Mary Ann McDonnell - Positive Parenting for Bipolar Kids: How to Identify, Treat, Manage, and Rise to the Challenge

Although this is a work of nonfiction, we have changed names and certain identifying characteristics to protect the privacy of our patients and their families. All family stories and examples in this book are drawn from real people unless otherwise noted.

Throughout this book, we use the phrases bipolar plus and plus disorders to indicate other brain disorders that frequently occur with bipolar disorder (for example, bipolar plus attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]). The formal medical term for plus disorders is comorbid disorders (for example, ADHD is a common comorbid disorder; many children who have bipolar disorder also have ADHD).

The information in this book is not intended as a substitute for consultation with healthcare professionals. Each individuals healthcare concerns should be evaluated by qualified professionals.

Preface

Wednesday morning: Research and clinical staff meetings are done and its time for the first clinic appointment of the day. The nine-year-old waiting with his parents is here for an evaluation. He and his parents want to know whats causing this young childs intense moodiness and extreme behaviorsmoods and behaviors so severe that they interfere with his ability to participate in the typical activities of childhood. So disruptive that the family is in continual chaos. So alarming that they know this is something more than temperament or a rough patch.

Mental illness touches everyone. Despite the stigma often attached to mental illness, its a rare person who doesnt know someone withor have a relative witha brain disorder. Thats true for us, too, and one of the reasons we chose careers in child psychiatry.

When Janets mother was in her thirties, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Janets sister was an alcoholic who died at forty-six. Looking back, Janet suspects that her mother actually had a form of bipolar disorder, and that a mood disorder was hidden beneath her sisters substance abuse. Questions about the causes of psychiatric illness and what makes one person more resilient and another more susceptible led her to study psychiatry; recognizing that so many of the problems we see in adults are rooted one way or another in childhood led her to child psychiatry.

Mary Ann grew up in a large, close-knit family whose members supported and loved one another unconditionally through family struggles and tragedy. Through these life experiences, she and her family developed a better understanding of and compassion for individuals who suffer with psychiatric disorders. They have seen the power of love and perseverance bring family members through very difficult times.

Mary Ann understands first-hand some parents natural reactions to shrug off or ignore pathological behaviors, or to view them as normal. Shes taken care of others her whole life, including her own (now grown) children, who dealt with some of the same challenges that she did as a child. Their valuable life experiences have led two of her three children into careers in mental health, too. Empathy and insight led Mary Ann to advanced practice nursing; her first-person understanding of how challenging it is to be a child with a psychiatric disorder (or the parent of such a child) led her to child psychiatry.

Our personal experiences may have gotten us into child psychiatry, but its the kids and their families who keep us here. Their dedication and determination to find the help their children need is awe-inspiring. Effective treatmentwhich includes understanding whats behind a childs difficulty as well as what to do about itcan literally change lives. Thats both humbling and exciting.

By the end of today, like yesterday, like tomorrow, we will meet with many children and their families. The details of each familys story will vary, but common threads weave through all of them.

Yearseight to ten, on averageof misdiagnosis before accurate diagnosis. Treatments that made no difference or made things worse. Parents feeling helpless, hopeless, isolated, and exhausted. Kids feeling everything, but especially frustration and failure.

Some but not all of these children and teens have bipolar disorder. Many have other brain disorders in addition to or instead of bipolar. With an accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment options, and ongoing medical care and emotional support, these children and their families can grow, learn, and thrive.

Bipolar disorder has been part of humanity for as long as there have been people. Ancient Greeks described it in both medical records and philosophical writings exploring the connections between the gods, madness, and creativity. We find descriptions of it in the histories, letters, and biographies of some of our most influential ancestors.

Sir Isaac Newton first exhibited signs of bipolar when he was a child. He graduated from college without any particular distinction, then, in the next year and a half, invented calculus, discovered why objects are different colors, and created a complete proof of the law of gravitybut he didnt publish his results until two decades later. His anger and irritability offended nearly everyone, and he endured stretches of mania and depression throughout his life. Success for Newton was defined by his fierce intellect and insatiable curiosity, not his mood disorder.

In addition to writing twenty novels, Charles Dickens founded and edited two weekly magazines, wrote thousands of letters, had a social calendar packed with friends and events in theater, the arts, and literature, was active in several charities, and still needed to walk for hours every day to work off extra energy. He also survived repeated debilitating depressions. Success for Dickens was defined by his passion for people, the arts, and social causes.

We read and hear about bipolar from people in our own day and age, too. U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island has bipolar and continues to push for better health insurance policies for mental illnesses. Actor and author Carrie Fisher said in a 2001 interview, You can outlast anything. Its complicated, its a job, but its doable. Bipolar disorder can be a great teacher. Its a challenge, but it can set you up to be able to do almost anything else in your life.