Bipolar Disorder Children and their Support Group
Seeing a beautiful child turning into a monster before our very eyes day in and day out can be quite heartbreaking. With no bipolar support group to turn to for help when these bipolar children are experiencing these horrible tantrums can be quite frustrating.
Mothers Cry for Help
A mother crying for help: “I am living with my 5 year old child who has been diagnosed with bipolar. We have been struggling with anger and other emotional issues for a long time and he is now on medications. He can be very good when on drugs but when these drugs wears out we are back to the old self. This also happens when he is not taking or refuses to take his medicine, he starts yelling, throwing things around and even telling me that he does not like me. It can be quite difficult to calm him down. At the moment I dont know what to do because I am confused”.
Look for Symptoms in Children
Symptoms of bipolar in adults look and are experienced differently to those in children. Even though 5 year old children have been diagnosed with the symptoms it has been reported that children were showing signs at much earlier age. The typical signs are clingy, uncontrollable seizures like tantrums and rages which seem to come out of nowhere.
Bipolar Symptoms in Very Young Children
Symptoms of bipolar disorder can emerge as early as infancy. Mothers often report that children later diagnosed with the disorder were extremely difficult to settle and sleeps irregularly. They seemed extraordinarily clingy, and from a very young age they often have uncontrollable tantrums and out-rage at virtually nothing. Parents have also shared that very the word no often triggers these rages and out bursts.
Bipolar Support Group and its Purpose
Sharing your problems in a group can give you hope and peace of mind. It greatly helps to know that you are not alone with the problem and that people around may have a bigger problem than you. Conversations are kept confidential in these meetings. You are able to make new friends who share the same problem as you, exchange numbers whom you can talk to when you do not know what to do. Most important is to walk together and learn from one another.
Supporting a Bipolar Child
Because they are too young, children who cannot attend a support group must be told words of support, non judgmental and helpful. It is important to use words of encouragement rather than just no, no,no and dont do this and dont do that.
Finally
It is not easy both for bipolar disorder children or families under these difficult circumstances which can either bring out the best or the worst in us caregivers. The immediate family is the first support group for the child. As a family you can work out a plan of action for the child.
