your child has bipolar?

[Obayan]

Step 1
Create a behavior plan for parents, teachers, extended family members and others who interact with the child. Include descriptions of possible negative behaviors, strategies for immediate intervention and consequences for poor behavior. Strategies to intervene and interrupt negative behaviors might be verbal prompts, questions, distractions, physical restraint or even calling the police. Consequences for the negative behaviors might be cleaning up any mess the child has made, written apologies or chores of restitution.

Step 2
Find respite. Parents of children diagnosed with bipolar should find an appropriately trained person to give them opportunities to rest and recuperate from the challenges and stresses of living with a bipolar child. Support, breaks and positive reinforcement provide the emotional relieve needed for individuals working with bipolar children.

Step 3
Educate others about bipolar and its implications. Families with a child diagnosed with bipolar are often internally stressed and externally misunderstood, or even shunned. Neighbors, friends, extended family, and faith communities may be unfamiliar with bipolar, especially bipolar in children. Explain the diagnosis, symptoms and behaviors. Provide suggestions to others about helping the parents and the child. Suggest websites and reading materials to expand their knowledge about bipolar in children.

Step 4
Teach self-help strategies to children diagnosed with bipolar. Deep breathing, self-imposed time-outs, counting, and exercise provide children with tools to calm themselves. Practice these techniques when your child is calm. Provide prompts and reminders when these strategies need implementation.

Step 5
Take care of yourself. If you are a parent or primary caregiver of a child diagnosed with bipolar, do not neglect your own care. The stress of dealing with a bipolar child can be severe. Eat well, get enough rest, and find ways to rejuvenate and refresh yourself.