Back to School With Bipolar Disorder
Tracy Anglada, mental health writer, advocate, and mother, shares her top tips in this second entry in the The Balanced Mind Foundation back to school series for parents raising kids with depression and bipolar disorder.
Many children have already headed back to school – that place educators call "fun", but occasionally think of as jail, and kids call "jail", but occasionally think of as fun. As our kids walk into their classrooms each day, they carry much more than backpacks and pencils. They bring their amazing talents, gifts, personalities, hopes and dreams …and yes, their diagnoses. How can you help them shine despite their challenges?
-
Know How Bipolar Disorder Impacts Education
There are four primary ways that bipolar disorder may affect a child at school:
1. Core symptoms
2. Cognitive Effects
3. Treatment Side Effects
4. Co-occurring conditionsYour child may also be dealing with social deficits, faulty facial processing and faulty processing of the emotional meaning of language. Learn about these and how they specifically apply to your child.
- Understand What Your Child Needs
If you don’t know the educational needs of your child, then advocating for him/her is like playing darts blindfolded. You may or may not hit on the goal. Learn what interventions and accommodations help your child and be aware of his/her changing needs. - Location, Location, Location
The right classroom environment and the right teacher are vital to a good school year. Once you know what your child needs and how he responds to various personality types, use this information ahead of time to help find the right place for your child. If a placement isn’t right, examine other options. - Provide Information
If only there was a Vulcan Mind Meld procedure for transferring your knowledge and information to the educators working with your child! Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Year after year there are new staff members to educate – even new schools as your child moves from elementary to middle to high school. While it can become tiring, continue providing information to the school. It’s the only way they will understand what your child needs. - Listen to Your Child
Listening to your child may be one of the best ways to gain insight into what helps him/her in the classroom. Ask your child for his input and invite him/her to be part of the process in finding success.
Learn more at The Balanced Mind Foundation's Education Corner and the Teacher’s page at BPChildren.
My daughter will be 12 years old tomorrow and I am 32 years old and we both have struggled with biploar disorder for many years. It is a major learning process for the both of us and everyday is a rollercoaster ride. One day I am manic and she is depressed and angry and the other I am angry and depressed and she is manic and all over the place with anxiety. My daughter was first diagnosed at the age of five and it was very hard for me to believe the Dr's when they told me she was metally ill and that she was Biploar I and borderline schizophrenic with mixed psychosis. I am Bipolar I with mixed pychosis and severe anxiety. I also have a son who is completely normal but because of the state of my daughter he chose to live with his Father about two years ago and that was the hardest decision for a Mother to let her child make. It was the best for the both of my children. My daughter and I have never been very close because we share the same disease and it is very hard to be close to each other. I want so bad for us to have a normal and healthy relationship like other Mother and daughters do. She is also slower with her mental capacity of her brain. She has the mind of a six year old. She struggles in school and doesnt have many friends.
Sincerely,
lostandconfused
--
Amber N. Sutton
--
Amber N. Sutton