jeansmind

How does your BP effect your mothering? Good or bad?

Posted on 10/02/08, 02:13 pm

Have you ever lost it? Do you think It's our BP or let's face it, most mom's lose their cool sometimes. Is there anything that you can pinpoint that this disorder has effected your mothering in a negative or positive way?

• Reply #1 10/02/08  4:09pm
  
  eskelsont
  Its my depression. I'm sure my kids suffer when all I can do sometimes is cry in my bed. Or when I isolate myself and just want to be left alone. Or when I'm so consumed by wanting to die that I neglect the beautiful ones around me. The guilt just kills me. I can usually keep my cool when I am on meds, but cant seem to fix the down side.
• Reply #2 10/02/08  9:44pm
  
  HannaHana
  I used to be a yeller. My son was undiagnosed BP, and I had a real hard time handling my own illness and dealing with him. My BP had made me a pretty mean person. As soon as I recognized how badly it was getting, I moved myself and my children in with my Mother. She took care of both of my kids, with none of my help, for about 3 months (when I started to feel slightly better).
  
  I hardly raise my voice to my children, I never hit them (not that I did regularly before, just the occasional spanking), I always treat them as I want them to treat me (saying please and thank you, giving them their privacy or time to 'cool off' if needed).
  
  I think that the BP, untreated, would surely have lost me my children. But even though I'm not fully stable yet, I'm much better than I was and I am getting better with coping with my issues and handling my childrens' at the same time.
• Reply #3 10/06/08  7:30am
  
  NothingNo1
  I find it hard when my son mimics my mood swings. It's always been just the 2 of us so my bp is normallity for him (i wish it wasn't)
• Reply #4 10/08/08  1:26pm
  
  Teardrop665
  Well my daughter knows all about my bipolar and she knows that noise is a HUGE trigger for me and i can get agitated sometimes when she wants to go to the park on a nice sunny day and i just can't get outta the bed because i am having one of my down days she understands but it bothers me especially since her fav. place is Times Square. God has blessed me with a caring and understanding daughter and I thank him every day for that xxx
• Reply #5 11/16/08  6:36pm
  
  lilbe
  I find it hard to focus. I used to be the best mother and I used to do so much. I feel dead inside now. I hate the chaos. I am so scared I won't make it
• Reply #6 01/30/09  9:09pm
  
  Moonshowers
  Negatively.I cannot find the energy or the the interest to get involved as I should. In the past, I lost it pretty bad. Yelling like a banshee. So ugly. I want to shower my child with love...but I can't get through this person that BP has made me. Very standoffish.
• Reply #7 01/30/09  9:11pm
  
  Moonshowers
  And yes...very mean. Hurtful.
• Reply #8 02/22/09  10:09pm
  
  mamabee
  BP seems to have made it harder for me to connect. There are so many triggers that 3 kids under 5 give me that its hard to be sunny every day. I want to be lovey and sweet, and sometimes I can pull it off, but when I cant it makes me feel so guilty like the worst mom in the world
• Reply #9 03/04/09  9:12pm
  
  DinaS
  I can relate to everything everyone has said! Especially saying no to my daughter when she wants to do something and I'm just too depressed to do anything at all. This weekend I forced myself to play with her even though my boyfriend and I had just ended things (we were together for 5 years...it's a very codependent relationship and I base my self-worth on it...long story and I'm getting off topic...lol...) and my therapist said that was good even though I felt really strange and couldn't focus. I think what matters is that you are trying your best to be loving, supportive and involved...kids can feel your love...hang in there jean's mind...I'm sure you try your damndest to fight the BP...just keep trying! :)
• Reply #10 03/18/09  2:33pm
  
  jodygirl77
  I think it has effected my parenting in both a good and bad way. During my down times the kids have learned to be self sufficient and take care of themselves very well. During the up times though I am a screamer and thrower, luckily I have my husband here to control me from going any further than that.

This Is For A The Bipolar Mothers Out There That Just Need To Vent.