Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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BP parents question

StuckAtHome
StuckAtHome
Have you talked to your children about mental illness or bipolar? If you have talked to them about it what age where they when you discussed it and how did you talk to them about it. Do you think it's a good idea to talk to children about MI? Both my partner and I are BP, I am medicated and he is not. I would like them to have some kind of explanation for his behavior so they don't have any guilt and emotional issues. So what do you think, good idea or a bad one, why, and if you think it's a good idea how would you do it?
deleted_user
deleted_user
my 9 y.o. knows daddy gets "headaches" and sometimes needs to go away so the drs can make him feel better
tommymott
tommymott
I wouldn't try to set a time to lay everything out. I'd deal with it as things occur that could benefit from an explanation.
StuckAtHome
StuckAtHome
My partner got into a nasty BP manic rage last night. He screamed at me in the car the whole way home and called me a "selfish bitch" in front of my kids. My daughter (she's 8, my other two kids are 5 and 9) went into her room quietly. When I went to put her in bed she was crying. I asked her what was wrong (although I figured but I wanted her to be able to tell me and not assume anything). She said that she hates it when people fight, and especially when it's me because I'm her mommy. So unfortunately, something has already occurred and I'm trying to figure out how to deal with it all.
tommymott
tommymott
That's the time to explain. Your partner raging at you is another problem. That should never be ok, BP or not. The BP person has to learn control, not find people who will take their crap.
Any way you can help your partner figure this out is good. As a child I lived in a household with regular screaming and it's very hard on children. Children deserve to live in an environment that doesn't have to be explained much...
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am sorry this is happening to you and your family. I too can relate as I grew up in a verbally abusive household. I agree with Tommy whole-heartedly. Best to you.