books For Kids

 

Matt The Moody Hermit Crab By Caroline C. McGee

Brandon and the Bipolar Bear a story for children with Bipolar Disorder. By Tracy Andglada

Joey Pigza Loses Control By Jack Gantos

 

 

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