The Effect of Manic Depressive Parents on Their Children. Helping Children of Parents with Bipolar Disorder
Life for Children with Manic Depressive Parents
Children with manic depressive parents may be able to tell that something is wrong but not know what that something is. Often the entire family will become so focused on helping the unwell parent that the children end up feeling ignored and left out. Adult children mention feeling powerless and unable to help in situations with bipolar parents. They may even feel anger and sadness, like it is somehow their fault that their parent is unwell. As kids grow up, they will learn about the stigma attached to bipolar disorder and often find themselves having to defend their parents to their peers.
The Effects of Bipolar Parents on Children
There is a long list of effects that manic depressive parents can have on their children. This includes:
- children becoming anxious
- children feeling angry at themselves and family members
- feelings of guilt, as if they somehow caused the mental illness
- disrupted family routines, leading to an overall sense of instability
- a sense of loss over the parent not being the same person they were before the illness
- shame related to their parent’s condition
- withdrawal from social interaction
- difficulty concentrating in school
- bullying in school due to the parent’s condition
- children not being taken care of properly because of the focus on one parent’s mental illness
- having to grow up too fast by taking care of the sick parent or siblings
- cries for help, such as acting out emotionally and rebelling against the family
How Manic Depressive Parents can Help Their Children
Parents with bipolar disorder need to take the proper steps into getting help, to avoid having negative effects on their children and family life. Steps that can be taken by parents with manic depression include finding a local support group, seeing a psychiatrist on a weekly basis, and taking medication if it is decided to be necessary. The parent without the mental illness should also take steps to ensure that the children feel safe and secure in their home life. This includes providing consistent, reliable care even during times of the other parent’s illness, educating the children on bipolar disorder and helping them understand that it is not their fault. Being aware of possible effects of bipolar disorder on the children and watching out for early warning signs and cries for help and having the children see a family counsellor to help them better cope with the illness. Support groups also may be available to help family members of people with bipolar disorder. If a parent’s manic depression becomes hard to manage at home, it is important for them to seek in-patient care for the sake of the children.
References
Public Health Agency of Canada: How Families are Affected by Depression and Manic Depression
Healthy Place: The Effects of Manic-Depressive Illness
The Royal College of Psychiatrists: Parental Mental Illness
Science Daily: Child of Bipolar Parents Score Higher on Creativity Test
